JovannaForFuture + Winter Lake

Could you believe it’s possible to camp out at a lakeside in the winter? You just need a good tent, sleeping bag, and clothing! You can do all sorts of awesome things: watch the wildlife, fish, look at stars and chat about life in space. A swim in a lake in summertime is wonderful too—but Earth is polluted and needs our help. How can we better understand our planet? How can we feel connected to nature? Why are children all around the world striking with Greta Thunberg? We will discuss all this and more after the screening of “Jovana for Future” and “Winter Lake”.

JovannaForFuture, Netherlands /2019, 15 min.

director: Mirjam Marks

pictures: Simon Meester

production: Nienke Korthof, Koosje de Pooter / Tangerine Tree

festivals and awards: 2019 – IDFA Amsterdam

Sometimes Jovanna longs for a little dessert, even if it’s in a plastic container. At times like these, she thinks it’s stupid that she has to take the climate into consideration in whatever she wants to do. But everything this Dutch girl says, and the way she lives, shows that she does exactly that. She doesn’t eat meat, and she and her family live in an “earthship,” where they generate all the energy they use. And Jovanna goes on climate strike every Friday, right in the center of town. Like thousands of young people around the world, she was inspired by climate activist Greta Thunberg. Children can’t vote, so going on strike is the only way to make their voices heard.

There are brief appearances from young bloggers from Australia, Curaçao and Japan, who all believe that something has to change. After summer vacation Jovanna is going to high school, and she won’t be  allowed to strike anymore. So when will grownups finally start doing something?

Winter Lake (Talvinen järvi), Finland / 2019, 15 min.

director: Petteri Saario

pictures: Petteri Saario, Antti Saario

production: Elina Pohjola / Citizen Jane Productions Oy

festivals and awards: 2019 – IDFA Amsterdam

“My friends can’t believe I go camping in winter. They think it’s crazy.” But 13-year-old Emika loves it. It’s just as beautiful as in summertime. “You only need a good tent, a sleeping bag and warm clothes.” Every school vacation she and her cousin Antti, who is kind of like a big brother to her, go to the vast Saimaa Lake, an amazing nature reserve in Finland with thousands of islands. Once you see the magical frozen lake, the woodpecker in the snowy woods, the fish beneath the ice, the starry sky and the Northern Lights to understand why Emika and Antti keep coming back here. They romp in the snow, roast self-caught fish in front of the tent, get tingles in their fingers from the cold, chat about a secretive seal and life on distant planets, and inspect the text messages on Emika’s phone. Told from her own perspective, ”Winter Lake” allows us to really share her experiences and connection with nature.