Nature Films: Film Festival at the Nature Museum: Animal Superheroes

The St. Gallen Nature Museum will be transformed into a cinema next Saturday and Sunday. For the ninth time, it promises “animal movie enjoyment for young and old” and brings 26 films about nature and animals to the screen. The main characters are kiwi, snake, wild bees, wolves, little penguins, migratory birds and many others.

Of local and exotic animals

Films aim to show the diversity and beauty of nature, but also to show how vulnerable it is. All 26 films screened at the Naturvision International Film Festival in Ludwigsburg, six of which were award winners. When selecting, museum director Tony Burgin paid attention to a wide range of topics. They range from food production to climate change to glowing creatures. Emphasis is placed on both local and exotic animals.

Geographically, films travel around the world. They play in Ethiopia, Greenland, the Caucasus or Romania. Films from faraway countries are especially popular in the current winter temperatures, according to the Nature Museum's press release. Viewers are transported to the wilderness of Namibia, to the waters of the Caribbean or to the far reaches of New Zealand.

One of the museum director's favorite films is “Maya the Bee's Wild Sisters,” which won the Camera Award. “I think it's really cool,” says Tony Burgin. It is not honey bees that play the main role, but local wild bees. Little is known about them, although there are more than 560 different species. The film shows amazing diversity.

Another favorite of the museum director is the movie “Superplants – The Blooming Revolution.” It is about plants that can absorb heavy metals from the ground to such an extent that they can be used to clean contaminated areas. The film gets to the core of this phenomenon and allows leading scientists to talk about it.

Lots of movies for families

About half of the program is aimed at a younger audience. The corresponding movies are marked with an icon in the software. For example, Tony Burgin recommends “The Cuckoo Again” for families, in which a retired biology teacher tracks down the mysterious bird and watches it more closely than almost anyone else.

He also recommends the movie “Insects – Superheroes on Six Legs.” The documentary shows how ants influence robot controls and how beetles are used to develop medicines. The films “Children of the Sun – Our Butterflies” and “Anna and the Wild Animals” are also very nice. “You're spoiled for choice,” Burgin says.

The films will be shown next Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 6 pm at the Natural History Museum at Rorschacher Strasse 263. It is not possible to watch all the films. Because it is presented in parallel in two halls.

The number of seats is limited for fire safety reasons. There are 100 seats available in one room and 70 in the other, and for this reason, museum director Tony Burgin recommends getting there early if you don't want to miss your favorite movie. Reservations are not accepted. Daily admission costs 17 francs for adults and 7 francs for children. For two days, adults pay 30 francs and children 12 francs. The detailed program can be found on the museum's home page.

www.naturmuseumsg.ch