Off to the outside! Backstage with the nominees of the 20th Naturefestival

Innsbruck couldn't have dressed up better this October. The air is bone-chillingly cold, the view of the Nordkette is razor-sharp and the sun illuminates the colourful leaves so skilfully that lighting technicians would turn green with envy. Today, however, around 20 nature film makers are not heading to a film location or a cinema premiere - but directly into nature on the Hafelekar. We are on our way as part of a small B2B event of the festival, where I am allowed to accompany the motley group. But before I show you the breathtakingly beautiful autumn landscape on the Nordkette first some background info.

20 YEARS INTERNATIONAL NATURE FESTIVAL INNSBRUCK

For all of you who haven't heard of the festival yet, or are just puzzling over the name, I'll briefly explain. The INF (International Nature Festival ) is a fusion of the Innsbruck Nature Film Festival and the Innsbruck Nature Festival. Films are still the main focus of the festival, but the program goes far beyond the screenings in the cinema hall. Since 2021, the screenings no longer take place in the Leokino, which has become too small, but in the Metropol Kino. Accompanying the 50 films screened over four days was a program called "Experiences", which was divided into lectures, workshops, guided tours into nature, children's program and a culinary focus.

The focus is always on nature, the environment and sustainability. The green thread, so to speak, that runs through all program points.

INSPIRATION & NETWORKING

New this year is also the participation of several, well-known programme makers and film buyers. The festival thus advances from a pure film festival for viewers to a B2B melting pot for creatives and buyers. In a relaxed atmosphere, implemented projects are discussed and future collaborations are brought to life.

The atmosphere is good, the mutual interest is high and the excitement for the winners, which will be announced that evening, is palpable. Three years ago I was also on the Nordkette in the course of the same festival - but at that time with university professors. If you want to know how you can see Africa from Hafelekar, you can read the article here.

WITH THE KARWENDEL NATURE PARK RANGERS ON THE NORDKETTE

"I'm a city girl!" juliette Gramaglia says with a laugh as she carefully climbs over a snow field. The cheerful girl is in charge of nature films for the German-French television station ARTE and, like some in the group, switches fluently from one language to the next. The mountain world here at just over 2,000 metres above sea level is firmly part of Innsbruck, and not just in the tourist sense. In fact, we are still on Innsbruck city territory, which extends to the Möslalm in the Karwendel. With the exception of the cable cars and the surrounding areas, the entire Karwendel belongs to the Karwendel Nature Park, the largest in Austria.

The two nature park rangers Marina and Sebastian give us a little insight on a short tour. With objects they brought with them, such as an eagle's claw, feathers, size comparisons and books, they bring us a little closer to the animal and plant world. Tip: By the way, they also do this outside of the nature festival on their tours through the nature park. You can find the current programme of events in the nature park online!

WINNERS & NATURE FILM TIPS

In the evening I am allowed to attend the award ceremony. The more trailers I see, the more annoyed I am to have missed the films this year due to my vacation... If you now also want to see some great nature & environment films, the winning films were:

• The Loneliest Whale - The Search for 52 Underwater Worlds from Hollywood with Leonard DiCaprio & Adrian Genier as producers
• La Vie est dans le Pré (Life after Montsanto) A French documentary about a farmer who converts to organic farming after a poisoning
• Der Wilde Wald About the Bavarian national forest. Winning film of the newly introduced Wild Women Awards!
• The Whale of Lorino won the Christian Berger Award

Some of the films can be found online for paid streaming. Tip: You can currently stream the film " The Campaign Against the Climate" for free on ARTE under the name Climate Change: The Power of Lobbyists.

If you want to join us next year, just register for the festival now - you'll miss the event! Newsletter now - then you won't miss the event information! I'm looking forward to the continuation of this wonderful festival and maybe I'll see you next year!

All photos ©Lea Hajner