Free Film Screenings: Finding Gulo & Person of the Forest
Free Film Screenings at ScienceWorks
Art, Film, and Conservation: A Celebration of Nature at ScienceWorks
Last week, ScienceWorks had the honor of hosting a special screening of Mass for the Endangered, presented by Anima Mundi Productions. The film’s stunning visuals and moving score inspired deep reflection on the beauty and fragility of our natural world.
After the screening, guests gathered in the “nose” of the ScienceWorks building to collaborate on a community art project celebrating endangered species. Artist Karen Haken conceptualized the stunning design and oversaw the community artwork and installation. The finished piece — a vibrant collection of drawings depicting diverse flora and fauna — now adorns the windows like a radiant, hand-drawn stained glass mural. Read more about it in this Ashland.News article.
In honor of this beautiful work of collective creativity, we invite you back for another free event on Sunday, November 30 at 3 PM. ScienceWorks is proud to host a duo of free documentary screenings in partnership with the DC Environmental Film Festival. These two award-winning short films celebrate the power of citizen-led science and grassroots stewardship in protecting endangered wildlife amid a changing climate.
The films will be shown back-to-back with a short intermission in between, followed by a discussion led by Executive Director, Gabriela Chavarria. Admission to the film screenings is free and includes entry to the Science Theater and the Anima Mundi art exhibit. Museum exhibits require separate admission.
Space is limited, so please book your tickets in advance.
Finding Gulo follows a backcountry ski guide & field biologist who set out to document an elusive population of wolverines in Washington's Cascade Range. Co-directors Colin Arisman and Tyler Wilkinson-Ray note, “Our goal was to make a film that tackled a serious issue without it being overly serious. We wanted it to be fun to watch and humorous — mirroring the way that [protagonists] Steph and Dave work together.” From montages of the activist team’s quixotic quest to lay photographic traps for the wolverines, we jump to cute action footage of the creatures themselves, then to gorgeous ski footage just in case your attention was flagging.
📍 USA | 27 min
In the vanishing lowland rainforests of Borneo, new research is underway to uncover and understand the unique cultural behaviors in wild orangutans, before it’s too late. There, wildlife photographer Tim Laman, researcher Cheryl Knott and National Geographic young explorer Robert Rodriguez Suro have documented orangutans making pillows, fashioning umbrellas, and displaying regional greetings. The project, 20 years in the making, offers a fascinating glimpse into the habits of wild orangutans, as well as a window into human evolution. With their habitat disappearing at an alarming rate, this research may prove to be key in protecting this critically endangered species.
📍 Borneo | 17 min
Event Details
📅 Sunday, November 30
🕓 3 to 4 PM
📍 ScienceWorks Science Theater
💰 Free admission to the film screenings and Anima Mundi art exhibit, museum exhibits require separate admission
🍷 Wine, beer, non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks available for purchase
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