OFFICIAL SELECTION: MEDIA PROFESSIONALS

Theme: Dynamic Earth

The full film is unavailable for online screening due to license limitations.

Directed by Niall Doran, Justin Smith

Country of Origin: Australia

Giant prehistoric spiders the size of dinner plates seek kinky love in the dark. As the world rapidly descends into the next period of global mass extinction, a message of hope comes from an unlikely hero: a creature, often unfairly reviled, that has survived prior mass extinctions and climatic change in a magical ecosystem hidden beneath the World Heritage mountains of one of the world's last great wildernesses. With spectacular imagery and a dark-fantasy twist, this real-world “Charlotte’s Web” capitalizes on master story-teller Neil Gaiman’s global popularity to bring a story of stability and solitude into our world of rapid change. Award-winning cinematography documents the 25th anniversary of scientific research into the first web-spinners on the planet and reveals that these giant cave animals break the normal rules compared to their surface cousins. This film excites and inspires modern audiences with the joy of adventure in the natural world.

Director Biography - Niall Doran, Justin Smith

Dr. Niall Doran (co-director): A zoologist and film-maker, Niall founded the Bookend education program with international best-selling author Bryce Courtenay in 2008. He was named the 2012 Australian Geographic Conservationist of the Year, the 2012 inaugural awardee of the Breath of Fresh (BOFA) Film Festival ‘Devil Award’ for Innovation in Filmmaking, and was a 2016 Screen Producers Australia ‘Ones to Watch’ Awardee.

Justin Smith (co-director): Justin has dipped his toes into a variety of production work including directing OBs, short films, television adverts, comedy & more. Despite having written and directed two theatrical comedies, editing remains a passion.

Credits:
Director - Niall Doran
Director - Justin Smith

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