Thank you to the SER2025 Film Festival Sponsor
Building on the success of our inaugural SER2023 Film Festival in Australia, we’re thrilled to bring back the SER Film Festival at SER2025. While scientific papers and technical reports document our work, film speaks a universal language that touches hearts and transforms minds. The SER Film Festival bridges the gap between technical expertise and public understanding, making the vital work of ecological restoration accessible to all.
The 2025 Film Festival received 118 total submissions over our 4 categories, with representation from 35 countries. Eight films will be featured at the SER2025 Film Festival in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, 2 October 2025. Finalists will be announced on the night with the winners announced at the end of the festival.
Prizes will be presented for each of the four categories, with the winner of each category receiving $1000, and each Runner up receiving $250. See below for information on the finalists for each Film Festival category. Join us in celebrating the power of visual storytelling to inspire, educate, and accelerate ecological restoration worldwide.
Finalists for Weaving in Indigenous Perspectives
(Open Category)
Healing Rangelands: A Story of Hope and Harmony in Northern Kenya
Honorable mention: The Bison Cultural Project in MÃnà Rhpa MÃkoche or Banff National Park (this film will be screened prior to the film festival)
Finalists for Short Films
(Open Category and Established Filmmakers)
Bringing the Salmon Home: The Restoration of the Klamath River
Finalists for Feature Films
(Open Category and Established Filmmakers)
Ostrea edulis – The Resilience of the European Native Flat Oyster
Finalists for Student and Ecological Restoration Professionals
Finalists in Weaving in Indigenous Perspectives
Enraizados (Our Roots Remain)
❯ About the Directors Ivonne Serna & Sélim Benzeghia
“Enraizados” was co-directed by Sélim Benzeghia and Ivonne Serna.
Ivonne Serna (she/her), is a Mexican documentary filmmaker and climate specialist, she has worked across LATAM, North America, and Europe, dedicating herself to creating narratives that elevate women and underrepresented communities, notably in Mexico and its diaspora. Her portfolio includes visual reporting and environmental project management. As a freelance filmmaker, her short film “Sabor Y Amor” won acclaim at VTIFF Made Here, and secured the third US-Mexico Bicentennial Kaleidoscope award. Ivonne co-directed with Sélim Benzeghia the short film “Enraizados (Our Roots Remain)” supported by The Redford Center, which premiered at COP29 and is currently running in festivals. Ivonne has also collaborated with National Geographic Society, the Global Center for Climate Mobility, and UNEP. At COP29, she served as Mexico’s lead negotiator on just transition.
Sélim Benzeghia (he/him) is a Franco-Algerian director and producer, and co-founder of Koudéta Films. He specializes in documentaries on social issues, including climate justice, human rights, and forced migration. His credits have included work for Nova Productions, France Télévision, and Radio Nova. His documentary A Slide and Barbed Wire (2023) aired on French National Television, received critical acclaim, and played a role in a UNICEF impact campaign that influenced policy changes regarding the detention of migrant children in France. Sélim co-directed the short film “Enraizados (Our Roots Remain)” with Ivonne Serna, supported by The Redford Center, which premiered at COP29 and is currently running in festivals. He was a resident at the 2023 Documentary Campus Masterschool, IDFAcademy 2024 and is a member of Collectif 50/50, which advocates for gender parity and diversity in the film industry.
In the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico, the Indigenous town of Cherán did what no one thought possible: it kicked out the cartels, shut down illegal logging, and took back control of its future. “Enraizados” (Our Roots Remain) follows the community’s transformation from uprising to self-rule through the lives of three generations shaped by the movement. Susy, a teenage street artist, turns local memory into public art. Paco, an environmental engineer, works to restore the land while building systems independent of the state. And Geno, one of the rebellion’s first organizers, looks back on the cost of standing up, and what it takes to keep going.
Healing Rangelands: A Story of Hope and Harmony in Northern Kenya
Directors: Ian Wafula & Saitabao Kaiyare
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Laikipia County’s rugged landscapes, Healing Rangelands is a powerful documentary that chronicles the transformative partnership between Borana Conservancy and the Maiyanat community, led by the resilient and visionary Bernadette Tinkoi. Historically marred by conflict over land use and resource access, the relationship between local communities and conservancies in Northern Kenya is being redefined—through a groundbreaking model of shared stewardship, ecological regeneration, and cultural collaboration.
The film follows the inspiring efforts of the Borana Conservancy team, including permaculturist Llewellyn Dyer and regenerative livestock expert Richie Van Aardt, as they work hand-in-hand with Bernadette and her community to restore degraded land using nature-based solutions like swales and rotational grazing. We witness the regeneration of barren rangelands, the return of grass and biodiversity, and the blossoming of a once-strained relationship into a partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared vision.
Told through intimate interviews, stunning visuals of wildlife and landscapes, and moments of cross-cultural exchange, Healing Rangelands reveals how ecological wisdom, indigenous knowledge, and community empowerment can converge to heal both the land and the historic divides between people
The Bison Cultural Project in Mînî Rhpa Mâkoche or Banff National Park
This short documentary showcases an innovative research project which focuses on the restoration of Plains Bison to the mountain landscapes of Mînî Rhpa Mâkoche, also known as Banff National Park.
The Bison Cultural Research Project, led by William Snow, Acting Director of Stoney Consultation at Stoney Tribal Administration, brings together Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western science to redefine a more holistic approach to conservation and land management. The film serves as a tool to raise awareness about this unique collaboration between the Stoney Nakoda First Nation and Parks Canada and its significance in promoting Indigenous cultural heritage and ecological sustainability.
Finalists for Short Films
Bringing the Salmon Home: The Restoration of the Klamath River
Director: Shane Anderson
This film tells the story of the restoration of the Klamath River following the removal of four dams in 2024, a massive undertaking aimed at saving endangered salmon and other species. The film features dramatic imagery and includes perspectives from the project manager for the ecological restoration provider, RES, as well as the tribal partners involved in revegetating the former reservoir footprints and enhancing habitats for the returning fish. The film covers the restoration planning and key restoration activities along with the promising early results of the project.
SEAWEED, A Love Story
❯ About the Director Rebecca J Pratt
Bec’s work as a director and producer spans both international platforms—such as Netflix, the United Nations International Seabed Authority, and YouTube—and grassroots initiatives including Manta Watch New Zealand, Project Reef Taranaki, and Explore Your Coast. After earning her Master of Communication Studies, she founded Salty Slate Productions to follow her passion for telling stories about remarkable people working to protect life beneath the waves.
In the underwater world of Wellington, New Zealand, marine ecologist Dr. Nicole Miller has dedicated her life to the seaweed forests she loves. With over 800 hours spent beneath the surface, Nicole embarks on her most ambitious mission yet: SCUBA diving the entire 70-kilometre coastline to assess the health of Wellington’s Giant Kelp Forests.
Armed with her camera and a deep sense of purpose, Nicole brings these hidden ecosystems to life through vivid photography, public art, and immersive virtual reality. Along the way, she reveals the stark reality of kina barrens—lifeless underwater deserts created by overfishing, pollution, and climate change.
This documentary follows Nicole’s extraordinary journey to inspire connection and action, spotlighting the urgent need to monitor and protect these vital marine forests—essential to life both below and above the waves.
Finalists for Feature Films
Ostrea edulis – The Resilience of the European Native Flat Oyster
❯ About the Directors Chloe Ledoux & Nicolas Brikké
Chloé Ledoux is a writer-director. She has been writing and directing institutional films and documentaries for over a decade. Trained as a geographer, she first worked as a sustainable development consultant for local authorities. She then turned to the audiovisual field, naturally drawn to themes related to ecology and sustainable development. Nature and the Sea are always central in her work. Her passion lies in making the camera disappear, getting as close as possible to reality, and listening intently so that her subjects can confide without fear.
Nicolas Brikké is a cinematographer, drone operator, director, and editor. He has been writing and directing institutional films and documentaries for more than a decade. Originally trained as a geophysicist, he later pursued audiovisual studies in New Zealand. A polyglot and globetrotter, he is also a drone pilot, allowing him to add compelling perspectives to his compositions. Committed in his personal life, he brings the same dedication to his films, always focusing on projects related to sustainable development.
Today 99% of the oysters we eat in France are pacific oysters. Most people today have no idea that this species was introduced only 50 years ago to compensate for the disappearance of Europe’s native oyster. Even fewer people are aware that flat oysters were once so abundant that they were harvested directly in the wild from the seabed.
We actually invented oyster farming in the 1850s, because we had depleted wild stocks so much there wasn’t much left to harvest. Unfortunately, diseases wiped out what remained in the oyster farms in the 1970s, and now the species is considered functionally extinct. But scientists and oyster farmers in France strive to safeguard and restore this precious species.
Pedder: The fault in Tasmania’s wilderness, is a story of restoring hope.
Director: Tabatha Badger
In 1972 the real Lake Pedder, a global wonder of equal spiritual significance as the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru, was flooded to create an auxiliary Hydro storage impoundment. The controversy generated world wide outcry, creating the conservation movement and Green values politics.
50 years later, the campaign to restore Lake Pedder has resurfaced, as the dams are deemed high risk having been constructed on a fault line.
Featuring Bob Brown, Tabatha Badger, Christine Milne, Rima Truchanas, Prof. Jamie Kirkpatrick, Dr. Kevin Kiernan, Jimmy Cordwell, Julie Gough & Tobias Burrows.
Tabatha Badger MP, MHA for Lyons, is a Tasmanian bushwalker, activist, and wilderness photographer who made a film to assist the Lake Pedder campaign.
Finalists for Student and Ecological Restoration Professionals
Plaatsriver
❯ About the Director Ewert Hauptfleisch
I’m a first-time filmmaker and a professional field guide, my work is a combination of conservation, community, and visual storytelling. I was born and raised on a farm in South Africa’s, and my deep connection to the land started at a young age. My grandfather was a professional radio personality and actor, and I think I inherited his ability to connect with people and communicate powerful stories.
After working as a paramedic, I transitioned into a professional field guide, where I saw firsthand how desperately we need to restore our ecosystems. This film is the result of my passion and experience, focusing on the critical restoration efforts at the Samara Karoo Reserve in the Eastern Cape.
My artistic style directly reflects my personal philosophy: I believe that humans are responsible for stopping habitat loss. I want to highlight how important it is to mitigate climate change by restoring degraded landscapes. Through my lens, I hope to connect with and educate audiences, emphasizing that everything is interconnected and that biodiversity is vital for creating a healthy, resilient ecosystem.
My unique background gives me a deep understanding of the delicate balance required for successful conservation. This film is more than just a documentary; it’s a personal statement about the lessons I’ve learned—that restoration is a costly but vital undertaking, and that empowering impoverished communities is a crucial part of the process. I hope my work inspires people to move away from harmful practices and towards a sustainable future for both people and the planet.
It is a testament to the idea that we can heal what we have broken. I’ve walked across the barren, degraded landscapes of the Karoo and felt the sadness of a land that has lost its voice. My philosophy is simple yet powerful: we, as humans, are responsible for the damage we’ve caused, and it is our generation’s duty to fix it. This isn’t just a job; it’s a moral imperative. I hope my work inspires people to move away from harmful practices and towards a sustainable future for both people and the planet.
This story, set at the Samara Karoo Reserve, is about hope. It’s about fighting back against climate change not with words, but with our hands. It’s about seeing communities like the Cultural Connections Eco Circle team from Pearston, take ownership of their environment and create a future for themselves. I want to show people the incredible results of their hard work—how planting a single seedling can bring back a whole ecosystem. This is about watching the land come back to life and seeing animals like the dung beetle, the lizard, and the bat-eared fox return home. It’s an emotional journey of renewal, proving that with care and effort, we can turn a desolate landscape into a thriving oasis.
The film documents the remarkable story of the Plaatrivier Restoration Project at Samara Karoo Reserve in South Africa. It serves as a powerful visual narrative of the Pearson Eco Circle community’s dedicated efforts to heal a degraded landscape and bring life back to the barren earth.
The film begins by painting a stark picture of the challenge at hand: a vast, “sterilized” landscape where the soil is bare and the ecosystem is lifeless. It then transitions to show the dynamic and hands-on work of the restoration team. The narrative follows the team as they undertake a mix of manual and mechanical labour. Pickaxes are showcased to meticulously create small, crescent-shaped ponds designed to trap precious rainwater, while a tractor works to implement large-scale earthworks across “hundreds of hectares” to prepare the ground. The film emphasizes the scale of the effort by highlighting the planting of over 10,000 cuttings, transforming the landscape one plant at a time. Unique seed planting walking sticks are used to plant pioneer grass seed evenly across the restoration sites.
At its core, the film is a celebration of human-led conservation. It features poignant interviews with members of the local community who express immense pride and a sense of ownership over the project.
Their personal stories underscore the film’s central message: that this work is not just about the environment, but about empowering people and providing a sense of purpose. The film also showcases the communities high spirits and energy that is in stark contrast to the environment in which the restoration activities takes place.
The final act of the film showcases the project’s success. It contrasts the initial bleak scenery with a vibrant, flourishing landscape now alive with greenery and blooming purple flowers.
The most compelling evidence of the project’s success is the return of life. The film concludes with a montage of wildlife—including a dung beetle, a lizard, a caterpillar, and a bat-eared fox—all of which have returned to this newly restored, thriving ecosystem.
Overall, the film is an inspiring and emotional account of hope and renewal. It is a testament to the tangible and profound impact that a committed group of people can have on the environment, sending a clear and powerful message about the importance of restoration in the face of climate change.
Restoring a River: Tawatinaw Watershed’s History & Future
❯ About the Director Ethan Zapach
Ethan Zapach is an Alberta-based filmmaker with a special passion for environmental projects. He currently works with several environmental organizations, including the Athabasca Watershed Council, Crooked Creek Conservation Society of Athabasca, the Tawatinaw Watershed Working Group, and as a Director-at-Large for the Alberta Mycological Society. Through film, Ethan aims to make complex environmental issues and projects more accessible, highlighting the connections between people and the planet.
This short documentary showcases restoration justifications and efforts in the Tawatinaw Watershed, located in Alberta, Canada. It contains interviews from stakeholders across the watershed. This film was initially created as a volunteer effort to inspire further participation in environmental restoration efforts across the region.
SER2025 Thematic Feature Film: Weaving in Indigenous Perspectives
This thematic feature video serves as an exploration of the festival’s submission category Weaving in Indigenous perspectives and sheds light on the cultural significance of ecological restoration.