Films by Oliver Engelhardt

Germany 2022, 50 min
by Tim Visser, Sander van Iersel

When light pollution causes the night to disappear, a fundamental clock for life on earth is thrown out of balance. Animals and plants are threatened by artificial light. Many organisms have found their evolutionary niche in the dark of night and must now adapt to bright nights. Some succeed, but for many the brightness becomes a death trap - and causes species to die. Dedicated researchers now shed a new light on the effects of this nocturnal light on nature. Will science find solutions to the problem?

2021, 156 min
by Herbert Ostwald

Ostrich-sized rheas tramp on shoots of fields in Northern Germany. Flocks of bright green parrots screech along Cologne Cathedral. And beaver-like nutrias with orange teeth gnaw on Dutch dikes. All these animal nags are alien and are suspected of causing ecological and economic damage. Do the invaders have to be fought? Or is it just prejudice against hitherto unknown species?This small series of three films gets to the bottom of the accusations against alien species. For this purpose, the immigrated animals are observed in their new environment, their relationships to other species are shown and the latest scientific results are presented.

Germany 2020, 52 min
by Daniela Pulverer, Boris Raim

What happens when an animal perishes in the depth of the forest? Who clears up the remains? Why aren’t we surrounded by carcasses? After all, death is a constant and universal visitor …Every death means life for zillions of other living organisms: it is the initiator of a complex cycle we all depend upon. But despite its importance, we know relatively little about the animals that move in after a body has died, the organisms that radically change the body’s chemistry, and the plants that recycle the valuable nutrients contained in every carcass. A film about life after death…

2020, 260 min
by Mi-Yong Brehm, Almut Faass, Daniela Pulverer, Rosie Koch

The lakes of Northern Italy are considered as places of longing. The series "Beyond the Alps" shows the five largest of them as natural habitats and at the same time introduces people who are closely connected to the lakes.  Narrated by Eva Mattes, the world of the lakes is portrayed in high-class pictures. Five camera teams were on the road for 150 days, helicopter shots show the special features of this landscape from a bird's eye view.

Germany 2019, 52 min
by Annette Scheurich, Joosep Matjus

Matsalu National Park on the North-East Coast of the Baltic Sea is known for being one of Europe’s most important stopover places along the Great Eastern Flyway – a paradise for migrating birds. And it is also a safe haven for the wild giants of the Baltics, the mighty moose. For most of the year, these magnificent creatures roam the open marshes that are the heart of Matsalu National Park. This film follows their exceptional life throughout the year. Even though they are hardly threatened here, the challenges of the moose are manifold.

Germany 2018, 52 min
by Rosie Koch, Roland Gockel

Part 1: The North - From the Coastal Metropolis to the Mountainous Desert OasesPart 2: The South - On the Frankincense Trail along the Sea of Humpback WhalesThe Sultanate of Oman is the home of the legendary Sinbad the Sailor. And even today, it seems like a magical country from the Arabian Nights. The film is a journey on the trail of the old trading caravans – far from the turbulence of war in the Arab world. We discover the magic of the Orient and its people, who inhabit a world suspended between tradition and the modern day world. Frankincense trading and silver smithies, caravans and Bedouin, traditional souks and strong mediaeval fortresses are all signs of the lively trading history that has shaped this country. But this journey into the interior of the country reveals more than just a nostalgic wonderland: Oman’s special regional climate and sparse population make it an ideal refuge for a unique plant and animal world.

2018, 52 min
by Annette Scheurich

Life and death, partings and new beginnings – hardly any other season finds these extremes as close together as they are in autumn. Fallen leaves strew vibrant colour on the ground and there is abundant food available for the animals. But winter, with all its hardships, lurks around the corner, and a race against time begins. The film depicts the tension of this period that can rarely be so clearly observed in other seasons. From forests, meadows and fields to gardens and parks – it’s a time of dramatic challenges, changes and dangers.

2018, 104 min
by Annette Scheurich, Klaus Scheurich

Grizzly bears – up to 2.5 metres tall with top weights of 550 kilos, equipped with sharp claws and predators’ jaws to match. We’ve all heard stories of aggressive bear attacks and close encounters… But what are brown bears really like? Renowned bear biologist Chris Morgan is passionate about uncovering their true nature and has studied them for years. In this stunning two-part documentary, Chris is on the trail of the brown bears on the Katmai Coast in Alaska, where he can get closer to them than anywhere else to witness their social lives and survival techniques in intimate detail, revealing a surprisingly sensitive, tolerant, even tender side to the imposing Grizzly.Offering entertaining and informative insights, Chris commentates the bears’ behaviour and explains the peculiarities of Katmai’s unique habitat and its impact on the local population of grizzlies. Always close to the action, his passion for bears shines through and guides us through an engaging and gripping narrative, packed with surprises and intimate bear moments. The two episodes – The Hunger Challenge and The Private Life of Bears – focus on different central aspect of the bears’ lives, from survival to social life, and together provide a rounded, gripping and visually stunning insight into the unusual lives of the Katmai bears.

Germany 2017, 52 min
by Marlen Hundertmark

They are cute, small and indeed quite special. Their bigger relatives, the elephants, are well known throughout the world, but these little animals with their special charm haven’t received the same publicity yet. In Africa everybody knows them, in Europe nearly nobody. Wrongly, because these little furballs are not only very charming, they also have a very distinct social life. The film tells us a story about Rocky, a young dassie and his family. We come along with them, through the small and big dramas of their life.English version 52minsGerman version 44mins (WDR)

Germany 2017, 52 min
by Anneliese Possberg, Annette Scheurich

The Antarctic region is undoubtedly one of the most remote and inhospitable, yet one of the most beautiful landscapes of the world. This documentary takes us on a journey to the stormy isolated islands of the Southern Ocean. Seals, penguins, seabirds and numerous other animals live and breed in this hostile environment and harsh climate. Only by an icebreaker we can reach the remote coasts of the Antarctic continent where Emperor Penguins defy the life-threatening environment of the vast ice desert at the end of the world.

Germany 2015, 52 min
by Herbert Ostwald

Widely known as heralds of good luck and happiness, storks are very popular animals. This is especially true for Ruehstaedt, a tiny picturesque village in Germany. Every year the rooftops here are home for up to 40 pairs of White Stork, which in turn attract about 30.000 visitors per year to the remote village.For one breeding season the film portrays the fascinating coexistence of man and storks in Ruehstaedt.