Steep rock faces, majestic peaks and a fascinatingly diverse range of plant and animal species: the Alps are among the most spectacular landscapes in the world. As a result of a warming climate, the Alpine habitats are changing at an alarming rate, and the Alps now find themselves on the precipice of an uncertain future.
In August 2023, record temperatures of almost 15 degrees Celsius were registered at the Sonnblick Observatory 3,000 metres above sea level. The Alpine region is warming faster than other parts of Europe, and the glaciers and ice caves are receding at a disturbing pace.
The changing climate is a challenge for the region’s human and animal inhabitants. Marmots escape the heat by moving further up the mountains. Chamois are also facing new difficulties, as parasites like the barber’s pole worm, which thrive in warm conditions, have now been found at elevations of 2,500 metres.
Written and directed by Harald Pokieser. Photography by Christian Stolz, Mike Fried, Manuel Hammelsbeck. Sound recording by Hermann Winklhofer, Valentin Blüml. Video editing by Christian Stoppacher. Color grading by Jacob Jabornig, Sound editing & mixing by Stefan K. Fiedler. Production management by Toni Nemeth. Executive producers: Roman Landauer, Dinah Czezik-Müller. Producer services by Cosmos Factory. Producer: Andrea Gastgeb/Terra Mater Studios
Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2024: Silver Dolphin
Mountainfilm International, Graz: Honorable Mention