On the Precipice – The Alps (2023)
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 and mixing by Stefan K. Fiedler, Production manager: Toni Nemeth, Executive producers: Roman Landauer, Dinah Czezik-Müller, Supporting production services by Cosmos Factory, Producer: Andrea Gastgeb/Terra Mater Studios.
Awards: Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards/Silver Dolphin
Mission Saving Paradise (2023)
Expedition to the Last Treasures of the Indian Ocean
The endless expanses of the Indian Ocean are home to the last natural paradises: Remote atolls surrounded by coral reefs in crystal clear water.
Whole regions of this ocean are still unexplored, many reefs are not marked on any map. The departure of the research vessel Agulhas II from the island of La Réunion marks the beginning of one of the greatest scientific adventures of our time.
The expedition, initiated by Monaco Explorations with the support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, lasted six weeks and led into the Western Indian Ocean along the Mascarene Plateau. On board are one hundred experts who are among the world’s elite marine scientists. On their mission, they discover never-before-seen creatures. Several hundreds of gigabytes of data are still waiting to be processed, but one thing is already certain: the expedition will help to better understand the physics and biology of the oceans and thus the consequences of global warming.
- 90:00 minutes (english, german)
- 2 × 45:00 minutes (english)
Episode 1: From La Réunion to the Seychelles
Episode 2: The Sunken Islands of Saya de Malha
Written and directed by Harald Pokieser, Photography by Sven Bender, Filip Kulisev, Sylvain Peroumal, Tim Teichmann, Video editing by Jörg Achatz, Supporting production services by Cosmos Factory, Produced by Autentic GmbH, Partners: TV Monaco, ARTE/ZDF. First broadcast by ARTE, October 7th, 2023, 8.15 p.m. (90:00 minutes, german)
The Origin Story of the Coronavirus (2020)
The corona virus responsible for the pandemic of 2020 jumped from wild animals to humans. To prevent another catastrophic pandemic in the future, we have to learn more about its origins.
So where does the previously unknown virus come from, and exactly how and where was it transmitted to humans?
Chris Walzer, Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York City, is at the forefront of research and reporting. The cultural anthropologist Clemens Grünbühel has been living and researching in Southeast Asia for 20 years. As an employee of the Stockholm Environment Institute in Bangkok, he deals with the relationship between humans and nature, with wildlife markets and the wildlife trade as a basis for securing livelihoods.
The chemist and entrepreneur Zhou Jinfeng is the General Secretary of the NGO ”China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation”, which is China’s official arm for nature conservation, environmental protection and for a commitment to sustainable development
Directed by Harald Pokieser, Video editing by Hermann Winklhofer, Color grading by Lee Niederkofler, Producers: Manfred Christ, Astrid Spielberger. Produced for ORF Austrian Television. (21:22 minutes)
Clips for the edutube Streaming Platform (2020)
The educational streaming platform edutube was launched by Austria’s Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF at the end of April 2020 and offers around 800 well-researched and reliable short videos, documentaries and reports.
Cosmos Factory was commissioned by the ORF’s Science Department to produce ten of these clips, which will be used primarily by teachers as part of digital learning efforts. Subjects included the driest spot on earth, the return of the lynx, how lightning is created and the distinctive saline pools of Austria’s easternmost region.
Written and directed by Manfred Christ, Video editing by Hermann Winklhofer, Narrated by Thomas Eichhorn (only German language)
The Sun – Inferno in the Sky (2018)
When will the next large solar storm impact the earth? In this documentary director Manfred Christ gets up close and personal with the only star in our immediate vicinity. He examines the largest solar storm in history, which shook the earth in 1859, and presents both the earliest days of solar research and today’s high-tech approaches.
The film features truly incredible images captured by the newest generation of space probes, as well as a visit to Europe’s largest solar telescope in Tenerife and to the facility which is producing the probe that will draw nearer to the sun than ever before.
The journey continues to the world headquarters of the sunspot observers in Brussels and the Kanzelhöhe Observatory in Carinthia, one of the birthplaces of modern solar research. The astronomer Stuart Clark provides insights into the history of solar research, while the mathematician Valentina Zharkova predicts that solar activity will fall by 60 percent in the coming decades. The veracity of this claim and the impact that such a reduction may potentially have on the earth’s climate is the subject of animated debate.
Written and directed by Manfred Christ, Photography by Mike Fried, Sound: Hermann Winklhofer, Aerials: Thomas Caks, Norbert A. Schilling, Video editing by Jörg Achatz, Music composed by Roman Kariolou, Dubbing mixing: Hubert Weninger, CGI-Animations: Pirmin Zdebski, Oliver Rautner, Stefan Imnitzer, Christoph Steiner, Color Grading: Lee Niederkofler, Production management: Judith Hamberger, Executive Producer: Ivo Filatsch.
A Terra Mater Studios production (52:00 minutes)
Awards: New York Festivals / Gold World Medal, US International Film & Video Festival / Silver Screen
The Moon – Our Gateway to the Universe (2017)
In the last decades, scientists have made fascinating new discoveries about the moon. This is largely due to the modern, highly sensitive sensors that circle it, and the technical advances that have made it possible to sift through all the data that was collected by the Apollo program prior to 1972.
There is water on the moon, it quakes, there are subterranean volcanoes, its core is solid metal surrounded by a hot, liquid layer of metals and sulfur. In some places, the moon has magnetic fields which could protect a moon base from the solar wind. In fact, one could even potentially establish such a base below the surface, in recently discovered lava tubes and pits.
Five internationally renowned, passionate and entertaining scientists from the U.S.A., Germany, France and Russia provide a running commentary of events from the first probe to successfully land on the surface to the incredible discovery that there is actually water on the moon.
In southern Spain, an aerospace engineer demonstrates that it is possible to produce oxygen from lunar rock using solar power. This could, potentially, provide a sustainable source of air for astronauts in future. The moon will undoubtedly be the launch pad for future space exploration.
The film contains new animations and rare archive footage.
Written and directed by Manfred Christ, Photography by Klaus Achter, Sound recording by Hermann Winklhofer, Editing by Jörg Achatz, Music composed by Andy Baum, Narrated by John Shrapnel, Dubbing mixer: Florian Deutsch, CGI Animation: Pirmin Zdebski, Bernhard Eiser, Christoph Steiner, Oliver Rautner, Stephan Imnitzer, Nicole Wörgartner, Patrick Thonhauser, Melanie Farfeleder, Colorist: Lee Niederkofler, Archive research (Russia): Alexander Bundtzen, Production managers: Toni Nemeth, Konrad Hebein, TMFS Executive Producer: Ivo Filatsch. A production of Terra Mater Factual Studios produced by Cosmos Factory.
Awards: New York Festivals / Gold World Medal, US International Film and Video Festival / Silver Screen Award, International Nature Film Festival, Hungary / Bronze Award
Lightning Reloaded (2010)
Spiral clouds of steel blue and ink black, bolts of lightning stretching for miles casting a spider’s web across the sky, eerie rumblings and thunder strikes freezing one’s blood, accompanied by rain, storms and hail: Thunderstorms are light shows literally off the planet.
These tremendous forces of nature are beautiful and frightening alike … and more than just heavy weather. Recent research data indicate that heavy storms and lightning in Africa are generating the notorious Atlantic hurricanes which hit the Caribbean and the US coast every summer. The bolts are even connected to climate change and obviously influence Earth’s magnetic field. However, up to the present day we don’t know exactly where these lightning strikes come from and how they are created.
These topics are all part of this documentary that will focus on the current state of lightning and thunderstorm research using cutting-edge digital video technology. It traces the myth of ball lightning and goes into detail of a lightning strike’s anatomy as well as provides answers to sprites – lightning bolts that explode into the depth of space.
The film was broadcast in the USA as “Lightning Chasers” in the National Geographic series “Naked Science” (50:10 minutes)
Written and directed by Manfred Christ, Photography by Klaus Achter, Sound recording by Roland Mittermüller, Martin Stoni, Hermann Winklhofer, Editing by Adam Wallisch, Music composed by Andy Baum, Dubbing mixer: Stefan K. Fiedler, Polio Brezina, Graphic design: Jörg Achatz, Christine Puchner, Special effects: Willi Neuner, Colorist: Christian Vollenhofer, Location managers: Dagmar Hovestaedt (USA), James Thorlby (Brazil), Sharon Schaveet (Israel), Production manager: Toni Nemeth.
A co-production of ORF, US National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channels International and ZDF, produced by Cosmos Factory.
Awards: CINE TV Festival, Washington DC / Golden Eagle Award
The Big Picture (2010)
Paul Reddish’s documentary shows a new, extraordinary picture of the Earth.
What satellites see on Earth gives us a breathtaking Big Picture, a comprehensive overview of what is happening on our planet. Like no other generation of humanity before, we have the opportunity to understand the Earth as a whole – the cycles of forest and savannah fires, the retreat of the polar ice, the movements of clouds, ocean currents, algae plankton and atmospheric layers.
Written and directed by Paul Reddish, Photography: Harald Mittermüller, Camera assistance and sound recording: Hermann Winklhofer, Production managers: Toni Nemeth, Fiona Grant.
A co-production of ORF and National Geographic Channel in association with Fremantle Media und Free Spirit Films, produced by Cosmos Factory.
Awards: CINE TV Festival, Washington DC / Golden Eagle Award
Top Secret: Water (2002)
Investigating an inexplicable phenomenon
There are people who attribute magical powers to water for which there is unfortunately no scientific evidence. The theory of “water memory” has been devoutly confirmed by fringe scientists and their followers for a long time but has been stamped into the ground by representatives of physics. The healing method of homeopathy is based on this phenomenon, as are the properties of so-called “vitalized” water.
The controversy over whether water memory is a figment of the imagination, charlatanry or one of the most exciting discoveries of all time has been going on for decades – and the search for the truth is turning out to be an adventurous journey to the limits of our knowledge. It leads to courageous explorers in Russia, Germany, Austria, Japan and the USA who do not shy away from questioning the laws of nature.
Written and directed by Manfred Christ, Photography: Harald Mittermüller, Bernhard Wallentin, Alexander Shurok, René Jung, Michael Sherby, Christian Schubert, Camera assistance and sound recording: Mike Fried, Vladimir Gorshkov, Manuela Horny, Ronald Rist, Alexej Rogov, René Schuh, Hermann Winklhofer, Edited by Jörg Achatz, Music composed by Andy Baum, Dubbing mixer: Stefan K. Fiedler, Hannes Neubauer, Graphic design: Christine Puchner, Colorist: Tom Varga, Assistant producers: Alexander Lorenz, Waltraud Paschinger, Location management: Jewgeni Kolomin (Moscow), Mitsuo Kometani (Japan), Johannes Koppensteiner (Moscow), Thomas Rist (USA).
A Cosmos Factory production for ORF in association with Uranus Publishing Company and Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture. (51:37 minutes)
The Fire of Life (1998)
An unusual story of fire, not a chronicle of catastrophes, but the story of its creative power – the fire of life. What we perceive as destruction is part of the forces of nature, like rain and wind.
In the American prairie, the greatest diversity of plants can be found where there are fires every three to four years. The coniferous forests in the Canadian Northwest Territories are also subject to a fire cycle. Every summer, infernal fires break out, turning forests into ash deserts within hours. And yet the landscape is dominated by lush green.
In the rainforest of eastern Kalimantan, there is a natural source of fire that has been burning underground for thousands of years. It is layers of coal that were once set ablaze by lightning. So even the rainforests can withstand fires well, provided they have centuries to grow back.
Written and directed by Manfred Christ, Harald Pokieser, Photography: Harald Mittermüller, Peter Kasperak, Josef Neuper, Stock footage supplied by Jim Kautz/US Forest Service, Jim Roth/Storm King Mountain Technologies, Thomas Brodbeck, Gary Steer, Wes Doyle, Camera assistants: Mike Fried, Klaus Achter, Gerhard Zahalka, Gail Wilson, Sound recording: Hermann Winklhofer, Günter Tuppinger, Edited by Karl Königsberger, Music composed by Christos, Narrated by David Cameron, Graphic design: Hydra Media, Colorist: Tom Varga, Dubbing mixer: Thomas Kathriner, Scientific advisors: Johann G. Goldammer/University of Freiburg, Stephen Pyne/Arizona State University, Hartmut Gossow/University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Helicopter pilots: Curt Bergeman, Jake Kaufman, Production assistant: Martin Matusiak, Location management (Kansas): John Altman, Production management: Gilbert Petutschnig, Gundi Lamprecht, Nikolaus Jägersberg, Executive producer (Telcast): Thomas Hohenacker, Commissioning editors (ORF): Werner Fitzthum, Walter Köhler. A co-production of ORF, Telcast International and ZDF, produced by Cosmos Factory (49:10 minutes)
Lightning: The Weapons of the Gods (1995)
Writing, directing and production services for Interspot Film-Gesellschaft m. b. H.
A natural and cultural history of thunderstorms and lightning – explored and filmed in Arizona, Oklahoma, California, Australia, Japan and Austria.
Lightning is one of the last great mysteries of classical physics. How does electricity get into the clouds? What triggers lightning? There are no satisfactory answers even to simple questions. And so thunderstorm research is one of the most exciting adventures in science. A quick answer can only be found in myths: what flashes up there in the sky are the weapons of the gods.
Written and directed by Manfred Christ, Harald Pokieser, Photography by Harald Mittermüller, Camera assistance and sound recording: Hermann Winklhofer, Bernhard Wallentin, Music composed by Christos, Narrated by David Cameron, Video editing and dubbing mixer: Karl Königsberger, Special effects: Milto Polykrates, Franz Cee, Graphic design and 3D animation: Norbert Wuchte, Location managers: Andreas Amon, Felix Giuliani (Austria), Clayton Halsey (USA), John Bradley, Will Davies (Australia), Miho Mitsuya Kometani (Japan), Scientific advisors: Earle R. Williams/MIT, E. Philip Krider/University of Arizona, Commissioning editors: Walter Köhler (ORF), Wolfgang Homering (ZDF), Production manager: Heinrich Mayer.
A Interspot Film co-production with ORF and Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture in association with ZDF and The Discovery Channel.
Letter from Discovery Communications: „Our ratings show that „The Weapons of the Gods” received a 60% higher than average rating for a Discovery show. Discovery was very satisfied with this rating. Congratulations!” (December 14, 1995)
Awards: International Film and Video Festival, Chicago / Certificate for Creative Excellence