Holgut

The Siberian permafrost is melting. Ancient bones rise up from the ground and wild animals seem to have disappeared. Three Yakutians venture into the vast wilderness on different quests. Villager Roman and city boy Kyym hunt for a rare reindeer while not so far away, scientist Semyon scourges the permafrost for a viable cell of the mammoth, which he needs to clone the extinct animal. In the midst of an ongoing mass-extinction of fauna and flora, of a Siberian Ivory Rush, and at the dawn of de-extinction, a contemporary myth unfolds. While Roman, Kyym and Semyon close in on their goals, both the frozen earth that they walk on and reality itself melt into another state. HOLGUT boldly combines elements of fiction and documentary and manoeuvrers effortlessly from captivating reality to visual poetry. Down the mammoth-hole, science fiction seems to become reality and reality seems to become myth.

“Holgut is like a prehistoric skeleton, pushed to the surface of the thawing Siberian tundra, both a bearer of mythical meaning and a sign of our current times of climate crisis and transgressive science.”  Business Doc Europe, Kees Driessen, 16.4.21

“Global warming helped the mammoth go extinct thousands of years ago. Now, global warming is the main reason why bones of the huge creature are re-emerging.” Business Doc Europe, Geoffrey Macnab, 15.4.21

 This feature promises to “boldly combine elements of fiction and documentary” and “manoeuvre effortlessly from captivating reality to visual poetry.” Cineuropa, Davide Abbatescianni, 15.4.21

“An atmospheric film that blurs the lines between reality and myth, “Holgut” eschews linear storytelling, offering instead a poetic journey where past and present meet.”  Variety, Lise Pederson, 25.4.21

Special Mention at CPH:DOX - Next Wave

Best Film at Docville

Special Mention - Beldocs International Competition

Science New Wave Award presented by Warner Media at Imagine Science NYC

Best Cinematography in The World of Knowledge FF Sankt Petersburg

Green Image - Special Jury Award

Jean Rouch FF - Gaia Award

Premio De Cine Socioambiental Award at Guadalajara IFF

Grand Prix at Prague Science FF

Visions du Reel – International Competition & CPH:DOX – NEXT WAVE Competition, DOK.Fest Munich – International Competition, Indie Lisboa, Doku Fest, Asian premiere: Shanghai IFF, Melbourne IDFF, RIDM, Seoul Eco FF, Green Image Japan, MOMA - Earth Screenings, FIDOCS, Tempo IDFF, Green FF San Francisco, Zagreb Dox, Verde Giffoni, AFO Olomouc, Jean Rouch IDFF , FIC Valdivia, Blue Planet Busan, Euganea FF Italy, Films for Future (CH), Umea European FF

Director: Liesbeth de Ceulaer

Cinematographer: Jonathan Wannyn

Sound: Gert Verboven

Editor: Guillaume Graux

Grading: Veerle Zeelmaekers

Producer: Minds Meet

Camera: Alexa Mini

Lenses: Cooke S3, T2.2