We are thrilled: Our documentary “Mission Sea Otter – Saving California’s Kelp Forests” won the German Nature Film Award in the category “Jury Prize for Outstanding Achievement | Understanding Ecosystems” at the Darß Nature Film Festival on October 10, 2026!
The laudatory statement reads:
“This film offers an interesting perspective on our relationship with nature. It shows ecosystems not as a backdrop to human life, but as a complex, living web of relationships in which everything is interconnected—and we are right in the middle of it. […] With visual power and narrative sensitivity, moving animal stories are told. […] As the film unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear: Everything is interconnected because we are part of nature and thus also part of its future. […] This inspires both courage and hope.”
A tremendous success, because that is exactly what we aim to achieve with our documentary “Mission Sea Otter.”
Congratulations to our writers and cinematographers Claudia and Hendrik S. Schmitt, additional cinematographer Brandon Garcia, editor Marc Schubert, composer Sebastian Haßler, our producer Frank Nischk, and the entire team!
The film is a co-production with Arte G.E.I.E. and ORF in collaboration with ORF-Enterprise. A heartfelt thank you to our editors Christian Cools, Felicitas Schwarz, Birgit Skulski, and Gernot Lercher!
