Still from Entomologen by Sirin Sponga

Harstad Kino, screen 2

This film programme is curated by Ruth Aitken and Camilla Fagerli at Tromsø Kunstforening. Because they are about to loose their venue they are not able to attend the festival. Curator Abirami Logendran will be in conversation with artist Sirin Sponga. (The conversation will be in English if there are non-Norwegian speakers in the audience. All the films are texted in English or spoken in English langauge).

“The selection aimed to focus on our natural 'neighbours' and grows out a bit from our project Jeg elsker måse, which focused on coexistence with threatened seagulls and birds. Particularly looking at the kittiwake, it responded to an urban, social and political landscape that demanded that there should be no impact or sign of the birds that were suddenly migrating into urban environments due to environmental constraints caused by climate change. A large part of the complaint was the noise of the kittiwakes (clearly present in Asfalt). The programme picks up on the themes of coexistence and explores how we live with the animals around us–particularly those which have historically been regarded as unwelcome, disliked, or even disgusting.”

Camilla Fagerli and Ruth Aitken

Asfalt, Irene Kaltenborn, (2022), 17:30

Asfalt is the story about a kittiwake falling out of its mothers nest and into the hands of human care. Through a chronological order we follow the bird as it grows up to master the act of flying in an environment it does not belong to. The hands tells a tale of hope, responsibility and care, while the claustrophobic scenes of the bird on the veranda tells a tale of melancholy and loneliness.

Bee, Eva Bakkeslett, (2007) 20:05

Bee is a film that gently reveals the hidden life of bees, showing how nature combines minimal effort with maximum grace. It offers a glimpse into the magic and delicate balance of the bee community, reminding us that attraction is a fundamental organising force of the universe. At a time when bee populations are under threat, what could be more poignant than paying attention to the lessons they offer humanity.

The film features the late Brian Goodwin, former Professor of Biology at Schumacher College in Devon, UK, and author of several books on holistic science. He shares his knowledge, passion, and insight into the relationship between nature and culture, and the subtle workings of the natural world often overlooked by modern science. We also meet experienced beekeeper Glyn Davies (Devon, UK), who generously shares wisdom drawn from over 40 years of beekeeping.

Entomologen, Sirin Sponga, (2026), 14:16