This is a Canadian premiere. Synopsis: Few communities experience the impact of climate change as acutely as the denizens of Mandø, a tiny island off the Danish coast. Numbering just 27 inhabitants, it firmly puts the “micro” in microcosm, as rising sea levels portend a grim fate that may eventually confront humanity at large. But like humankind in general, Mandø’s residents are a resilient, quirky, and often comical bunch. With As the Tide Comes In, co-directors Juan Palacios and Sofie Husum Johannesen accentuate that latter quality, infusing their feature with a rich seam of Scandinavian humour. They also take full advantage of Mandø’s rugged vistas to fashion a film of sublime beauty. The result is a captivating documentary that is also sure to enchant cinephiles, fusing Honeyland’s masterful craft with Roy Andersson’s wry existentialism. At its heart sits Gregers, who, at 42, is the island’s youngest resident. With ties to Mandø extending for eight generations, he’s undaunted by impending doom. Rather than leave, he hopes to find a partner to manage his family business… with the aid of reality dating show Farmer Wants a Wife. Also featuring most of his similarly eccentric neighbours, As the Tide Comes In is a deceptively generous reflection on Mandø’s looming predicament—which, of course, we all ultimately share. *This film will be preceded by short film An Impression of Everything (Canada, 5min). Synopsis: A brief impression of everything. An attempt to glimpse the oneness of being, in the face of escalating world division and disassociation. A lyrical film culled from footage accumulated over more than a decade of productions, as well as old family archival, and stock footage.
Now in our 25th year, Planet in Focus is an environmental media arts organization with year-round programming. Our mandate is to produce cultural events that showcase engaging and artistic films that question, explore and tell stories about the world in which we live. We use film as a catalyst for public awareness, discussion and engagement on a broad range of environmental issues.