Elementa
In Wildness is the preservation of the World.
– Henry David Thoreau
Deep in Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest lives a rare, unique and seldom seen creature, a black bear with white fur, known in these parts as Moksgm’ol (the ghost bear). According to local mythology, the creator Raven asked the Black bear to make one-in-ten cubs white, as a reminder of the Great White Time, when the world was covered in ice.
Ice, fire, earth, air and æther collide in this artistic, environmental and global feature which demands the viewer manifest their individual narrative, visually guided by compelling cinematography from our wildest lands. Experience the vast wilderness of the white continent and ancient rainforests to the revered power of the world’s oceans and erupting volcanoes.
Elementa is a black-and-white visual meditation of wilderness and the elements. Award-winning wildlife photographer and filmmaker Richard Sidey returns to the triptych format for a cinematic experience like no other.
Filmed over five years on seven continents, Elementa is Sidey’s second feature collaboration with ambient composer Boreal Taiga, and completes the director’s Speechless trilogy.
Prepare yourself for full immersion.
'Best NZ Feature' - Doc Edge 2020
'Best NZ Cinematography' - Doc Edge 2020
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Richard SideyDirectorSpeechless: The Polar Realm, Bikes for Africa, Landscapes at the World's Ends, Aeon
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Boreal TaigaMusicLandscapes at the World's Ends
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Richard SideyCinematographySpeechless: The Polar Realm, Bikes for Africa, Landscapes at the World's Ends, Aeon
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Aliscia YoungAdditional CinematographyThe Breath Connection
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Project Type:Documentary, Experimental
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Genres:Nature, environmental, art, fine art, triptych, landscape, wildlife, wilderness, aerial
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Runtime:43 minutes
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Completion Date:April 5, 2020
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Production Budget:0 USD
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Country of Origin:New Zealand
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Country of Filming:Antarctica, Brazil, Canada, Dominica, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital SLR
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Aspect Ratio:2.75:1
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Film Color:Black & White and Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Doc Edge FestivalNationwide
New Zealand
June 18, 2020
World Premiere
Best New Zealand Feature, Best NZ Cinematography -
Ushuaia Shh... FestivalUshuaia
Argentina
August 17, 2020
South American Premiere
Official Selection -
Mosaic World Film FestivalRockford, Illinois
United States
September 18, 2020
North American Premiere
Official Selection
Richard Sidey is a nature and wildlife filmmaker / photographer based in Wanaka, New Zealand.
Living in this picturesque alpine town and local adventure hub, Richard naturally sources artistic inspiration from his surrounding environment. Environmental themes and a strong connection to nature are clearly evident in his work. A keen adventurer, bike-packer and paragliding pilot, Richard is rarely seen far from the wilderness
Elementa is the final film in my 'Speechless' trilogy which has spanned ten years. I have returned to the triptych format and colloborated once again with musician Boreal Taiga from Landscapes at the World's Ends. Elementa is a visual meditation of all that is wild, a 45-minute escape and chance to reconnect with the wilderness.