Quick Dips Shorts: Environment & Nature

Five UK and international short films that capture our connections with climate, ecology and culture through the lens of the natural world.

We Are Nature

Connor and Anesu immerse themselves in Scotland's landscapes in this portrait of belonging and resilience. Through personal stories and childhood memories, they explore the intersections of space, power, race, and the outdoors. 'We Are Nature' captures the spirit of those who, despite injustice, reclaim their connection with nature. It's an invitation to witness resilience and community strength, and to imagine a more equitable relationship between humans and the environment.

Amanda Daud | UK | 2026 | N/C | 12 mins 44 secs

Poltergeists

An animation inspired by the sight of foxes moving indistinctly through the garden at night, seeming almost like ghosts. Made using a combination of hand-drawn monoprints and digital animation.

Alicia Brown | UK 2024 | N/C | 54 secs

Constellations of the Sea

A 17-year-old filmmaker joins a Maldives research team documenting the challenge of protecting endangered whale sharks. The film sits at the centre of a global tourism industry grappling with conservation.

Addie Akina Knoll | USA 2026 | N/C | 13 mins 8 secs

Sea Monster

Set on the Aran Islands, this Irish-language short follows Nora, a retired forensic ecologist whose fading memory may hold the key to a forgotten environmental crime tied to climate change. As the island erodes, so does her recollection of the disaster's details. A determined detective arrives hoping to extract answers before it's too late. Translated and narrated by novelist Máire Uí Dhufaigh, the film uses Nora's memory loss as a metaphor for the irreversible losses of the climate crisis.

Bernadette McBride | Ireland | 2025 | N/C | 19 mins 32 secs

Dùthchas: Our Underwater Forests

An animated documentary exploring the parallel loss of marine biodiversity and Gaelic culture and language in Scotland. Six interviews with researchers and practitioners, delivered as voiceover, explore marine ecosystems, capitalism, and rewilding alongside a fully animated visual story. The hand-painted animation is based on underwater sketches, giving it a dreamlike yet accurate look.

Viola Madau | UK | 2026 | N/C | 11 mins 59 secs