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THE FOREST MAKER

DER WALDMACHER

By Volker SCHLÖNDORFF

PATRA SPANOU FILM - as SALES All rights

Documentary - Completed 2022

An Australian agronomist and local farmers revolutionise our idea of agriculture and forestry in Africa, thus calling conventional reforestation into question.
Volker Schlöndorff s hopeful documentary debut.

- Year of production
- 2022
- Genres
- Documentary
- Countries
- GERMANY
- Languages
- GERMAN, ENGLISH
- Duration
- 87 mn
- Director(s)
- Volker SCHLÖNDORFF
- Writer(s)
- Volker SCHLÖNDORFF
- Producer(s)
- Thomas KUFUS (zero one film), Volker SCHLÖNDORFF (Volksfilm)
- Synopsis
- THE FOREST MAKER is the portrait of a remarkable man whose life's work was honored with the so- called alternative Nobel, the Right Livelihood Award in 2018. Tony Rinaudo has found a way to grow trees in the most barren areas by activating the tree stumps and roots still olive as an underground forest for decades and thereby secures the livelihood of thousands of farmers in Africa. His method "Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration" (FMNR) restores not only soil but dignity and hope. The Chief of all Farmers as he is affectionately known today in many villages has had to fight an uphill battle to gain acceptance for his ideas. Having worked in the Sahel region for 30 years he witnessed despair and famine but also resilience, determination and change. In THE FOREST MAKER Volker Schlöndorff follows Tony Rinaudo to different African countries to witness the effect FMNR has had on fighting desertification and repeatedly encounters issues that also concern us in Europe - migration, climate change,gender justice. To complement his view, he invited African filmmakers to collaborate with him and share their experience of rural life and local challenges.
  THE FOREST MAKER shows ordinary people doing extraordinary things and carries a strong message of community, self-empowerment and, above all, hope.