Big Sky Documentary Film Festival - The Islands and The Whales
The pilot whale hunters of the Nordic Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but when a local doctor makes a grim discovery about the effects of marine pollution, environmental changes threaten to end the controversial tradition and change the community forever.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Mike Day
Watch The Islands and The Whales on Prime Video and Vimeo on demand
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I met Faroese sailors in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and they invited me to the Faroes to film their hunting. But when I got there I discovered a story that was shocking and I felt was an important message to us all, so I ended up filming there over 4 years.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It's a film that takes audiences to a place they've never seen before and gives an unexpected view of a subject so often confounded with misinformation. It's not a black and white story, so it gives a lot to contemplate about how we all live with the natural world.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
It's a story that effects us all, we are all causing damage to the world, and unbelievably some people still deny climate change! I wasn't going to make a film about the environment when I started and it isn't an environmentalist film, but so much I saw was far from theoretical, and definitely not dismissible, so I felt strongly I had to tell this story of this peoples' warning to us all. The plastic in the birds, the mercury in the whales, the warming seas and collapsing food chains, these are not hypotheticals or academic they were tangible physical problems, so my personal astonishment at our ignorance or ignoring of these problems is also very much a universal issue.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
It's a documentary shot over 4 years so of course it evolves as you discover the layers and the story, and the characters' lives develop over that time too. The seriousness of the ocean pollution and how it effects us all became more apparent over time as that seeped into the lives of our characters.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The film has been much loved in the Faroe Islands and that was very important to me to do their story justice. It has allowed them to be empowered locally to discuss the real issues and not only the battle with the activists. It has also been well received by the anti-whaling activist community. To have told a story that both sides of what has been an often bitter conflict can get behind was what I always hoped to create. There is a bigger story that should bring us all together and it's time we all woke up to that.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It was a relief really that both sides embraced the film and the central message, and to see audiences responding positively to a film that challenged them rather than spoon-fed or lectured a simplified, good guy/bad guy narrative was reassuring!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
It's always good to get the word out and let people know about the film, and this year we will be organising community screenings globally so we'd love people to follow our facebook page to be part of that at www.facebook.com/theislandsandthewhales
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We are always happy to play more festivals and have journalists cover the film. This summer the film will be released on television, online and on DVD so it would be great to be able to point readers towards where they can see the film.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I think we all need to look at how we live with the natural world, and if anyone is still in doubt about changes in the environment as a result of human misbehaviour then this film certainly shows that. People should stop using unnecessary plastics and avoid power sourced from burning coal, which is responsible for nearly a third of the mercury pollution in the oceans and our fish. It's always a great honour to be let into peoples' lives to film them so intimately, and in this case also document traditions like descending cliffs in the dead of night on ropes to hunt seabirds.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Will you wait to act until all of our food in the seas is too polluted to eat?
Would you like to add anything else?
I've been really happy with the film's reception and the uptake of people reaching out to us to host screenings. If you'd like the film to come to a screen near you please do get in touch with us.
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Mike is currently making a documentary feature in the USA with Cowboy Poets, and also a film in Greenland with missionaries. These projects will be posting updates on www.facebook.com/intrepidcinema
Interview: February 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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The Islands and The Whales
The pilot whale hunters of the Nordic Faroe Islands believe that hunting is vital to their way of life, but when a local doctor makes a grim discovery about the effects of marine pollution, environmental changes threaten to end the controversial tradition and change the community forever.
Length: 82 mins
Director: Mike Day
Producer: Mike Day
Writer: Mike Day
About the writer, director and producer:
Mike Day is a cinematographer, director and producer from Scotland. Originally trained as a lawyer, Mike made the transition into film in 2009 when he headed off into the Scottish Outer Hebrides on a boat with a camera and met the Guga Hunters of Ness. The resulting documentary was commissioned by the BBC and screened internationally.
Mike then went on to be one of EDN’s 12 for the Future, and one of 10 to watch in The Filmmaker Magazine. Supported by Sundance Institute, San Francisco Film Society, Creative Europe, Creative Scotland, Wellcome Trust, and the Danish Film Institute Mike then made the feature documentary, The Islands and the Whales in the Faroe Islands, released in 2016 the film has gone on to win awards and a BAFTA Scotland nomination and is due for UK release in 2017.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): journalists, film festivals
Funders: Sundance Institute, The Filmmaker Fund, San Francisco Film Society, Creative Scotland, Creative Europe, Danish Film Institute, Wellcome Trust, FACTUM Arte Foundation, Influence Film Foundation
Made in association with: Sundance Institute, The Filmmaker Fund, San Francisco Film Society, Creative Scotland, Radiator Film
Danish Film Institute
Where can I see it in the next month? All info here...
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/intrepidcinema/the-island-and-the-whales-faroe-islands-documentar/posts/1804711
DC Environmental Film Festival now added