Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival Returns to Abu Dhabi With International Cinema and Conservation Stories

Abu Dhabi is preparing to welcome the fifth edition of the Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival, bringing together filmmakers, environmental advocates and cinema enthusiasts for three days of screenings focused on nature, wildlife and the planet’s future.

Scheduled to take place from October 9 to 11 at the Blue Hall of New York University Abu Dhabi (NYU Abu Dhabi), the festival will present a diverse selection of international productions, documentaries, animated features and short films. The programme will include several premieres for audiences in the UAE and the wider Gulf region, alongside films that have attracted attention at major international film festivals.

This year’s edition centres on the theme “Mend”, a concept inspired by an Arabic word associated with carefully repairing and restoring something valuable. The theme reflects the festival’s focus on environmental recovery, conservation and the relationship between people and the natural world.

Organised in partnership with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi and hosted by NYU Abu Dhabi, the event aims to use cinema as a way to encourage conversations about environmental challenges and the importance of protecting ecosystems.

Among the major attractions is Ghost Elephants, a documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog. The film explores an expedition in Angola in search of a mysterious elephant herd and will receive its Gulf premiere at the festival.

Another highlight is Fungi: Web of Life, narrated by Icelandic singer Björk. The documentary explores the often-overlooked world of fungi and examines how these organisms contribute to the functioning and balance of natural ecosystems.

The festival’s selection will also include a restored 4K presentation of Manthan, as well as films that appeared at the 2026 Berlinale and Sundance Film Festival. Together, these selections bring a mixture of environmental storytelling, artistic experimentation and internationally recognised filmmaking to Abu Dhabi.

International documentaries bring nature and conservation into focus

The festival’s programme features films that approach environmental subjects from different perspectives, ranging from wildlife exploration to the intricate relationships that sustain ecosystems.

Werner Herzog’s Ghost Elephants is among the most anticipated titles. The National Geographic documentary follows a search for a little-known herd of elephants in Angola, combining exploration with questions about wildlife, habitat and the mysteries that remain in the natural world.

The film’s Gulf premiere will give local audiences an opportunity to experience the documentary as part of a programme that places environmental stories at the centre of the cinematic experience.

Fungi: Web of Life offers a different perspective by turning attention to fungi and their role in supporting ecosystems. Narrated by Björk, the documentary introduces viewers to a natural world that often receives less attention than more familiar wildlife.

Fungi contribute to ecological processes in numerous ways, including the breakdown of organic material and relationships that support plant life. By examining these organisms, the film encourages audiences to look beyond the most visible elements of nature and consider the interconnected systems that sustain the environment.

The selection also includes a restored 4K version of Manthan, offering audiences an opportunity to revisit a significant work of cinema in an enhanced visual format.

Alongside these titles, films associated with the 2026 Berlinale and Sundance Film Festival will broaden the programme’s international scope.

The mix of established filmmakers, festival selections and environmental documentaries reflects Al Sidr’s aim to bring different cinematic voices together while encouraging audiences to think more deeply about humanity’s relationship with the planet.

UAE conservation efforts take centre stage

While international films form an important part of the programme, the festival will also highlight environmental work taking place within the UAE.

One of the local highlights is Conservation Diaries, a five-part documentary series produced by Connect with Nature. The series is scheduled to premiere at the festival and follows people working to protect the country’s natural habitats.

Filmed across the UAE, the production explores a range of landscapes, including wadis, coastal areas, mangrove forests and rural communities.

These environments support different forms of wildlife and contribute to the country’s ecological diversity. By documenting conservation work across these locations, the series aims to show how environmental protection takes place on the ground.

The episodes follow scientists, volunteers and local custodians who contribute to conservation initiatives. Their work offers insight into the research, community participation and practical efforts involved in preserving natural spaces.

The series also brings attention to the people whose activities help maintain local ecosystems. From scientific observation to community-led initiatives, conservation can involve many different forms of participation and expertise.

By presenting these stories on screen, the festival will give audiences a closer look at environmental initiatives taking place within their own region.

The UAE’s landscapes provide a particularly relevant setting for these stories, with coastal habitats, mangroves and inland environments each facing distinct conservation needs.

The premiere of Conservation Diaries adds a local dimension to an otherwise international programme, connecting broader environmental concerns with the experiences of communities and conservation professionals working across the country.

Filmmaker Sara Dosa to lead a masterclass

The festival will also welcome filmmaker Sara Dosa, who is expected to conduct a masterclass for participants and cinema enthusiasts.

Two of her films will be screened during the event, giving audiences an opportunity to explore her approach to documentary filmmaking and the ways she brings real-life stories to the screen.

One of the featured works is Fire of Love, an Academy Award-nominated documentary about volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft.

The film follows the couple’s lives and scientific work as they studied volcanoes, documenting their fascination with volcanic activity and the risks associated with their research. Through archival footage and their personal story, the documentary explores the relationship between scientific curiosity, human ambition and the power of nature.

The film’s inclusion offers a perspective on environmental storytelling that combines scientific observation with an intimate portrait of two people whose lives were closely connected to the natural world.

Dosa’s other featured work, Time and Water, premiered at Sundance earlier in 2026, according to the festival programme.

Her participation is expected to add an educational element to the event, allowing attendees to engage with filmmaking beyond the screenings themselves.

Masterclasses can provide insight into how documentary projects are developed, how filmmakers approach complex subjects and how visual storytelling can communicate ideas that might otherwise be difficult to convey.

For aspiring filmmakers, students and documentary enthusiasts, the session offers an opportunity to learn more about the creative decisions involved in bringing real-world stories to the screen.

Berlinale Shorts selection adds another international perspective

Another title included in the programme is Chuuraa, directed by Evgenia Arbugaeva.

The film made its world premiere in the Berlinale Shorts section in 2026, bringing another internationally presented work to the Abu Dhabi festival.

Its inclusion highlights the event’s interest in a wide range of cinematic formats, including short films that can explore subjects through concise and visually distinctive storytelling.

Short films often provide filmmakers with the opportunity to experiment with structure, imagery and narrative approaches. Within an environmental festival, this format can offer a different way to engage with questions surrounding nature, communities and the changing world.

By bringing together documentaries, short films, animation and restored cinema, the festival offers audiences more than one way to experience environmental themes.

The programme also connects Abu Dhabi with a wider international film circuit, giving local audiences access to works that have been presented at major festivals around the world.

The combination of premieres and previously recognised productions helps create a programme that appeals to both dedicated film enthusiasts and visitors interested in environmental issues.

More than screenings: discussions, exhibitions and family activities

Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival will extend beyond the cinema screen, with a wider programme of discussions, exhibitions and activities designed to engage visitors of different ages.

Panel sessions will provide opportunities to explore environmental subjects through conversation and the exchange of ideas. These discussions can help connect the themes presented in films with real-world challenges, conservation initiatives and possible responses.

Exhibitions will add another dimension to the event, allowing visitors to engage with environmental topics through visual displays and other forms of presentation.

The festival will also feature activities intended to encourage participation beyond watching films. These elements reflect the organisers’ broader aim of making environmental awareness accessible through different forms of cultural and educational engagement.

Families will have a dedicated programme featuring animation and conversations around subjects such as food, land and water.

These themes are closely connected to everyday life and can provide a starting point for discussions about resource use, the environment and the relationship between communities and the natural world.

Animation can also make complex subjects more approachable for younger audiences, using visual storytelling to introduce ideas in an engaging format.

By including family-oriented activities alongside documentaries and international premieres, the festival aims to create an experience that can appeal to children, students, adults and experienced cinema-goers.

The additional events also offer visitors different ways to participate, whether through watching a film, attending a discussion or exploring an exhibition.

A growing platform for environmental storytelling

Since its launch in 2020, Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival has attracted more than 5,000 visitors and reached approximately 2,000 students from over 20 schools across Abu Dhabi.

These figures reflect the festival’s development as a platform connecting cinema, education and environmental awareness.

Its programme brings together international productions and local stories, allowing audiences to consider environmental questions from both global and regional perspectives.

For students, environmental films can offer an accessible way to learn about wildlife, ecosystems and conservation. For the wider public, they can introduce unfamiliar subjects and encourage conversations about the pressures affecting the natural world.

The festival’s combination of screenings, educational sessions and interactive activities also creates opportunities for engagement beyond the immediate viewing experience.

Its fifth edition continues this approach through the theme “Mend”, which places restoration and care at the heart of the programme.

The theme provides a connection between films about wildlife, documentaries exploring ecological systems and local productions following conservation work in the UAE.

Although the featured films approach their subjects in different ways, they share an interest in how people understand, influence and interact with the natural environment.

What visitors can expect from the fifth edition

Running from October 9 to 11 at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Blue Hall, the festival will offer a three-day programme of films, premieres and accompanying activities.

Visitors can look forward to Werner Herzog’s Ghost Elephants, the Björk-narrated Fungi: Web of Life, a restored version of Manthan and a selection of works connected to the 2026 Berlinale and Sundance Film Festival.

The programme will also feature the premiere of the UAE-focused documentary series Conservation Diaries, alongside two films by Sara Dosa and a masterclass with the filmmaker.

Evgenia Arbugaeva’s Chuuraa will add another internationally presented short film to the selection.

Outside the screenings, panel discussions, exhibitions and family activities will provide additional opportunities to explore environmental subjects.

The event brings together cinema and conservation through a programme that ranges from the search for elusive wildlife to the ecological importance of fungi and the work of people protecting natural habitats in the UAE.

For Abu Dhabi audiences, the fifth edition offers an opportunity to discover international filmmaking while learning about environmental challenges and the initiatives addressing them.

With its emphasis on restoration, ecological awareness and storytelling, Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival continues to create a space where cinema can encourage audiences to look more closely at the natural world and the importance of preserving it for future generations.