Europe's Last Wild Horses

Length: 1 x 50 min

Format: HD

Year: 2011

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Director / Producer:

Christian Baumeister

Camera:

Christian Baumeister, Michael Riegler, Alexander Sommer

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Editor:

Melanie Landa

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Music:

Oliver Heuss

Production:

LIGHT & SHADOW

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Clients:

WDR, NDR Naturfilm

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Distribution: Off the fence

Thundering hoofs, flowing manes. A primeval look! Yet we are not in the savannas of East Africa, but in the middle of Germany. The “Muensterland” is home of the last free-living herd of wild horses in Europe.

Horses are already present on earth for 60 million years, yet today we know them primarily as riding animals. Here in the heart of Europe, however, they still live freely and unbound, like millenniums ago. In an area protected since the 19th century by Duke von Croÿ, a unique time window opens into evolutionary history. Here, the natural behaviour of wild horses can be observed unrestrictedly.

However, the “Muensterland” offers more than wild horses. Its characteristic parkland with a mosaic of small forests, fields, meadows and moors is home of numerous wild animals.

In spring, the European curlew calls longingly in the marshland, and male moor frogs fade to blue for mating. The kingfisher hunts in crystal clear creeks. Wild boars race through the autumnal forest. Thousands of bats spend the winter in dark caves of the mountainside. Flamingos of Europe’s northernmost colony display a colourful mating dance.

Wildlife which not everybody would assume in the heart of Germany. In atmospheric pictures, the film follows the wild creatures of the “Muensterland” and is at the same time a look into the past, into a time when true wilderness ruled.

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AWARDS

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Europe's last wild Horses

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International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF) Missoula/Montana, USA, 2013
* FINALIST

Ekofilm, Czech Republic, 2012

* 1st PRICE GREEN PLANET

Omni Awards Fall-Competition, USA, 2012

* GOLDEN OMNI AWARD FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY

* GOLDEN OMNI AWARD FOR NATURE CATEGORY

* SILVER OMNI AWARD FOR WRITING

* SILVER OMNI AWARD FOR EDITING

* SILVER OMNI AWARD FOR DOCUMENTARY CATEGORY

Wildlife Vaasa, Finnnland, 2012

* FINALIST

Ekotopfilm, Slovakia, 2012

* FINALIST

Telenatura, Spain, 2012

* FINALIST

Matsalu Nature Film Festival, Estonia, 2012

* FINALIST

Trofeo Stambecco d'Oro, Italy, 2012

* FINALIST

China International Animal & Nature Film Festival, China, 2012

* FINALIST

Sondrio, Italy, 2012

* FINALIST

Greenscreen, Germany, 2012

* AUDIENCE AWARD

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