Cicada Film Production

Ah, the Mediterranean! The sun, the sea, the beach… a real treat for us humans as spring approaches. But would you believe that beneath the beach towels lies a whole little world we’d never suspect? Discreet creatures that make the best of the human presence as best they can. At the end of winter, whilst snow and cold still rage across the rest of Europe, biodiversity comes to life. With the arrival of warmer weather, another creature also makes its grand return: Homo sapiens. Clumsy, disrespectful, wasteful: our resident Sapiens wants to make the most of his holiday, but all around him the world is changing: the climate is becoming drier, the waters are warming, some species are disappearing, whilst others are taking their place. Guided by scientists, this walk explores a complex and fragile ecosystem – the natural world on our doorstep – which is at the mercy of the vagaries of the climate and the major upheavals of our century.

In the vibrant yet challenging world of Manipuri dance, Dyna and Arangbi dream of making it big. Dyna comes from a supportive family that encourages her aspirations, while Arangbi’s widowed mother struggles to run a pan shop and faces societal ridicule over her daughter’s career. The two women work as background dancers in local music videos, pushing themselves to excel in an environment where they are often invisible and misunderstood. As an audition for a coveted lead dancer role approaches, cracks begin to form in their friendship. Dyna's privilege and Arangbi's mounting frustrations collide, exposing deep-seated fears, insecurities, and societal judgments that plague their lives. The aftermath of the audition leaves them questioning their dreams and the price of pursuing a passion in a world that refuses to accept them. The story culminates in an open-ended epilogue, forcing the audience to ponder: Do dreams fade, or do we give up on them too soon?