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Filmmaking

Alstonia (Coming 2025)

Role: Director/Producer

Released: TBA

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This is not only a story about chimpanzees, but also about people, pathogens, climate change, and running out of time. Alstonia tells the story of a race against the clock, an attempt to unlock the bank of chimpanzee medicinal knowledge and identify the plants they need to survive—before it is too late.

 

As climate change and habitat destruction continue to disrupt natural processes, humans and chimpanzees are being displaced and losing access to familiar flora. As the story unfolds, we realize we are not only fighting to save the chimpanzees and their forest homes, we are fighting for our own survival. As the growing threat of anthelmintic and antibiotic resistant pathogens looms large, we may need to return to nature’s pharmacies for solutions. But without our primate cousins to point us in the right direction, will we have a chance at finding the medicines we need? Or will it be too late?

Geresomu

Role: Director/Producer

Released: 2025 (Uganda)

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This 12-minute short-doc explores the life and experiences of my collaborator Geresomu, a Ugandan primatologist who has been working at the Budongo Conservation Field Station for more than half of his life. Geresomu has seen first-hand how the forest has changed over the last three decades, watched chimpanzees grow up from infant to alpha, can identify every plant in the forest, and has witnessed innumerable rare and invaluable behavioral events, many of which remain unrecorded in the academic literature. Geresomu speaks of raising his children amongst the chimpanzees, his feeling of connectedness to Budongo, and his hopes for the future of the forest. The film is available for streaming on EcoFlix.

_UNQUANTIFIABLE_

Role: Co-Writer/Co-Director 

Released: 2024 

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This entire film was made during the course of one week as part of the 2024 Symbiosis initiative presented at the Science New Wave Festival XVII and supported by the Simons Foundation. The film came in runner-up at the festival.

Wild Medicine

Role: Presenter

Released: 2024 

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Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives and share many of our behaviours. Now it seems that they may also use plants as medicine. Elodie Freymann, from the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, tracked wild chimpanzees in Uganda, where the primates displayed some surprising behaviours. Chimpanzees who showed signs of injury or illness seemed to eat specific plant material. Analysis of these leaves, resins and tree bark revealed that they had antimicrobial and bioactive compounds. Surprisingly, many of the local villagers were also found to be reaching for the same plants, suggesting that chimpanzees may have some understanding of the medicinal properties of these forest pharmacies.

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The Danglin' Pangolin 

Role: Co-Director

Released: 2020

 

Danglin' Pangolin is a stop-motion animation made in the midst of Covid-19 when pangolins were being blamed for the spread of the virus. Released on World Pangolin Day, our aim was to spread awareness about the plight of the pangolin and draw attention to the illegal poaching of these critically endangered animals.

Research and Development

My expertise lies in producing documentaries, with a specialization in researching and developing stories related to environmental issues, science, wildlife, and space. I excel in in-depth research and shaping scientific stories into compelling narratives. I enjoy crafting engaging documentaries that not only captivate audiences but also offer fresh perspectives on critical topics.

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Props and Graphics

Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas (music video) -John Legend (2018)

Release (web series) - Directed by Joe Penna (2020)

IBM 'Dewey' marketing campaign -Produced by Atlantic Pictures (2019)

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Other clients included Durst, SL Green, Allianz, Amex, Nasdaq and more. Design portfolio available upon request.

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©2025 by Elodie Freymann

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