THE DOLPHIN DILEMMA, 18min., USA
Directed by Olivia Andrus-Drennan
Imagine, waking up being covered in third-degree burns, that's what it's like for the Burrunan dolphins in Australia. But why is this happening? That's what Dr. Duignan, Director of Pathology at The Marine Mammal Center, Dr. Stephen’s from Murdoch University, and Dr. Robb from the Marine Mammal Foundation had to find out. This film explores this international collaboration that proves for the first time that these lesions being found on cetaceans around the world are only caused by climate change.

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Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

After reading the paper that The Marine Mammal Center released, I just had to make this into a film. It needed to be seen, dolphins and whales are loved by so many including myself and if I could bring light to such important work I had to try, so this film was born.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you
to make this film?

The film took about a year to make do to COVID. I was working for The Marine Mammal Center when the paper was released. This allowed me to get the first interview with Dr. Duignan, but we then had to wait for Australia to open up, which took about 5 months. After filming there, it took another 6 months to edit it down and present it as my thesis film.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Burning dolphins

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

I would say the aftermath of all the freshwater within the Gippsland Lake system was the biggest challenge. The input of all that water caused an algae bloom while we were shooting with the dolphins. This made it very difficult to find them as well as filming underwater not possible. So we had to come up with other methods to shoot the dolphins underwater as well as work with the Marine Mammal Foundation to get more footage in order to complete the film.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking
about your film in the feedback video?

I was deeply touched. It was the first time receiving audience feedback and to see that everyone's positive reaction and motivated to help, as a filmmaker it was everything I hoped the audience would get out of the film.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I was in middle school when I was introduced to fiction filmmaking by my best friend Will Ilgen. I just fell in love with storytelling, but the draw to wildlife biology was also just as strong of a pull. So I decided, "Why not both?" So I got two degrees in filmmaking and wildlife biology and continued to get my masters in science and natural history filmmaking from Montana State University and it has been the best decision I ever made.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

My dad constantly had Turner Classic Movies on in our household, so most of the films I have seen were created in the Golden Era of filmmaking. I grew up with Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Barbara Stanwyck, I could go on and on. To me this era had some of the best written films due to all the restrictions placed on content at that time. The writers had to be very creative and it shown through the performances of the actors. These are the films I aim for, even if my focus is documentary, great storytelling is universal no matter the type of film created.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other
festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking
career?

I think for me as an emerging filmmaker networking opportunities with other filmmakers, distributors, producers, etc. is absolutely needed. With festivals going online this element is now missing in many festivals. So I think this needs to be solved because as big as this industry seems, it's actually quite small. People hire those they know or have met and if you don't have those opportunities for new filmmakers who are most likely paying out of pocket just to apply to the festivals, it limits their likelihood of getting their films out there.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your
experiences been working on the festival platform site?

This was the first time I used FilmFreeway's marketing tools and I have to say I could not be happier. For the first time festivals were coming to me to ask to see the film. I was getting discounted offers and it allowed me to find the festivals actually wanting to have my film versus the apply here or there and getting seen by only a few festivals. So for me, FilmFreeway was amazing to use and I highly recommend it for emerging filmmakers new to the festival space.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Beef stroganoff. My dad use to make this as a special meal for me growing up and now it's just reminds me of home.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I'm pitching a series about the Farallon Islands, an island chain two hours outside of San Francisco known as a keystone space. Animals are typically known as keystone species, like otters. Take otters out of an ecosystem and the whole thing collapses. Well this is a rare keystone space that has very little human interference and has something giving birth on the island every season, very rare. I'm one of the few who have been on the island and I can't wait to share with everyone the significance of such a space. If you're interested in getting involved please feel free to reach out!