The Ancient Forest
A wildlife documentary film- and media-project
Synopsis
Primeval forests that have existed for millennia provide water and air to all life. They are a world full of interconnections that have developed over thousands of years. Cedars, spruces, and firs, living their remarkable lives, create communities of millions of living creatures around them, many of which can be found nowhere else on the planet.
Among the most important areas that remain unaltered since prehistoric times are old-growth forests.
Among the most important areas that remain unaltered since prehistoric times are old-growth forests.
Such untouched islands of forest, rather moderate in their size, are located in a few nature reserves and national parks in Russia, where a common visitor may not be able to enter. Our film provides a rare opportunity to observe the forests that have not suffered from hundreds of years of human disturbance.
Northern Eurasian forests play the utterly important role in the life of our planet: through oxygen production and carbon fixation, soil formation and water retention they affect climate and preserve biological diversity.
Northern Eurasian forests play the utterly important role in the life of our planet: through oxygen production and carbon fixation, soil formation and water retention they affect climate and preserve biological diversity.
As landscapes and seasons change, we encounter numerous inhabitants of the forests — mammals, birds, insects, other invertebrates, plants and fungi.
Each old tree, as a major 'engineer of the ecosystem', creates a biotope. Whether alive or fallen, it provides food, shelter, and homes for countless species, including fungi, plants, insects, birds, and other animals. Our cameras will reveal the hidden connections that trees establish within the ecosystem, making them visible to viewers.
Each old tree, as a major 'engineer of the ecosystem', creates a biotope. Whether alive or fallen, it provides food, shelter, and homes for countless species, including fungi, plants, insects, birds, and other animals. Our cameras will reveal the hidden connections that trees establish within the ecosystem, making them visible to viewers.
Genre
Nature documentary, Popular science, Family
Nature documentary, Popular science, Family
Filming territory
Russia
Russia
Runtime
70 min feature
70 min feature
Release
2025
2025
With the informational
support of
support of
Locations
Primary forests and their inhabitants will be filmed on the territories of national parks, reserves, and locations:
—Republic of Komi: Pechoro-Ilych State Biosphere Reserve (The Virgin Komi forests; UNESCO World Heritage List of natural territories)
—Murmansk Oblast: Lapland State Natural Biosphere Reserve
—Sverdlovsk Oblast: State Natural Reserve 'Denezhkin Kamen'
—Tver Oblast: Central Forest State Natural Reserve
—Republic of Komi: Pechoro-Ilych State Biosphere Reserve (The Virgin Komi forests; UNESCO World Heritage List of natural territories)
—Murmansk Oblast: Lapland State Natural Biosphere Reserve
—Sverdlovsk Oblast: State Natural Reserve 'Denezhkin Kamen'
—Tver Oblast: Central Forest State Natural Reserve
The current state
Forests cover 31% of the global land area. Approximately one-third is primary forest. More than half of the world's forests are found in only five countries: the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China.
Almost half of the territory of Russia is covered with forests. 25% of those are primary, which equals to 1/5 of the global natural forests area. But only 6,5% of Russian primary forests are protected by the government.
While the climate is changing, natural forests are proven to be the main contributors to its sustainability. The role of Russian old-growth forests as global providers of oxygen, biodiversity, carbon storage and humidity is clear for the scientists.
In 80 years we risk losing the old-growth forests. Not only in Russia, but in the whole world. However, this matter is rarely discussed and supported by local communities, industries and governments.
Almost half of the territory of Russia is covered with forests. 25% of those are primary, which equals to 1/5 of the global natural forests area. But only 6,5% of Russian primary forests are protected by the government.
While the climate is changing, natural forests are proven to be the main contributors to its sustainability. The role of Russian old-growth forests as global providers of oxygen, biodiversity, carbon storage and humidity is clear for the scientists.
In 80 years we risk losing the old-growth forests. Not only in Russia, but in the whole world. However, this matter is rarely discussed and supported by local communities, industries and governments.
Primary/natural/stable/old-growth forests — naturally regenerated forests of native tree species, where the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed by humans for hundreds of years. These forests are made up of mosaic tiles, each at a different degree of maturity (or 'phase'), including recently regenerated trees, young trees, trees in full-scale development and senescent trees.
These forests are of irreplaceable value for their biodiversity, carbon storage and other ecosystem services, as well as cultural and heritage values. Large extents of such forests now occur only in tropical and boreal regions.
These forests are of irreplaceable value for their biodiversity, carbon storage and other ecosystem services, as well as cultural and heritage values. Large extents of such forests now occur only in tropical and boreal regions.
— clearcutting or intensive selective logging;
— large scale human-caused fires;
— intensive and regular application of chemicals such as pesticides, herbicide, fertilisers, etc.;
— severe industrial pollution;
— intensive recreation, etc.
— large scale human-caused fires;
— intensive and regular application of chemicals such as pesticides, herbicide, fertilisers, etc.;
— severe industrial pollution;
— intensive recreation, etc.
Photographs: Igor Podgorny, Igor Shpilenok
Climate regulation
― Primary forests regulate the global climate by the biotic pump mechanism: forests create constant upwards moving air currents due to water vapour rising from the plants into the atmosphere. This phenomenon creates a low-pressure environment in the lower parts of the forests, attracting more moisture from distant oceans and contributing to the global air- and water flow across continents.
― Primary forests have high moisture storage capacity and can regulate the water cycle on a local level.
― Boreal forests and swamps act as a carbon sink withdrawing and retaining vast quantities CO2 from the atmosphere.
Stability
― Old-growth forests are more resilient in the face of climate change than secondary forests.
― Primary forests are more fire and insect-resistant, meaning they are more stable.
― Disturbed forests are busy with restoring themselves under a given external environment. Undisturbed forests regulate the external environment while the biomass remains stable.
― Forests carry out the vital functions of regulating and protecting the water sources, as well as protecting land from erosion.
― Primary forests have created complete ecosystems of biodiversity species including fungi and bacteria that help stabilise the climate.
― Forests affect the planet's radiation and thermal levels, preventing the soil from overheating and overcooling.
Biodiversity
― Primary forests contain 80% of the terrestrial biomass and provide habitat for over half of the known terrestrial plant and animal species.
― Trees, both living and dead, large and small, generate their own microhabitats and act as shelters, growing platforms and food resources for thousands of species.
― Primary forest ecosystems are crucial to many plants, fungi and animals that will only settle in the old- growth forests — never in the younger ones.
― A consistent forest life over time leads to the development of a community that is complex and complete both on the ground and in the trees.
― Primary forests regulate the global climate by the biotic pump mechanism: forests create constant upwards moving air currents due to water vapour rising from the plants into the atmosphere. This phenomenon creates a low-pressure environment in the lower parts of the forests, attracting more moisture from distant oceans and contributing to the global air- and water flow across continents.
― Primary forests have high moisture storage capacity and can regulate the water cycle on a local level.
― Boreal forests and swamps act as a carbon sink withdrawing and retaining vast quantities CO2 from the atmosphere.
Stability
― Old-growth forests are more resilient in the face of climate change than secondary forests.
― Primary forests are more fire and insect-resistant, meaning they are more stable.
― Disturbed forests are busy with restoring themselves under a given external environment. Undisturbed forests regulate the external environment while the biomass remains stable.
― Forests carry out the vital functions of regulating and protecting the water sources, as well as protecting land from erosion.
― Primary forests have created complete ecosystems of biodiversity species including fungi and bacteria that help stabilise the climate.
― Forests affect the planet's radiation and thermal levels, preventing the soil from overheating and overcooling.
Biodiversity
― Primary forests contain 80% of the terrestrial biomass and provide habitat for over half of the known terrestrial plant and animal species.
― Trees, both living and dead, large and small, generate their own microhabitats and act as shelters, growing platforms and food resources for thousands of species.
― Primary forest ecosystems are crucial to many plants, fungi and animals that will only settle in the old- growth forests — never in the younger ones.
― A consistent forest life over time leads to the development of a community that is complex and complete both on the ground and in the trees.
Our mission
To change the mass perception of the role of primary forests using effective media and filmmaking expertise, to draw attention to the effects of old-growth forests on the climate and the ways people utilise them on both global and local levels, to evoke the feeling of belonging and responsibility for the future of forests.
Goals of the project
- To accent the real situation with forests, to urge understanding, evaluation and action to halt the destructive processes of deforestation.
- To shift an average consumers' consciousness on practising a more sustainable way of living.
- To impact the way industries deal with old-growth forests.
- To draw attention to science studying forests, especially young scientists.
- To stimulate ecologically oriented NGOs to help old-growth forests.
- To draw attention to the importance of establishing more nature reserved areas.
- To create high-quality soundscapes and video recording libraries to help in future science and media projects.
What makes our storytelling unique
- Scientific competencyStrong scientific competency to bring the viewer only well-grounded information.
- Simple explanationA simple explanation format of complex ecological processes.
- Deep and thoughtful observationsDeep and thoughtful observations, an immersion into the atmosphere and the rhythm of a real ancient forest. Recognised poetic style of storytelling, based on the previous feature film 'Kamchatka Bears. Life Begins'.
- High-fidelity soundscapeHigh-fidelity soundscape with extended sound recording techniques.
О студии LESFILM
LESFILM unites wildlife filmmakers, animators, environmental conservationists and scientists who are among the leading experts in Russian wildlife. Our goal is to create wildlife films with unique visuals and sounds that would urge viewers to preserve
the fragile environment.
the fragile environment.
Our cinematography is rooted in the energy and rhythms
of nature, we rely upon its fine-tuned system, immerse into it — following its rules that sometimes are elusive to the standard human perception. Our team uses the most current filming techniques to capture the life of flora and fauna. LESFILM also specializes in the recording of fauna and nature soundscapes.
of nature, we rely upon its fine-tuned system, immerse into it — following its rules that sometimes are elusive to the standard human perception. Our team uses the most current filming techniques to capture the life of flora and fauna. LESFILM also specializes in the recording of fauna and nature soundscapes.
The team
IRINA SHAEPMAN (ZhuravlevA)
Основатель, продюсер, режиссёр
VLADISLAV GRISHIN
Director, Editor, Colourist
GEORGE SCHNIPPER
Co-Producer
ALEXEY ALEYNIKOV
Screenwriter, Scientific Consultant
DMITRY Schigel
Scientific Consultant, Scientific Editor
ANTON KORABLEV
Scientific Consultant
VLADIMIR ARKHIPOV
Sound Operator, Scientific Consultant
GEORGIY KHIMORODA
Composer
OLEG KUGAEV
Director of Photography
ILYA DOLGOV
Time-lapse photography
MIKHAIL RODIONOV
Photography
PAVEL GREKOV
Photography
DMITRY IVANOV
Macro-photography
DMITRY SUVOROV
FPV Aerial Filming
Previous project
Kamchatka Bears. Life Begins
Kamchatka Bears. Life Begins
The beautiful meditative film by LESFILM brings the audience up close to the first and the most eventful year of brown bear cubs' lives and their adventures. Kamchatka Bears. Life Begins is a film that differs from other nature documentaries. The movie has already received 24 awards at 45 festivals in 20 countries total.
Предыдущие работы
The beautiful meditative film by LESFILM brings the audience up close to the first and the most eventful year of brown bear cubs' lives and their adventures. Kamchatka Bears. Life Begins is a film that differs from other nature documentaries. The movie has already received 24 awards at 45 festivals in 20 countries total.
Join zoologist Sergey Kolchin and the audience as we explore the pristine cedar-broadleaf forests of the Russian Far East, experiencing the Ussuri taiga's dangers and discoveries of orphaned bear cubs.
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