All posts by impolitikal

A digital-only publication with a social, political focus.
ARTS, PERSONAL

Q&A | Director Florian Habicht on his latest film, Spookers

Florian Habicht’s unconventional approach to filmmaking has won him critical acclaim and kept discerning film fans entertained for more than a decade. His films Love Story (2011), Kaikohe Demolition (2004) and most recently Pulp: A Film About Life, Death & Supermarkets (2014) all break with the rule book, and hit home because of it. For his latest project, the Berlin-born New Zealander ventures into the creepy, freaky world of Spookers, a “scream park” located in a former pyschiatric hospital in Auckland, NZ. Described as being about “the transformative and paradoxically lifesaving power of belonging to a community that celebrates fear”, Spookers is one of five finalists in the Illuminate Award for innovative documentaries at next week’s Sheffield Doc/Fest 2017.

Sarah asked Florian how he ended up working on the doco, and what was surprising about the experience.

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ENVIRONMENT, POLITICS

Q&A | BIOSEC, exploring blurred lines between crime & conservation

BIOSEC (Biodiversity and Security: Understanding environmental crime, illegal wildlife trade and threat finance) is a four-year project investigating the deepening interlinkages between conservation and international security. Growing consumer demand for wildlife products like ivory and fur has seen an increase in illegal poaching and trade, and there are claims this activity is sometimes conducted by militant groups.

Sarah got some more background from the project’s Principal Investigator Rosaleen Duffy, who is also Professor of International Politics at the University of Sheffield. Continue reading Q&A | BIOSEC, exploring blurred lines between crime & conservation →