DIPPERS IN THE ALTAI IV; EMERGENCE OF THE CHICKS, 54min., UK
Directed by Andrew Laurie
In the course of his work as a wildlife conservation advisor to the Mongolian government, Andrew Laurie followed up on a childhood fascination with White-throated Dippers on the Teme near Ludlow, by finding out more about their lives in the Altai Mountains. Now resident in Cambridge, Andrew has made four films on Dippers in Mongolia - covering nest-building, incubation, feeding of the chicks in the nest, and this, the most recent one (2023) on the emergence of the chicks and their early lives on the river.

https://www.youtube.com/@andrewlaurie64/featured

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Early experience and fascination with the White-throated Dipper in UK as a schoolboy led me to search for its breeding sites in the Mongolian Altai when there on an assignment much later in life - because although sigthings were common, particularly in winter on unfrozen streams, the local ornithologists did not know where it bred.

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

This is the fourth in a series. This particular film took one year from decision to do the fourth in the series, to completed film.

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

Just watching

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

Organizing the footage in a sensible and efficient way

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

Very pleased that the audience members found it so interesting and understood all key things I had been trying to portray - the patience required to learn about animals; the joy of watching without intervention; the potential to interest local people; the Dipper as an indicator of riverine health.

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

The first time I went to find a Dipper nest in the Altai in 2017. I had intended to take only photographs but experimented with the movie function on my new camera and was hooked from then on.

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

In the Heat of the Night (starring Sidney Poitier)

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

Feedback from professional film makers (perhaps some of the audience were, but in that case to be made clear that they are)

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

Very good. It is well designed, and avoids unnecessary repeat input of information.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Curry and rice

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

A fifth film in the Dippers of the Altai series. I need to find out if that strange behaviour of the adults landing on the backs of the chicks is more widespread and to see if I can gather any clues as to its function or origin.