CONTRIBUTORS

Panu Pihkala

“The process model of eco-anxiety and grief (2022) has at its heart three dimensions of coping and changing: Action, Grieving, and Distancing (including self-care). The model is relatively simple, but it was difficult to conceive. Over many years, I went through research and literature on the topic, and compared that to my experiences of meeting people in workshops and other events. An early version of a process model was published in Finnish in 2019, and I knew it was helpful to many people. I am very glad that the new model has gained international attention, and the films introduced at this website bring new angles to it. It has been deeply meaningful to work with this wonderful creative collective.” – Panu, Autumn 2024

Dr. Panu Pihkala (b. 1979, he/his) from the University of Helsinki is a leading expert in interdisciplinary eco-anxiety research. He is also an adjunct professor of environmental theology (Title of Docent) at the University of Helsinki. Panu hosts the podcast Climate Change and Happiness together with Dr. Thomas Doherty (https://climatechangeandhappiness.com/), and he has been awarded several prizes in Finland for his books about eco-emotions.

Elin Kelsey

I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Panu Pihkala on a number of climate emotions projects. The idea of re-imagining his academic process model of Eco-Anxiety and Ecological Grief into a short, animated film captivated me. I loved the creative challenge of conceptualizing and writing The Dance.  I’m grateful the film is freely shareable online because 42% of the world’s population is 25 years of age or younger and social media is the prime source for climate justice content. I’m glad The Dance will reach the high numbers of people in this demographic who are experiencing eco-anxiety and a range of climate emotions.

“Fear is a trickster.” That is what flashed into my mind the moment a coyote dashed in front of me. I’d taken myself on a ramble to think about how to approach writing the film, and voila – the greater than human world showed up to collaborate. Since that auspicious beginning, the trickster has driven the storyline and The Dance has continued to be gifted by creative collaborators who have each brought their own sensitive interpretations of the dynamic process of eco-anxiety to the animation, sound scale, music and direction of the film.  For more about me and my work, please visit https://www.elinkelsey.org/

Mary Beth Leatherdale

Over the past decade and a half, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Elin Kelsey on books for children and other projects.

When I learned that the possibility of collaborating on a short film on Panu Pihkala’s Process Model of Eco-Anxiety had become a reality, I was thrilled. As soon as Elin shared early script ideas, I knew that Amanda Strong and her talented team at Spotted Fawn Productions would be perfect partners. I’ve been a fan of Amanda’s work for years. Her ability to create animated films that are disquieting yet imbued with hope has always impressed and moved me. As the screenplay evolved, our vision was that the talented Inuit style throat singers Piqsiq — sisters Tiffany Kuliktana Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay — would create the music and voice the narration and dialogue for the film. And, I’m so grateful they did. Their deep understanding and embodiment of Panu’s process model is the heartbeat of the film.

For more about me and my work, please visit www.marybethleatherdale.com.

Stranded Astronaut Productions

Stranded Astronaut Productions, led by filmmakers Tehya Jennett and Maxfield Biggs, is an award-winning production studio and artist collective. Recent film works have screened at Climate Film Festival NYC, Rooftop Films, the Climate Imaginarium, Museum of Moving Image, COP28, and Hawai’i International Film Festival. As an official Media Partner of the Los Angeles Climate Week, Stranded Astronaut hosted the At the Intersections: Climate Art Gallery to showcase multimedia works in the intersection of art and the environment. Their last short documentary in partnership with Climate Mental Health Network, Gen Z Mental Health: Climate Stories, was honored as an impact case study by the Jackson Wild Film Festival and hosted over 75+ community screenings across 15 countries. Along with producing How Are You Really?, the team is currently beginning the impact campaign for the documentary Healing Lahaina, supported by the JED Foundation as a 2024 PINK with Purpose Awardee.

Spotted Fawn Productions Inc.

Spotted Fawn Productions Inc. is an Indigenous owned and led production company centered in animation and moving image art. SFP was founded in 2010 by owner, producer and Emmy nominated director Amanda Strong (Michif/Red River Métis – Manitoba Métis Federation). The studio’s award-winning productions specialize in the handmade aesthetics of stop motion animation to generate films, books, exhibits and interactive works that have been seen worldwide, celebrating Indigenous content on screens and beyond.

With each production, SFP’s foundation focuses on process, learning, collaboration and collective making, while uplifting and creating space, training, resources, and skills development for Indigenous, BPOC, LGTBQT2S+ and emerging artists. SFP explores non-linear methods of Indigenous storytelling as well as production and dissemination systems.

The subject of this film resonated deeply for our team. During production, one of our designers was forced to evacuate because of wildfires. And all of us are struggling with the very real impacts of eco-anxiety. Our collective efforts to explore and develop the character of Nature offered a sense of strength and hope.