Gazelle Gaignaire | BELGIUM | 86 min | Subtitles
*International Premiere*
EVENT: Fertile Ends
Feature Film Screening: What if, after our last breath, we were turned into fertile soil? A movement is underway, in Europe and beyond, advocating for humusation (the composting of human remains) to be validated and legalized. It’s a culturally revolutionary idea, even though it’s based on aerobic decomposition, perfected by nature over millions of years. Its trailblazers are breaking taboos, awakening ecological awareness, shaking up the funeral world, and offering us another vision of death, one that regenerates life, paving the way for the creation of new rites.
There are two types of funeral practices in Belgium: burials or cremation. Deciding the fate of our remains after we die is deeply personal. A growing number of people are interested in a third option, an option that gives back to the land. An option that considers the environment and focuses on nourishing life.
Post-Film: A quirky and creative exploration of post-life planning with local death doulas. And don’t forget the Write Your Own Epitaph arts and crafts corner.
DIRECTOR BIO:
Gazelle Gaignaire
Gazelle Gaignaire is a French journalist and director based in Brussels, and graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has 30 years of international media experience. She began her career in 1994 at the European Television Center in Los Angeles. There, she worked on researching, producing and directing reports, primarily about the film industry for French channels (Canal+, France 2, TF1).