Finalist in the People & Nature - Short Form and Impact Campaign categories!
A film by Jigar Ganatra with support from Myworld Film Grant, Schoolyard Films, Amberjack Films, AFRISOS
Impact Producer: Simona Nickmanova
Chameleon Corridors is a short film set in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Often overshadowed by popular destinations like Serengeti and Kilimanjaro, these ancient mountains are home to dozens of endemic chameleon species found nowhere else on Earth. Most live in small patches of forest that have been shrinking for over a century.
The story is told through the voice of a wise old chameleon who has seen it all, from thick, thriving forests to widespread deforestation caused by foreign timber companies. Even after independence, forest clearing continued, and today local farming communities are feeling the effects. Rainfall is no longer predictable, and crops are failing.
The film follows Anna, a young girl from one of the villages. One day, while checking on the farm with her mother, they find their crops have failed again due to heavy rain. Anna’s mother feels defeated, saying it’s too late to fix anything. But Anna asks, “If we were able to destroy nature, why can’t we try to repair it?”
Moved by her question, they begin visiting neighbours, sharing the idea of restoring the forest. Slowly, the community comes together to start replanting trees on land that was once cleared. Today, over 300 farmers in the Nguru flanks are part of the reforestation effort.
The film includes interviews with elders, farmers, and spiritual leaders who share their beliefs about chameleons, creatures often feared in Tanzania. Their reflections, woven with the chameleon’s narration, reveal a deeper connection between people, land, and memory.
Chameleon Corridors is a story about climate, tradition, and the quiet strength of local action in one of the most ecologically important places on the planet.
- Runtime20 minutes
Finalist in the People & Nature - Short Form and Impact Campaign categories!
A film by Jigar Ganatra with support from Myworld Film Grant, Schoolyard Films, Amberjack Films, AFRISOS
Impact Producer: Simona Nickmanova
Chameleon Corridors is a short film set in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. Often overshadowed by popular destinations like Serengeti and Kilimanjaro, these ancient mountains are home to dozens of endemic chameleon species found nowhere else on Earth. Most live in small patches of forest that have been shrinking for over a century.
The story is told through the voice of a wise old chameleon who has seen it all, from thick, thriving forests to widespread deforestation caused by foreign timber companies. Even after independence, forest clearing continued, and today local farming communities are feeling the effects. Rainfall is no longer predictable, and crops are failing.
The film follows Anna, a young girl from one of the villages. One day, while checking on the farm with her mother, they find their crops have failed again due to heavy rain. Anna’s mother feels defeated, saying it’s too late to fix anything. But Anna asks, “If we were able to destroy nature, why can’t we try to repair it?”
Moved by her question, they begin visiting neighbours, sharing the idea of restoring the forest. Slowly, the community comes together to start replanting trees on land that was once cleared. Today, over 300 farmers in the Nguru flanks are part of the reforestation effort.
The film includes interviews with elders, farmers, and spiritual leaders who share their beliefs about chameleons, creatures often feared in Tanzania. Their reflections, woven with the chameleon’s narration, reveal a deeper connection between people, land, and memory.
Chameleon Corridors is a story about climate, tradition, and the quiet strength of local action in one of the most ecologically important places on the planet.
- Runtime20 minutes