ZIMOV'S HYPOTHESIS

The Zimov Hypothesis is the story of a bold bet.

Two scientists, a father and his son, Sergey and Nikita Zimov, are striving to save the planet from a climate bomb: the thawing of permafrost. This frozen layer under the earth's surface incubates millions of tons of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, as well as mega viruses and mercury. Just a few degrees warmer, and the fragile permafrost will set off a climate bomb.

How? By restoring the mammoth’s steppe ecosystem and calling animals to the rescue. According to Sergey, a major reintroduction of large herbivores would help restore this Pleistocene ecosystem, and would have a cooling effect on the climate.

The director Denis Sneguirev hopes that the film will impact to raise public awareness on the thawing permafrost which is one of the most dangerous and serious environmental catastrophe to come.

FESTIVALS

• Scam Lauréat — Bourse Brouillon d’un rêve
• Human Rights Film Festival Berlin 2021 Selection — Climate Story Lab Berlin
• Cinema For Change 2021 Winner — Cannes Docs Prize
• ChangeNOW 2021 : The largest positive impact community Summit — Official Selection
• FIPADOC 2021
• CPH : DOX 2019
• DOCS Barcelona 2019
• MEDIMED 2019 — Official Selection for Pitching FORUM
• WEWM 2019 — Official Selection
• FIPADOC 2019 Winner — Best French Pitch

Crew

• Director Denis Sneguirev
• Writer Denis Sneguirev
• DOP Dmitri Rakov & Denis Sneguirev
• Sound Sorin Apostol
• Editor Audrey Maurion
• Producer Arturo Mio
• Co-Producers 13 Productions & Ethnofund & TAKE FIVE