Nocturnes - Enzian Theater

***Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Craft at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival***

Featuring a pre-film Science on Screen® presentation on “The Importance of Pollinators and the Effects of Change” by the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens! Come early to meet visiting invertebrates in the Enzian lobby.

In the dense forests of the Eastern Himalayas, moths are whispering something to us. In the dark of night, two curious observers shine a light on this secret universe. Together, they are on an expedition to decode these nocturnal creatures in a remote ecological “hot spot” on the border of India and Bhutan. Though moth lifespans are measured in hours and represent only a small amount of the immense biodiversity of their species, in these small creatures lies a history of our planet. With a transportive and experiential visual style and immersive sound, Nocturnes is a deeply engrossing film that transports audiences to a rarely seen place and urges us all to look more closely at the hidden interconnections of the natural world.

About the speaker: Jamie Ling is a passionate wildlife educator with a love for animals big and small! With a degree in biology from the University of Central Florida, she has an in-depth knowledge of entomology and loves to share the fascinating world of arthropods. As an educator at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Jamie inspires audiences to protect wildlife while making science fun and engaging.

Purchase a Series Pass to receive discounted admission to all 5 South Asian Film Festival programs, plus priority seating!

Please note, there are no Enzian Film Society Member discounts or table reservations for South Asian Film Festival films.

2024, 83 minutes, India/USA, In Hindi, English and Bugun with English subtitles, Directed by Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinvasan

In partnership with

In partnership with Science on Screen®: an initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.

”Hypnotic…an observational Indian nature doc about moths that makes its case poetically and powerfully.”
– Siddhant Adlakha, VARIETY
“Put it this way: If audiences don’t walk out of Nocturnes immediately googling “hawk moths,” they’ve simply been too temporarily dazzled to re-enter a world of fast-paced technology. That’s a good thing.”
– Kate Erbland, INDIEWIRE
“Nocturnes, an insightful documentary that hopes to whisper the poetry of such creatures to its audience, is an educational and compelling look at these curious insects.”
– Kristy Strouse, FILM INQUIRY
“Nocturnes’ greatest asset is in how it shines a light on the serene world of moth ASMR which exists with all its vivid beauty in the luscious forests of the Himalayas.”
– Andrew F. Peirce, THE CURB
“Poetically captures the rigorous nature of research as Mungee and Marphew study their screens nightly.”
– Pat Mullen, POV MAGAZINE