A Climate Diary: Around the Middle East has been selected for @bnpparibasgreenfilmfestival ! What an honour. We can't wait to watch it on the big screen and start the forever important climate conversation in Krakow, Poland in August 2026.
Hopefully see you there!
#aclimatediary #afforestproductions #climatedocumentary #shortdocumentary #climatechange
Very special time at DocForward developing @aroundwithoutwings with @annekrysizasorensen and all the other deeply inspiring and moving projects and their highly competent teams. It was a pleasure to share thoughts and perspectives with everyone for 3 incredibly intense but fantastic days. Can't wait for us all to gather again to pitch the Nordic Film Institutes in Oslo in May!
Also, I got to walk on frozen ocean in Helsinki in-between sessions - how cool is that? (Pun intended) ❄️
#docforward #nordiskpanorama #aroundwithoutwings #hansenogpedersen #helsinki @nordiskpanorama@filmfyn
Around Without Wings, my first feature documentary has been selected for the development workshop DocForward by @nordiskpanorama !
After another round of shooting in Spain with @elisekraghdp , a month of development editing with @madsmolsen and a week of sound design and music fun with @martincederholm@georgejazzmanholliday , I can't wait to explore what this project can be in the company of some of the most insightful consultants in the Nordic countries.
Thanks to @filmfyn for supporting us starting this process!
In February my fantastic producer @annekrysizasorensen and I are off to Helsinki to develop further and meet the other projects! 🌱
@aroundwithoutwings 🚞🎻 🚵♂️🦿
#aroundwithoutwings #docforward #nordiskpanorama #docpoint #filmfyn
"Climate issues are being brought to the back and what we're trying to do as filmmakers is to push them forward again, because it is the big brother of all other issues...
I think the big polluters are trying to change the narrative right now because they know people are becoming more aware and want change... Because of how the narrative is shaped around climate change it can be easy to give up and what we really need to know is
- we can change the world. We have the power to do so."
Last month Suncine Film Festival did an interview with me about A Climate Diary: Around the Middle East and the shift in narrative about climate change the most powerful people in the world are trying to shape. Algorithms are down prioritizing everything related to the topic while consuming our time more than ever before. The climate movement is in a lull and we need to reignite the spark, because it takes all of us to change the world and save our one and only home, Mother Nature, planet Earth.
Watch the whole interview via a link in my bio.
#suncinefilmfestival #suncine #documentary #director #interview
🔆 ONLINE STREAMING OF A CLIMATE DIARY: AROUND THE MIDDLE EAST - only in Spain until the 23rd of November at @suncinefest ! Find the film in the Monarca and Gender Perspectives categories 🔆
"In a world of climate disaster, Dan travels around the Middle East to find hope."
Link in bio.
#aclimatediary #aroundwithoutwings #climatefilm #environmentalfilm #naturefilm #documentary #filmfestival #afforestproductions #naturedocumentary #traveldocumentary #themiddleeast #hope #hopeinadarkworld #officialselection #filmværkstedodense #filmværkstedkøbenhavn #tv2kosmopol
#cphdox #sein #hearmeoutmusic #aqousticsltd
Dan Hodd is on a mission to travel 100 countries without flying to promote sustainable travel. On his way from Europe to Egypt, he dives into the middle eastern cultures, their beauty - and their problems. Drought and plastic pollution are spreading at the speed of wildfires, but local activists give Dan hope the climate crisis can still be reversed. If they work together.
A Climate Diary: Around the Middle East will premiere at @suncinefest in Barcelona, Spain in Oct. 30th - 23rd of November 2025! The International Environmental Film Festival – SUNCINE is the oldest environmental film festival in the world with the goal of educating through entertainment to raise awareness about our natural world. We are beyond honoured and grateful to have our little science gem shine in Spain and hope to reach the festival’s goal and spread awareness to a larger audience about climate issues and initiatives in the Middle East.
Starring @danhoddmusic@cerennncomertt@rashad_mahmood1612@massivenomadic@mary_shodipo@drstevesimpson@georgejazzmanholliday Lanah Haddad, Kathleen DeWitt, Furkhan & Ibrahim
Directed by @freyh
Edited by @elisekraghdp
Producer - @afforestproductions
Director of Photography - Elise Kragh
Camera Operator - Elise Kragh, Freja Refning Hansen
Underwater Photography - Elise Kragh, Freja Refning Hansen, Mary Shodipo
Fixer - Dan Hodd
Colour Grader - @nicolinevollmers.colorist
Sound Designer & Mixer - @georgejazzmanholliday
Sound & Dialogue Editor - @marchollanddk
Sound Recordist - Elise Kragh
Composer - George Holliday
Sponsored by
@filmvaerksted_odense@filmvaerkstedkbh@tv2kosmopol@cphdox
SEIN
@hearmeoutmusic.co@aqousticslab@afforestproductions@understoryproductions
#aclimatediary #aroundwithoutwings #environmentalfilm #oceanfilm #sciencefilm #documentary #socialjustice #suncine #internationalenvironmentalfilmfestival #environmentalfilmfestival #officialselection #filmfestival #filmværkstedodense #filmværkstedkøbenhavn #tv2kosmopol
#cphdox #sein #hearmeoutmusic #aqousticsltd #afforestproductions #understoryproductions
A Climate Diary has been selected to @science_film_festival and will screen in Alexandria's library in Egypt in December in front of the general public and local schools! We are beyond honoured, proud and grateful that images, information and science of the ongoing climate crisis, its devastation but also the hope in local initiatives in the countries Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt will be available to the public through this important festival.
Starring @danhoddmusic@cerennncomertt@rashad_mahmood1612@massivenomadic@mary_shodipo@drstevesimpson@georgejazzmanholliday Kathleen DeWitt, Lanah Haddad, Furkhan & Ibrahim
Directed by @freyh
Edited by @elisekraghdp
Producer - @afforestproductions
Director of Photography - Elise Kragh
Camera Operator - Elise Kragh, Freja Refning Hansen
Underwater Photography - Elise Kragh, Freja Refning Hansen, Mary Shodipo
Fixer - Dan Hodd
Colour Grader - @nicolinevollmers.colorist
Sound Designer & Mixer - @georgejazzmanholliday
Sound & Dialogue Editor - @marchollanddk
Sound Recordist - Elise Kragh
Composer - George Holliday
Sponsored by
@filmvaerksted_odense@filmvaerkstedkbh@tv2kosmopol@cphdox
SEIN
@hearmeoutmusic.co@aqousticslab@afforestproductions@understoryproductions
#aclimatediary #aroundwithoutwings #climatefilm #oceanfilm #sciencefilm #documentary #socialjustice #sciencefilmfestival #officialselection #filmfestival #filmværkstedodense #filmværkstedkøbenhavn #tv2kosmopol
#cphdox #sein #hearmeoutmusic #aqousticsltd #afforestproductions #understoryproductions
"A Climate Diary: Around the Middle East" the first film about @danhoddmusic travels without flying is finally complete!
Dan Hodd is on a mission to travel 100 countries without flying to promote sustainable travel. On his way from Europe to Egypt, he dives into Middle Eastern cultures - and their problems. Drought and plastic pollution are spreading at the speed of wildfires, but local activists give Dan hope the climate crisis can still be reversed. If they work together.
The Director would like to specially thank every generous soul we met on the road. You have opened our eyes and hearts to the kindness and beauty of our at times gloomy world. Thank you.
Directed by Freja Refning Hansen
Edited by Elise Kragh
Producer - Freja Refning Hansen
Director of Photography - Elise Kragh
Camera Operator - Elise Kragh, Freja Refning Hansen
Underwater Photography - Elise Kragh, Freja Refning Hansen, Mary Shodipo
Fixer - Dan Hodd
Colour Grader - Nicoline Gade Vollmers
Sound Designer & Mixer - George Holliday
Sound & Dialogue Editor - Marc Holland
Sound Recordist - Elise Kragh
Composer - George Holliday
It wouldn't have been possible without our incredible sponsors - thank you!
@filmvaerksted_odense@filmvaerkstedkbh@tv2kosmopol@cphdox
SEIN
@hearmeoutmusic.co@aqousticslab@afforestproductions@understoryproductions
#aclimatediary #aroundwithoutwings #climatefilm #oceanfilm #filmværkstedodense #filmværkstedkøbenhavn #tv2kosmopol
#cphdox #sein #hearmeoutmusic #aqousticsltd #afforestproductions #understoryproductions
On the 7th of July Dan took his first steps with his new leg. This was a surral moment we felt so incredibly honoured to witness. Seeing the friend we traveled the world with somehow looking like his old tall and lanky self after the many months in hospital - colour in the cheeks, gaining weight and that cheeky grin anyone who's had the pleasure of meeting Dan knows all too well.
The moment was more complicated for Dan. A few days earlier he had a fall on his stump after slipping with his crutches on a wet floor. That meant swelling and a lot of pain since the prostethic is cast to fit the exact size of his stump. 10 pairs of eyes on you in such a moment is overwhelming, yet Dan, like always, was brave and "got on with it". For him he said this was "just" another part of his rehab he must go through to get back to what he loves - traveling, music (and saving the environment).
He didn't get to take the leg home on this day however. The devoted physios didn't want to encourage him too much to over-do it while his stump was still swollen, so instead we had an adventure on wheels with his bestie looking at an old train and having a pint at the pub - some of the activities that Dan are enjoying a lot again!
On the following Monday he got to take his leg home to walk around on the uneven wooden floor of his house in Brighton. We can't wait to see where Dan goes next!
#prostethic #firststeps #aroundwithoutwings #documentary #film #climatewarrior #violinist #busking #traveler #amputee #traveler
There's been some quiet from our side for a while again. Last week Dan had a below the knee amputation on his left leg.
About a month ago the doctors found a deep infection in Dan's leg arising from a surgery following his bus accident in Israel. He was faced with 3 choices regarding what to do next. The first one was having the same reconstruction they had already done again with the same rate of success and failure. The second was a metal frame being put in his shin to hold the leg in the place bone was missing, having to crank out the frame a millimeter everyday - a painful long procedure followed by many months or years of rehab. The last was amputation.
We went to visit Dan in the hospital in Brighton several times the last couple of months talking to him about his thoughts on this traumatic situation and the choice in front of him. What it means for his future and identity. For a long time the choice was all consuming, but in the end one question made his decision clear. How can he get back to his life as a musician, climate activist and world traveler the fastest?
We visited Dan 2 hours after he work up from this amputation. When we arrived, the doctor was there and told him: when they opened the leg, they found that most of the muscle was dead and they would not have been able to do anything for him besides the amputation. We saw in Dan's face this brought him some peace. He had made the right decision.
This is the last message we received from Dan on Thursday:
"Everything has been super smooth these past days. Discharging tomorrow it seems! Utterly knackered and have had some impressively painful days but that's balanced out and I'm on track, content and optimistic as ever 👌Though I'm realising that I've got some times of hugely limited mobility ahead until we get to prosthetics and I'm walking comfortably on them so I've a way to go before this trauma is properly behind me!"
Dan, we are in awe of you and how brave you are.
We can't wait to follow you whereever you go in this new chapter of your life.
Elise & Freja.
#livingwithdisability #identitychange #aroundwithoutwings #climateactivist #amputation #disability #documentary
