Here Now Films Wins the Regional Panorama Award for The Bio Estrela Project
We’re excited to share that our latest documentary, The Bio Estrela Project, has just won the Regional Panorama Award at the Casa da PassarelLa CineEco Festival.
This all started as a passion project to raise awareness for C Level’s important environmental work, now we’re proud to become an award-winning documentary film studio!
The Story Behind Bio Estrela
The Bio Estrela project is all about restoring biodiversity in Portugal’s Serra da Estrela mountains. This area is beautiful and dramatic, but invasive species—mainly eucalyptus and pine—have turned it into a high-risk zone for wildfires. With the help of C Level and URZE, the project aims to change that by removing these trees and replanting native, fire-resistant species.
When we heard about this effort, we knew it was a story worth telling. So, we packed our cameras and headed into the mountains to document how a dedicated group of people are working to protect both the land and the local communities.
The Filming Experience
Spending two weeks in the Serra da Estrela was eye-opening. We stayed with Louis, a local shepherd, in a remote farmstead without modern comforts—just the land and the people. Every day, we explored the mountains with the URZE team, capturing both the beauty and the challenges they face.
We saw vast areas of land that had been destroyed by wildfires, and met local farmers like Mary, who are working hard to reintroduce native trees. The work being done here isn’t just about preventing fires, it’s about creating a more sustainable future for the region.
A Global First: Biodiversity Credits
One of the most exciting aspects of the Bio Estrela project is its role as a pioneer for biodiversity credits. These are similar to carbon credits, but instead of focusing on emissions, they support efforts to increase biodiversity. If successful, this model could be a game-changer for environmental restoration projects around the world, providing a new way to finance crucial conservation work.
Why This Award Matters
Winning the Regional Panorama Award is not only a big moment for us as filmmakers, but also for the Bio Estrela project and its incredible team. Our aim was to tell a story that brings attention to the urgent need for biodiversity restoration, and this recognition will hopefully help push that mission forward.
We’re grateful to everyone who has supported us, especially C Level, URZE, and the local community in Serra da Estrela, who opened their doors (and farms) to us. This award is a win for all of us.
We’re excited to keep telling stories like this, stories that show how local actions can make a global difference.
Follow this link to read more about our adventure in the Estrela Mountains.
