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Home , Bay of Kiel, Steep coast

SEEN FROM ABOVE: EUROPE'S COASTLINES

A VIDICOM Production 2011 HD TV Series (15x52 Min.)

Yann-Arthus Bertrand’s nature film “Home“ and the BBC's "Planet Earth" have set the stage for breathtaking aerial views. Inspired by these pioneers in aerial filmmaking, ’s VIDICOM uses the advanced Cineflex camera technology to create surprising perspectives for “Seen From Above: Europe's Coastlines".

The helicopter camera enables unjittered HD telezoom shots of nature and wildlife on the . Split into three seasons of 5 episodes each, the film team starts out on the Baltic of Germany. The sequel takes the audience on a discovery trip from Copenhagen via Stockholm and Helsinki to Tallinn, Riga and Gdansk. The third seasons is set at Germany's coast.

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Mysterious waters, a fresh sea breeze, life on the , vast , steep cliffs, towns with hanseatic heritage. "Mare Balticum" is the term which connects the nine countries around Europe's largest continental waters. Most of the coastline belongs to the European Union today, but the differences between countries are huge.

For many centuries, the seas of the North have been both a source of subsistence and of threat to the residents. These waters facilitated the Viking rampages and subsequent trading. The residents on the are a unique kind of people shaped by the sea. They are hardy, able to endure tough weather conditions, but are nevertheless open to the life beyond their shores. Close up, we experience the simple story of the North turn into a flow of strong characters and stories.

Aerials build the narrative framework. Back on the ground we pursue our discoveries from the sky and maintain the highest visual standards. Natural lighting conditions, like sunrise and twilight, crane, dolly and steadicam speak for themselves. Never before has the the coast itself served as the dramatic frame for a documentary.

Co-produced with ARTE, NDR, SWR, UR, YLE, DR

Supported by EU MEDIA, nordmedia fonds and Filmfund Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

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SEASON 1 - BALTIC COASTS - GERMANY p. 4

1/15 Castles and Myths 2/15 Piers and Harbours 3/15 Hanseatic Heritage 4/15 The Bird Route 5/15 Enchanted Islands

SEASON 2 - BALTIC COASTS - EUROPE p. 7

6/15 The Nordic South Seas 7/15 The Spell of the 8/15 Of Forests and Lakes 9/15 The Reborn Gems 10/15 Hidden Treasures

SEASON 3 - GERMANY'S NORTH SEA COAST p. 10

11/15 and Marshlands 12/15 Orchards and Big Cities 13/15 Magical 14/15 Land of the Tides 15/15 The Three Sisters

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Season 1 - Baltic Coasts - Germany Castles and Myths (1/15)

Along the Flensburg , the cliffs of Angeln and the of , the helicopter follows a route of ancient landmarks. From the Northern tip of Germany, ship set their sails to get the Gold of Westindia in 19th century - rum, which is still traded here today. The moated castle of Gluecksburg glistens brightly in the sunset. Its heiress, the Princess of Ysenburg, is one of the last successors of the Danish kings and is saving their legacy from oblivion. In Schleswig, a hobby viking revives the old times, following the rituals of Haithabu, which was once largest Viking city in Germany. The journey ends in Eckernfoerde with a dive among Baltic jellyfish, brought to the screen as mysterious medusas of the sea.

Season 1 - Baltic Coasts - Germany Piers and Harbours (2/15)

Even today, the steep coast of the Bay of Kiel is a valued landmark for skippers. 1000 feet above, the helicopter crosses the Marine Memorial in Laboe, following a maritime route from Kiel to Luebeck. In the beautiful landscape of Switzerland, an artist tells the story of the Baltic with sea-imprinted tiles. In the mystic of Graswarder, fly fishermen chase for sea trouts. Niendorf port is home to a young potter, who took over her father's shop right at the old harbour just outside of Luebeck, where the tour of this episode ends with the tales of the Hansa league.

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Season 1 - Baltic Coasts - Germany Hanseatic Heritage (3/15)

Luebeck was once considered the Queen of the Hanseatic guild. Many believe it to be the most beautiful city along the German coast. The view from above reveals the shape of the Old Town, which is marked by Gothic gables, left undestroyed by the times of War. In the 20th century, writers like Thomas and Heinrich Mann and Günther Grass turned the city into the cultural center of Northern Germany. At the harbour, a crew proudly hoists the sails of "Lisa von Luebeck", a re-built of a three-master that is gliding as elegantly towards the open sea as its medieval antetype. At Brodten bank, mystical flowers in the surf are the remnants of a sea burial that we follow aboard an old sailing ship. The Hanseatic town of Wismar shipyards is struggling to find its path to the future - from there, the journey leads to the small village of Rerik, where an old fisherman catches herring and eel like in the old days. The episode ends with a spectacular view of Rostock's hanseatic heritage.

Season 1 - Baltic Coasts - Germany The Bird Route (4/15)

Every spring and autumn, thousands of migrating birds present one of the most breathtaking nature spectacles over Western. The helicopter follows the path of cranes, birds of happiness. From Rostock to Ruegen, the route passes the stunningly beautiful scenery of Darss . At the steep of Wustrow, a treasure hunter discloses his tricks to track down amber, the Gold of the . Two brothers keep up the heritage of carved, symbol-laden doors in Prerow alive, while in Gross-Mohrdorf, a young researcher follows the path of cranes. The elegant birds rest in the marshlands just outsider of her observatory every year in autumn. The journey ends on Ruegen, Germany's largest island and famous for its chalk cliffs.

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Season 1 - Baltic Coasts - Germany Enchanted Islands (5/15)

The fifth episode leads from Germany's most popular holiday destination Ruegen to the sea eagles last resort at the island of Usedom. At Schaprode harbour, a chef carefully selects freshly caught fish. With his creations, he is striving for Ruegen's first Michelin star. The nostalgic steam train "Racing Roland" opens up a long-forgotten dimension of traveling. The helicopter follows the train route from Goehren station to the hunting lodge of Granitz, an impressive Renaissance fort. Only very few people have access to the enchanted island of Vilm. A photographer with his camera obscura is one of them. Not far off, a scientific diver inspects the world's biggest shipwreck grave at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Once, the Swedish set up a blockade against the feared Danish here. With the majestic flight of sea eagles, the journey ends at Usedom island.

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Season 2 - Baltic Coasts - Europe The Nordic South Seas (6/15)

In , the helicopter circles stunning Møns Klint, a giant chalk cliff before it heads westwards to small islands. A giant offshore windpark towers at Rødsand, using the same winds as the migrating birds. Near Fyn, in the middle of the Danish South Seas, a woman has found happiness on small Avernakø island together with 150 goats. After a visit in northern Greenå, where old vessels are put to their last rest, the journey ends in a state-of- the-art open air bath in Copenhagen.

Season 2 - Baltic Coasts - Europe The Spell of the Skerries (7/15)

The Øresund bridge guides the helicopter on its route from Malmø to Stockholm - a spectacular view for dozens of paragliders who enjoy the winds along the Southern coast near Ystad. From here, we fly over to Oeland, island of bird watchers and summer residence of the Swedish royals. On the island of Gotland, knights in shining armour combat in the medieval setting of Visby. Just outside of Stockholm many people like to spend their summers on their own small island in the midst of the vast garden, while the tourists meanwhile flock to Stockholm, where a hostelier accommodates his guests aboard an ancient three master.

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Season 2 - Baltic Coasts - Europe Of Forests and Lakes (8/15)

From the world's oldest champagne, this episode leads us from Åland to the of Bothnia. With Finnish tango and a stop off at the sauna, the route leads to the world's biggest around Turku, to the vast lakes of Vääksy and Kotka. Ancient seafarers carved their signs into the rocks at Hanko while waiting for better winds. The Finn's passion for Tango comes through in long midsummer nights, accordeon sounds waving from to shore. Crossing the skerry garden with a medical doctor on his speed boat, the route leads eastwards to a man who fabricates famous lures, irresistible for predator fish. Last landing is in Kotka, where people play underwater rugby.

Season 2 - Baltic Coasts - Europe The Reborn Gems (9/15)

The journey takes us from Tallinn to the more than thousands of Estonian islands. On Kihnu, time seems to have come to a stand still when Marge Valm mounts her M72, an old Russian motorcycle - the only means of transportation on the island. Not far off, on the mainland, a unique nature reserve stretches from the coast to the hinterland: the Soomaa National Park. From here, we continue through the bay of Riga. Life in the big harbour cities is vibrant, where architect Rem Koolhaas forms a new city skyline, a young woman carries on the maritime traditions in the port. Along the vast Latvian coastline, people strive to preserve pristine landscapes. In Pape, a ranger re-breeds nearly extinct aurochsen. The route ends at the Courland Split in Lithuania, a peninsula with a very special location. Part of 100 kilometres long sandbank is Russian, with no land connection to the motherland: Kaliningrad, the former Prussian Koenigsberg.

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Season 2 - Baltic Coasts - Europe Hidden Treasures (10/15)

"Hidden Treasures" explores the coastline from the Vistula via the bay of Gdańsk to the sandy beaches and steep cliffs of Pomerania. A flock of storks starts their journey from the Polish-Russian border, escorted by the helicopter. At Ostroda , vessels are hauled overland to pass a level difference of 99 meters - a construction invented 150 years ago. At the Solidarność shipyard in Gdańsk, a young star photographer tracks down history in his portraits. Next to the mighty shifting of Łeba, a granny and her grandson keep a lighthouse nightwatch. Crossing the perfectly preserved old towns of Rewal and Szczecin, the journey ends in Świnoujście at Uznam island.

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Season 3 - Germany's North Sea Coast - Mudflats and Marshlands (11/15)

In the first episode the journey takes us from Papenburg along the Ems river, past the East Frisian Islands to Bremerhaven. The film team accompanies the “Celebrity Equinox”, a freshly baptized luxury liner, through the Ems Barrier. From Emden the helicopter flies up to the westernmost German island Borkum whose endless beaches are a dream come true for kite buggy drivers. Alongside guide Kurt Knittel the crew walks across the bottom of the sea at ebb tide. Once a day, the Wadden Sea falls dry, revealing a unique biotope of crabs, lobs and mussels. The journey continues along the dikes and canals. From the air the numerous sheep appear like small dots. Grazing on the dike, they keep the turf of the embankment solid. Not far ahead, the cranes of Bremerhaven port tower aloft. 50 million tons of goods, more than in New York or , are handled in the harbor each year.

Season 3 - Germany's North Sea Coast - Orchards and Big Cities (12/15)

From Bremerhaven, the route takes along the river to Hamburg harbour, Germany's gate to the world. In the mouth of the river, life revolves around the tides. Erhard Djuren gets to his bow nets in the middle of the mudflats - by dog sleigh. He is one of the last fishermen around here who still uses bow nets to catch crabs. Not far away, the usually so peaceful Wadden Sea gets jolted by a rataplan of hooves once a year. The Duhnen horse race counts 150 more participants who splash across the mud. From here, the journey continues over seemingly endless plantations of the Old Land, the biggest fruit-growing region of Northern Europe. With silhouettes of the warehouse district and city's new philharmonic hall this episode ends right at the busy harbour of Hamburg.

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Season 3 - Germany's North Sea Coast - Magical Islets (13/15)

From the mouth of the River Elbe this episode's route leads us to Germany’s only high-sea island Heligoland and all the way up to the coast of North Frisia. A unique world, which changes its face twice a day – floods at high tide and mudflats at low tide. The island of Trischen is a breeding place for sea birds and is off limits for visitors. Only biologist Janina Spalke is allowed to live here, and solely for scientific purposes: her feathered neighbours. For seven months her only contact with the outside world is a bumboat that lands once a week and supplies her with all necessities. Only a few kilometers away, in the middle of the national park, lies Germany's only oil platform, the Mittelplate, which delivers three percent of the German mineral oil. Near Dithmarschen farmer Rainer Carstens cultivates cabbage on 600 hectare land. The largest part of the harvest is used for the German "Sauerkraut" production. Not far off, the twelve kilometers long beaches of the North Sea spa Sankt Peter- Ording stretch as far as the eye can reach. This is the territory of the blokarts. With aerials of the famous pile dwellings, we end our episode.

Season 3 - Germany's North Sea Coast - Land of the Tides (14/15)

In the middle of the Wadden Sea, the "Halligen", small islands without dykes, are located. The few houses on them are built on elevated mounds. It may seem the perfect idyll in summer, but in fact they live in constant danger. During storm tides, the sea creeps high up to their house, and one day, it might snag everything with it: “land submerged”. The old church tower on Pellworm bears witness to the forces of the storm tides. Since 1407 the ruin stands as a beacon for the sunken city Rungholt that fell victim to one of the worst storm tides in living memory. Georg Reynders is minister of the Theresien Cathedral - an Old Catholic and at the same time the probably most unconventional soul on the island: he broadcasts his services via the internet. On the neighbouring island Langeness Fiede Niessen and his lorry on rails are the umbilical cord to civilisation. The rails run right through the middle of the Wadden Sea to the mainland and can only be used during low tide.

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Season 3 - Germany's North Sea Coast The Three Sisters (15/15)

The fifth episode of our journey along the German coast of the North Sea takes us to the three sisters: the islands Sylt, Foehr and Amrum. Svenja Trautmann lives and works on the southern tip of Sylt. She crafts beach chairs, a traditional trade that has been in her family for years. Today their beach chairs are exported to countries around the world. Nevertheless, each one is unique. At low tide the oyster banks surface off the shore of Sylt. The taste of the so called Sylter Royal is one of a kind. On the neighboring island Foehr the thatched houses typical of Northern Germany can be found. The reeds last 30 years until they start to get fragile and do not keep out the cold in winter anymore. Here, Helga Woegens runs the only organic milk farm on the island. After work, she saves some time for her passion: the island's liveries group. On its west side the third island on the route, Amrum, has a 15 kilometer long shield of sand. In the old days, Amrum was renowned for its pirates who took anything they could from the ships stranded on the island's sand bank. Nowadays, the ships off the Amrum coast are no longer at risk: Wolfgang Stoeck puts out to sea every day to make sure the buoys and beacons keep seafarers safely on their routes.

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