ORF-E | In Production (Eyeing November 2026 completion)
English
1 x 52 min
Available worldwide except for Germany and France

From the peaks of Greece’s Pindus Mountains to Albania’s Adriatic coast, the Vjosa flows almost 300 kilometres through gorges, mountain forests, floodplains and a remarkable river delta. This visually stunning nature documentary portrays one of Europe’s last great wild rivers and its extraordinary biodiversity. The film follows thousands of migrating nase, observes little ringed plovers protecting their chicks and explores habitats shared by otters, black storks and Albania’s last breeding pairs of the endangered Egyptian vulture. Even inconspicuous species such as blackfly larvae, tadpole shrimp and the European freshwater crab reveal the intricate ecological web sustained by the river. Floods, shifting gravel banks and newly formed side channels continuously reshape this dynamic landscape. Yet the Vjosa came close to destruction when numerous hydropower plants were planned along the river and its tributaries. A movement uniting local communities and international conservation organisations halted the projects. In 2023, the Vjosa became Europe’s first Wild River National Park. The film celebrates this historic achievement while highlighting continuing threats from waste, water extraction, tourism and construction. It is a powerful journey through a living river system – and asks whether Europe’s last great wild river can remain free for generations to come.