National Documentary Competition

TURTLE SHELLS
SCHILDKRÖTEN PANZER

• Director: Tuna Kaptan
• GERMANY / 2017 / DCP / Colour / 30´ / German, English, Arabic; Turkish, English s.t.

• Screenplay: Tuna Kaptan
• Director of Photography: Rebecca Meining
• Editing: Sophie Oldenbourg
• Producer: Tuna Kaptan
• Production Co.: Donaukapitän
• World Sales: Tuna Kaptan

European animal protection laws, German Armed Forces foreign operations and a seized turtle, whose shell was painted with the flag of the Syrian rebels. All converge at a reptile rescue centre in Munich, headed by Dr. Markus Baur. A German army specialist is learning how to deal with dangerous reptiles – he must keep calm, catch, neutralize. Meanwhile, Dr. Baur informs the turtle’s Syrian owner she’s unlikely to get her animal back under European species protection law. A multi-perspective film in the midst of glass terrariums exploring the connections between animal, man, and war.

This film was a Meetings on the Bridge participant.