Secrets from a Forest

A film by Neil Lucas

Witness the inspiring story of the intimate relationship between artistic expression and the natural world.

Led by the artistic vision of award-winning nature photographer Jim Brandenburg, award-winning director Neil Lucas, and featuring members of the Minnesota Orchestra, Secrets from a Forest tells the story of the relationship between nature and art through the exquisite and rare Stradivarius Violin.

Explore the Paneveggio Forest in Northern Italy throughout the seasons and observe the role of smaller life forms that shape the growth of Paneveggio’s towering trees. For centuries, Paneveggio has been home to the “singing” spruce, the source of wood for the Stradivarius Violin.

Then, be transported to a violin maker’s studio for an intimate and first-hand look at the creation of this exquisite instrument. The final minutes of this emotionally engaging sequence will take place in a concert hall, to hear the violin—the thrilling and powerful result of this delicate dance between human beings and nature.

About the Full-Dome Program

For the first time, our festival is proud to present a Full-Dome Film program, showcasing a diverse collection of immersive cinematic experiences in the Fogg Planetarium. Surrounding audiences with breathtaking visuals and sound, these groundbreaking works explore the creative possibilities of full-dome storytelling, inviting viewers into new worlds and perspectives unlike anything found in traditional cinema. Dip in, dip out, or absorb the whole experience under a single ticket price of $15 for all three!

Three full-dome experience films screen in this special program starting at 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 9!

This program is sponsored in part by the Florida State University School of Communication and the FSU Innovation Hub.