Every summer, wildfires increasingly ravage places around the globe, darkening the skies with thick smoke and reducing communities to little more than ash and debris.

In their feature documentary Incandescence, award-winning directors Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper (Metamorphosis) weave together immersive on-the-ground footage from the 2021 Monte Lake fire and the 2023 West 琉璃神社 fire, with first-person accounts from Indigenous Elders, first responders and ordinary people forced to react to a rapidly evolving ecosystem.

First Nations people traditionally used controlled burns to regenerate the land. As one woman explains, fire is like a grizzly bear running to stay alive. But instead of fighting this insatiably hungry beast, working with nature transforms fire鈥檚 capacity to destroy into a powerful force for growth and renewal.

Following the rhythms of the seasons, Incandescence takes shape from the ancient patterns embodied in fire: destruction, aftermath, rebirth. Many plants and animals have adapted to use fire in their life cycle. Some trees species require heat to release their seeds, while other fire-activated plants make use of the nutrients released in the soil bank to bloom. Honouring the experience of both human and non-human inhabitants, the film documents extraordinary stories of survival and adaptation in the forest mosaic. From the flight path of bees to an osprey鈥檚 aerial perspective, floating over the landscape: the Earth comes back.

Inside this intense and lushly realized cinematic experience, something else begins to emerge. A feverish spirit rising from the ashes with a collective and resilient approach to our mutable future, Incandescence transforms our understanding of fire from destruction and disaster into a kind of profound illumination, lighting the way towards new life and hope. 

The film, being presented by the Shuswap Climate Action Society, the Shuswap Environmental Action Society and the North Shuswap Defence Committee, will be showing at Salmon Arm's Fifth Avenue 50Plus Activity Centre at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 1.

Shuswap Climate Action Society chair Julia Beatty calls Incandescence is a must watch "for all residents of our region as a cautionary tale that will also leave you with hope for a more resilient plan."

"The impacts of climate change are here and wreaking huge environmental, economic, and biodiversity consequences," said Beatty. "The lack of action to curtail our greenhouse gas emissions has resulted in an acceleration of severe weather bringing a seesaw of intense rainfall, flooding, heat waves, and drought. Extreme heat and prolonged drought have made wildfires more frequent, more intense, and much more destructive in Canada and globally.  

Of the documentary, Shuswap Environmental Action Society President Jim Cooperman said it is a "very moving and complex film that provides us with an intimate look at the horrifying impacts of climate chaos.

"Using spectacular footage and the voices of firefighters and victims combined with the sounds of fire, this documentary is both artistic and educational," said Cooperman. "There is drone footage, scenes of burning structures, and wildlife up close. We see people's lives before, during, and after a firestorm destroyed everything they owned. As a wildfire survivor, I know how terrifying fires are and believe everyone needs to see this film to become more aware of the threat facing most people who live in rural communities and even in some cities.鈥�

Following the screening, wildfire expert Jake Jacobson will discuss the C-100 firefighting course for property owners, and a FireSmart representative will share tips on protecting homes from wildfires.

Everyone is welcome. Event starts at 7 p.m. and admission by donation.