Unearthing The Atlantic Forest's Secrets — A Mini Documentary Collaboration with Kew Gardens

Last updated: April 27, 2026

The Atlantic Forest in Brazil is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. It is also where Professor Alexandre Antonelli, Director of Science at Kew Gardens, recently led the discovery of a previously unknown parasitic fungus that infects and kills spiders. The Guardian covered the find in March 2023. I worked on the edit and motion graphics to turn the footage from that project into a finished short film.

The filming itself was handled by Kew Gardens, who travelled with Professor Antonelli's team in Brazil and captured the raw material on location. The work started once the footage came back. Filmmaker Louise Stevens and I took on the edit and motion graphics together, shaping the structure, pacing, and visual treatment of the piece.

Editing nature documentary material always involves a balance. The footage has to do the heavy lifting, but the way it is sequenced and supported determines whether the audience stays engaged or drifts. We worked carefully on the rhythm between wide environmental shots and the tighter detail of the discovery itself, using animated overlays sparingly so they supported the science rather than distracting from it. The original score by Louie Cooper carried much of the emotional shape, which gave us more freedom to keep the visual treatment relatively restrained.

The result is a short film that walks the audience through the forest with Professor Antonelli's team, builds a sense of place, and lets the discovery itself land properly without over-dramatising it.

You can read more about the underlying science in The Guardian's coverage of the discovery.