Birdmen
Korea, United Kingdom | Film 80min, TV 60min | 4K | Color
Logline
Seagull impersonators from all walks of life compete in a Gull Screeching Championship in a bid to repair the human bird relationship.
Synopsis
In Belgium, displaced seagulls have claimed city rooftops, sparking a chaotic turf war with residents. To heal this rift, environmentalist and comedian Claude launches the bizarre Gull Screeching Championship.
Birdmen follows an eccentric group of contenders: UK bird call prodigies Cooper and Shelby, Claude and his dedicated marine scientists, and an Italian acting troupe competing as a bird colony.
As costumed contestants from across Europe take the stage, they blend electric energy, comedy, and impressive mimicry for a panel of top marine scientist judges. Can the power of this wild idea help repair the rift between bird and human?
Director's Statement
Birdmen tackles urban human-animal disconnection through comedy, absurdity, and creativity. Rejecting traditional ""doom and gloom"" tropes, the film explores an uplifting, solution-focused approach to ecology.
The film follows Claude, an eccentric creator who uses a seagull-mimicking competition as a Trojan horse, partnering with scientists to transform environmental learnings into the language of comedy and spectacle. Alongside, Cooper’s journey explores evolving masculinity and the vital need for connection among young men.
Ultimately, Birdmen proves that environmental solutions can be joyful, entertaining, and deeply resonant.
Director & Producer Thomas MAITLAND
Thomas Maitland is a South African director with a focus on telling diverse, cross-cultural documentary narratives. Thomas majored in Film and Media studies at the University of Cape Town and is passionate about bringing underrepresented and bold stories to screen.