On the remote New Siberian Islands in the Arctic Ocean, hunters are searching for the tusks of extinct mammoths.

This might sound like science fiction, but the film Genesis 2.0 is a documentary about how a group of scientists are trying to bring the extinct woolly mammoth back to life, Jurassic Park style.

In collaboration with the Valletta Film Festival, the team behind the Science in the City festival and CineXjenza are bringing two scientists to the screening of Genesis 2.0 on June 12 at 5pm, cinema room, Spazju Kreattiv.

Can a woolly mammoth really be resurrected? Is Jurassic park possible? What are the limits of cloning humans and other animals? Geneticists Edward Duca and Joseph Borg (University of Malta) will be having a chat reflecting on the film’s topics. Duca has modified the genetics of fruit flies, while Borg studies human genetics being part of the team find a cure for thalassaemia, a disease relatively common in Malta.

The fourth edition of the Valletta Film Festival, organised by the Film Grain Foundation, is taking place right now and includes a new venue and over 40 Maltese premiers of international films.

International guests are lined up to attend, including acclaimed British director Peter Greenaway, who will be present for a special screening of The Greenaway Alphabet on June 9 and is also being interviewed for the  Sunday Times of Malta and Times Talk.

Genesis 2.0 forms part of the documentary competition line-up, in which seven films compete for the prestigious Best Documentary and Best Cinematography in Documentary awards.

There is a feature film competition, with films being screened every night at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, and a short film competition, being screened at Spazju Kreattiv.

The festival kicks off in the evening on June 8, with the opening ceremony and screening of The St Bernard’s Syndicate, followed by the opening party at Hastings Garden Science in the City—European Researchers’ Night is Malta’s Science and Arts festival, while ĊineXjenza aims to spark debates around science topics raised in movies.

Snacks and refreshments will be served during the discussion. ĊineXjenza is supported by the STEAM Summer School project funded by the Erasmus+ of the European Union. It is run by the Malta Chamber of Scientists, in collaboration with Spazju Kreattiv and S-Cubed.

https://vimeo.com/250266223

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