Ellie Schmidt

As glaciers warm and melt, their ice turns into water and runs into the sea. Fueled by this influx of fresh water, oceans are rising and promise to continue to do so. SANDCASTLES by Ellie Schmidt is a short, poignant film exploring the escalating issue of erosion on Nantucket in Massachusetts. Shot during summer, the film captures the beauty that made the island an idyllic retreat and the urgent threats that its landscapes and residents now face. The stunning visual narratives reveal how steadfastly people assumed the shoreline would never change. Through her lens, Schmidt questions the future of this community as local residents try to keep the sea from reclaiming the land.