John Webster

Burning Land (Palava maa)

Taming the force of nature

Just one spark can ignite devastation. Every year, wildfires consume an area the size of the entire European Union. Burnt Earth ('Palava maa') takes viewers straight into the flames, revealing both the fury of fire and the humanity that rises to face it.

John Webster’s visually striking documentary follows Finnish firefighters – including a team from North Karelia – in 2023 and 2024 as they travel to Portugal to train alongside local crews on the frontlines of Europe’s worsening wildfire crisis. In searing heat and suffocating smoke, they confront situations no northern forest can prepare them for. Through body-worn camera footage, the viewer experiences the chaos, exhaustion, and determination from the rescuers’ perspective. Yet amidst the inferno, sparks of solidarity, courage, and cooperation emerge – proof that where there’s fire, there’s also the will to fight it.

As the landscape glows and burns before our eyes, the documentary reminds us: this is not a distant catastrophe. Climate change is already here – and nature doesn’t wait for permission.

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Joining us at the screening, firefighters Soini Kurki and Janne Korhonen who joined forces in Portugal will answer audience questions and share their experiences.

Trailer