THE SHARK WITH A THOUSAND NAMES (On Demand)

Many myths and fairy tales revolve around whale sharks in Indonesia. They harbor the spirits of ancestors and save people from drowning. Everywhere they are a sign of good luck and prosperity; accordingly, throughout Indonesia, local traditional regulations prohibit people from catching or harming whale sharks. They are the only shark species in Indonesia that is also fully protected by law.

Rumor has it that some fishermen have a very special relationship with them. A team of underwater filmmakers and photographers step off the beaten path and take their cameras on a journey deep into an almost unknown region in Indonesia to discover this secret whale shark population, get up close and personal with the animals underwater, and tell a rare story of peaceful coexistence between humans and sharks. A story that we can take something away from.

Directed by Hendrik Sebastian Schmitt