Earth Swimmers, 23 mins, 2021
commissioned by Sheffield DocFest Exchange, with support from Wellcome

by Hermione Spriggs in collaboration with Nigel Stock
Sound Artist (field recordings, sound design): Jez riley French

Earth Swimmers attends to the tricks and techniques that mole catchers use to access the underground world of the mole. Using tools as portals into the mole's vibratory world, probes, feet, noses and worm-charming instruments lead the viewer into alternative ways of sensing and knowing the earth.

This experimental ethnographic film is made in collaboration with mole catcher Nigel Stock, during the year that I spent working with rural pest controllers in North Yorkshire. It was first screened at Glasgow CCA during COP26. To read an essay by Laura Robertson expanding on our collaborative process follow this link: https://sheffdocfest.com/film/earth-swimmers