Forest Calls 2.0 VIDEO SHOWCASE
“The Last ʻŌʻō Bird”
Press ‘play’ to hear the musical composition.
Adult and juvenile Moho braccatus (1893)
by John Gerrard Keulemans
Visualizing the Soundtrack of Loss
This year’s ‘Artist-in-Residence’, Louis-Gabriel Pothier, has composed “Forest Calls: The Last ʻŌʻō Bird”, a musical work that integrates the original 1987 field recording of the last ʻōʻō bird with a piano arrangement.
We are inviting filmmakers, animators, and visual artists to create a short video using this composition as the soundtrack.
Forest Calls Video Showcase: The Last ʻŌʻō Bird
This Video Showcase project is a central element of the larger “Forest Calls” initiative. Your work will help us bridge the gap between scientific data and emotional resonance, providing a visual narrative for a call that went unanswered and a reminder of why we must protect the voices still singing today.
The Last Song of the Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō
In 1987, on the island of Kauaʻi, a biologist named David Boynton captured one of the most poignant recordings in natural history: the song of the last living Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō. A vocal specialist, the male ʻōʻō (Moho braccatus) was singing a mating duet, pausing in the places where a female would have responded. But there was no response. He was the last of his kind. With his death, an entire evolutionary lineage that had existed for millions of years vanished.
Ground Zero for Extinction
The story of the ʻōʻō is not an isolated tragedy. We are currently living through a global biodiversity crisis, and nowhere is this more visible than in Hawaiʻi. Often referred to by scientists as “Ground Zero for extinction,” Hawaiʻi has lost more species than any other region in the United States. Of the more than 50 species of unique Hawaiian honeycreepers that once filled the canopy, only 17 remain, many of which are facing the same silence that claimed the ʻōʻō.
The ʻŌʻō and the ʻAkikiki: A Race Against Time
Today, the ʻAkikiki (Oreomystis bairdi) stands where the ʻōʻō stood forty years ago. As of 2026, the ʻAkikiki is on the absolute brink of extinction due to avian malaria and habitat loss. By telling the story of the last ʻōʻō, we aim to shine a light on the critical state of the ʻAkikiki and other forest birds. The ghost of the ʻōʻō serves as a haunting reminder of what is at stake, but also as a catalyst for the protection of the species that still have a chance.
Key Details for the Showcase
* Awards and prizes will be presented for “Best Film” and “Audience Choice” winners. *
* Winning films will be integrated in the “Into the Realm” VR experience and screened at various events (e.g. Live Performance, Forest Calls Interdisciplinary Symposium, travelling and educational exhibits, etc.). *
* Winners will be announced and screened on October 11th, 2026, during the Live Performance of “The Story of the ‘Akikiki” in Cincinnati. *
* All participants who submit a film will be invited to attend the October 11th Live Performance and ceremony. *
Submission Deadline: September 25th 2026
Rules and Conditions
Eligibility and Entry
• The competition is open to all creators worldwide, including filmmakers and animators. Click here to access the submission form.
• Submission is free of charge and open to participants of all age.
• All participants who submit a qualifying entry will receive an invitation to attend the “Forest Calls: The Last ʻAkikiki” Live Performance in Cincinnati.
Creative Guidelines
• All entries must use the musical composition “Forest Calls: The Last ʻŌʻō Bird” by Louis-Gabriel Pothier as the primary soundtrack.
• While participants are encouraged to add their own sound design, foley, or additional musical layers, the original ʻŌʻō bird recording and the solo piano within the composition must remain clearly audible and recognizable.
• We welcome all creative approaches, including but not limited to: live action, animation (2D, 3D, stop-motion), AI-generated media, experimental / abstract, and photo montage / Ken Burns style.
Submission Process (Two-Stage)
• Stage 1 (Initial Entry): To enter, participants must complete registration at the official competition website (https://forestcalls.org/forest-calls-2-0-video-showcase/). Participants must upload their video to their personal YouTube account as “Unlisted”. The link must be submitted via the official entry form. All required fields of the submission form must be entered in order to be considered.
Click here to be taken to the submission directly.
All submissions must be appropriate for general audiences. Content should be suitable for all viewers without explicit violence, language, or sexual content.
Derivative or copyrighted material is not permitted. All content must be 100% original. No use of copyrighted characters, worlds, or storylines is allowed. No recognizable brands or intellectual property may appear without explicit permission.
• Stage 2 (Pre-Selection): If a film is pre-selected for official competition, the creator will be contacted directly. At that stage, they will be required to provide a high-quality master file in .mp4 or .mov format via a provided upload link. Further instructions will follow.
Technical Specifications
• 4K or Full HD (1080p) only.
• We strongly encourage a 16:9 aspect ratio (horizontal), but we also accept 9:16 (portrait). All other aspect ratio will be cropped to either 16:9 or 9:16.
• Submitted video must have the exact same length as the official musical composition (4’42”).
Awards and Recognition
• “Best Film” Award: Selected by a committee composed of Ella Marcil (Writer-Director / UC Graduate Student / Director, Reflection.icu), Louis-Gabriel Pothier (musician), and Nancy Jennings (Niehoff Professor, College of Arts & Sciences – School of Communication, Film, and Media Studies, University of Cincinnati).
• The winner will receive the “2026 Forest Calls Best Film” award. The winning film will be showcased during the Live Performance on October 11th 2026 and integrated into the “Into the Realm” VR experience.
• “Audience Choice” Award: The general public will be invited to vote for their favorite entry. The winning video of this popular vote will receive the “2026 Forest Calls Audience Choice Film” award. It will also be included in the “Into the Realm” VR experience.
Note: While our goal is to showcase as many quality submissions as possible, submission does not guarantee selection across any of our public platforms.
Rights and Intellectual Property
• Participants retain the full copyright of their original visual work.
• Ownership and copyright of the musical composition “Forest Calls: The Last ʻŌʻō Bird ” remain exclusively with the composer, Louis-Gabriel Pothier. Participants are granted permission to use the track solely for this competition; any other commercial use of the music is prohibited.
• By entering, participants grant Reflection-icu an irrevocable, unlimited, non-exclusive license to use, screen, and distribute the film (in whole or in part) for the “Forest Calls” project, including the VR experience, live shows, and promotional materials.
Contact Information
• Questions and/or comments about the competition rules and conditions should be directed to the official “Forest Calls” Contact Us page. Responses will be provided within 72 hours during business days.
Timeline – Key Dates
- August 8th 2026 – Official launch of the ‘Forest Calls Video Showcase’ submission process
- September 25th 2026 (11:59PM (EST)) – Final submission deadline
- October 1st 2026 – Launch of the voting process for “Audience Choice” Award
- October 10th 2026 (11:59PM (EST)) – Deadline to vote for “Audience Choice” Award
- October 11th 2026 – Announcement / Premiere of the two winning films (during the “Story of the ʻAkikiki” live performance) & Award Ceremony
Additional Resources
Cornell Lab Macaulay Library – Kauai Oo – Moho braccatus
DLNR DOFAW – Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō / Moho braccatus
eBird – Kauai Oo – Moho braccatus