ENCOUNTERS 2025: SHIFTING BASELINES (with Q&A)

Every year since our founding in 2010, The Bioscope has proudly hosted screenings of The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival. Now celebrating its 27th year as a festival, Encounters returns to The Bioscope once again with screenings at The Bioscope from 20 - 29 June. Tickets are R90. 

SEE THE FULL BIOSCOPE PROGRAM HERE

SHIFTING BASELINES (with Q&A)

Dir. Julien Elie | Canada | 100 min | 2025 

The title of this highly thought-provoking film refers to how each generation perceives the natural environment of their own time as the "normal" baseline, leading to a gradually increased tolerance for environmental degradation. The title might seem a little oblique at first, given that the film is ostensibly about Elon Musk's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, space exploration and rocket launches in general. But as Shifting Baselines begins to knit together its various strands – including the massive impact that the launches have on both the environment and the atmosphere, as well as on the feasibility of future launch missions – everything coheres into a multilayered meditation on the romance and dangers of space travel. Set on the perimeter of the Starbase facility, the filmmaker speaks to people who have come from around the United States to set up camp in the area and bear witness to what some of them view as our first tentative steps towards becoming an intergalactic species.

In 2025, The Bioscope celebrates 15 Years Of Cinema. We couldn’t have achieved this without our dedicated staff who look after you every time you visit. We’re lucky enough to have had all of them with us for as long as we can remember, and believe that this loyalty deserves constant support!

For the months of May, June and July, we are running a special BIOSCOPE BIRTHDAY STAFF FUNDRAISER, where in the checkout of your ticket purchase, you can give a donation that will go straight to them - Owen, Silin, Bongi, Portia, Polite, and Swenkie!