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Film highlights Midway wildlife, history

COURTESY TANDEM STILLS + MOTION

A Laysan albatross watches over a juvenile at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

A film celebrating conservation efforts at Midway Atoll is scheduled to be live-streamed Monday at multiple locations across the nation, including Honolulu and Hilo, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Midway.

“Midway: Edge of Tomorrow,” by wildlife photographer and filmmaker Ian Shive, offers rarely seen footage of the atoll’s natural beauty and wildlife along with the last remaining structures from the 1942 battle described as one of the most decisive U.S. victories against Japan during World War II.

“With changing climates, places like Midway are becoming even more important refuges for marine wildlife and seabirds,” said Shive in a news release. “The tale of Midway is one of a deeply intertwined human history with a vibrant natural history. We want to commemorate the upcoming 75th anniversary and the expansion of the marine national monument using a cinematic approach to tell the story of Midway, its rich history, what it is today, and what it may be in the future.”

A 12-minute version of the narrated 40-minute film will be live-streamed at 7:30 a.m. Monday at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Honolulu and the Mokupapapa Discovery Center in Hilo. The events are free and open to the public.

Since Shive started working on the film in January 2016, the boundaries of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, where Midway Atoll lies, have shifted. In August, President Barack Obama expanded the 9-year-old monument to encompass 582,578 square miles, making it the world’s largest marine reserve. It is now on a list of 27 monuments under review by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The film, done in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, offers above-ground and underwater cinematography integrated with historical footage and interviews with cultural experts.

Visit tandem.film/midway-edge-of-tomorrow to learn more.

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