A film challenging the assertion that hydraulic fracturing is a safe, time-tested technology and questioning whether shale gas is the solution for our energy-hungry world.

Winner: Green Award, Sheffield Doc Fest, 2014
Winner: Best S. African Film, Encounters International Film Festival, 2014
Official Selection: Durban International Film Festival, 2014

When director Jolynn Minnaar first heard about fracking in the Karoo, her home district, she was optimistic. Companies seeking to drill in this semi-arid area of South Africa promised that the new process of gas extraction was safe, bringing widespread prosperity for the poor, rural communities. After coming across a rumoured case of water contamination in Pennsylvania, Jolynn is drawn into an investigation which takes her into America's heart of darkness - the home of fracking technology - in search of answers. Her discoveries leave her horrified. What she finds is a bleak landscape, where powerful energy companies exploit the land, at a terrible cost to both the environment and the health of the local communities. As the South African government lifts the moratorium on fracking, the race against time begins to share her findings with the residents of the Karoo - before it's too late.

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COMPETITION: Win 1x pair of tickets to attend Unearthed at the ICA, on Thursday 30th October at 18.30pm. To enter the competition, send an email to bojana@run-riot.com with the correct answer in the ‘subject’ box. The winner will be randomly selected.

Q: In the UK, Unearthed was previously seen at

A: 1) Bristol Doc Fest  2) Sheffield Doc Fest 3) Dover Doc Fest