Hvaldimir, Conversation with a Spy Whale

90 mins | 2024

Directed by Jérôme Delafosse & Fabrice Schnöller

A pre-recorded interview with Directors Jerome Delafosse and Fabrice Schnoller follows the screenings.

In 2019, a lone beluga whale wearing a harness appeared off the coast of northern Norway—friendly, playful, and oddly accustomed to humans. Believed to have escaped from a Russian military program, the whale, soon dubbed Hvaldimir, became a viral sensation as videos of him playing fetch and returning lost phones flooded the internet. But behind the heartwarming clips lies a deeper story of mystery, science, and human connection.

This thought-provoking documentary follows a team of journalists, scientists, and one young girl as they travel alongside Hvaldimir through the majestic fjords of Norway. Together, they seek to understand his past, his behavior, and what his presence means in a world where surveillance, captivity, and the wild converge.

Part spy thriller, part marine odyssey, Hvaldimir: Conversation with a Spy Whale explores the ethical questions raised by one extraordinary whale—and the people forever changed by crossing his path.