Hellbender in the Blue

Sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones rooted in the natural world. Hellbender in the Blue is a self-driven documentary produced in 2020 and 2021, highlighting the statewide conservation effort to protect the eastern hellbender salamander—a two-foot-long species that serves as a critical indicator of river health. With populations declining since the early 1980s, the film focuses on the work of communities in Indiana’s Blue River watershed, uniting to remove dams and restore the environment for both the hellbender and the humans who rely on the same waterways.

This ambitious project brought together over ten partners, including The Nature Conservancy, Purdue University, and the Indianapolis Zoo, blending expertise from conservationists and creative specialists alike. Funded in part by the Indiana Humanities Waterways film grant, the documentary toured statewide and was recognized at numerous film festivals nationally, including the International Wildlife Film Festival, Heartland Shorts, and the Wasatch Mountain Film Festival. It also earned the Indiana Reels Award at the Hobnobben Film Festival in Fort Wayne.

Through compelling visuals and collaborative storytelling, Hellbender in the Blue amplifies the importance of environmental stewardship and inspires audiences to reflect on the interconnectedness of our ecosystems.