Searching for Satyrus

Set in the mountainous borderlands between the warring nations of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the story follows Rena Effendi, a photographer in pursuit of Satyrus effendi, a rare and critically endangered butterfly named in honor of her father, an enigmatic Soviet entomologist who was absent from her life. He died in 1991, when Rena was just fourteen, amid war and the collapse of the USSR. Rena retraces his old butterfly-hunting routes through what is now a devastated landscape, deep into a remote Caucasus exclave isolated by decades of conflict. The butterfly is known to appear there only once a year, fluttering high over militarized border that people are forbidden to cross. On this journey of discovery, Rena comes closer to her father, confronting the distance between them and coming to terms with his troubled legacy.

Butterflies are some of the most charming insects. We might be familiar with garden species like Peacocks and Orange-tips, but there are over 17,500 different butterfly species around the world. This special event will present a film documenting Rena Effendi's search for a rare species - Satyrus Effendi - which is named after her father.

In keeping with the theme of this film, Anthony McCluskey from Butterfly Conservation will present an illustrated talk after the film about the work that goes in to finding some of Scotland's rarest butterflies and moths. This will include some of the adventures he and his colleagues have had along the way.

This event is generously sponsored by Healthiest Town.