Echoes in the Dark

Unique, mysterious, but misunderstood; a species that does so much for us, and their real value is now coming out of the dark. Echoes in the Dark (2024) uncovers the impact of an unsuspecting, yet wildly rejected creature: bats. The documentary is a fully student-produced project from the University of Florida, led by a team in their early 20s.



The film shines a light on the immense value these flying mammals hold not just to the people in the small town of Gainesville, Florida, where the film takes place, but across the world. The human relationship with bats is fully realized throughout the piece and shows how this connection has evolved and shifted over decades. It highlights the relationships experts and admirers alike hold with the species while also challenging what it means to coexist with the natural world, accepting all the wildlife that plays a role in it, by settling the misconceptions commonly tacked onto the animal. Furthermore, the film explores how climate change is hurting bat populations across the sea and back at home, which is lessening their relevance and benefits for both people and the environment.



Bats become characters as the documentary progresses. Though we can't interview them, their voices are still heard, and their personalities shine through. A majority of this film takes place outdoors, showing off the bats and the people that study them.



From UF’s own bat houses to bat populations in the Bahamas, the film aims to reeducate people about bats while also recognizing the human race's shortcomings in accepting and supporting them in local communities.