Five years in the making, The Monarch Ultra documentary is set to premiere tonight at Market Hall. The film tells the story of a group of ultra runners and environmentalists who followed the monarch butterfly’s 4,300-kilometre migration path on foot from Peterborough to Macheros, Mexico, in 2019.
Peterborough eco-landscaper and runner Carlotta James, who founded the project, was inspired after a chance encounter with monarch butterflies during a trail run in 2016. Concerned by their declining population, James led the seven-week international relay to raise awareness of biodiversity conservation.
The documentary, directed by Rodney Fuentes, captures the runners’ journey across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, facing challenges like heatstroke and dehydration, mirroring the difficulties monarchs endure during their migration.
The screening with begin at 7pm, with a Q&A session to follow, featuring James, Fuentes, and other project members.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
