Lost Snows of the Alps

Lost Snows of the Alps traces snow as both a cultural legacy and an ecological lifeline woven through the Alps’ past, present, and uncertain future. For centuries, snow and glaciers shaped alpine life — fueling myth, exploration, and the rise of mountain culture and winter tourism. Today, that same snow is vanishing at an unprecedented rate, as temperatures in the Alps climb faster than the global average. Through landscapes in transition, the film examines how declining snowfall and retreating glaciers are reshaping alpine ecosystems, threatening biodiversity, altering water systems, and destabilizing communities whose livelihoods depend on winter conditions. Rather than centering solely on loss, Lost Snows of the Alps turns its focus to those on the front lines—scientists, mountain guides, athletes, and conservation groups—who are documenting change, raising awareness, and advocating for more sustainable futures. In their stories, snow becomes both a measure of what is being lost and a symbol of what can still be protected through collective action.