DOCUMENTARY 2007 | 2 x 52 mins | ZDF-ARTE | SBS AUSTRALIA CHANNEL 5 RUSSIA | NRK NORWAY | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL

It‘s one of the great mysteries of life – and perhaps the most intriguing question humans have: Are we alone? Or do we have unknown relatives on distant planets? And if yes – where are they? A group of scientists tries to find answers to these questions – SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. In the United States, Europe, South Africa and Russia scientists are trying to receive extraterrestrial signals with huge radio telescopes. Others use spacecraft to launch messages into the cosmos. Even sending human DNA with greetings to E.T. is not a taboo anymore. Our two part documentary takes viewers on a fascinating journey into the laboratories of one of the world‘s strangest fields of science. But what‘s behind the search for aliens beings? How can extraterrestrial signals be found, how does the technology work? What are the chances that we will have contact soon – and what dangers would that impose on the human race?

Written, directed, shot and edited by CHRISTIAN SCHIDLOWSKI
Produced by VIDICOM MEDIA PRODUCTIONS
Funded by EU MEDIA PLUS PROGRAMME
Developed within the DOCUMENTARY CAMPUS MASTERSCHOOL