Radical Mycology Convergence: Sept. 24–27, 2026 | Mulino, OR

Nature's Bounty Mushroom Hunters of the Zambian Miombo

Nature's Bounty: Mushroom Hunters of the Zambian Miombo

2026 |Zambia |18:30 |English |Subtitle: English

In Zambia’s spectacular Miombo woodlands, the rains bring an extraordinary bounty of wild mushrooms. For generations, local villagers have known where to find them, which to eat and how to preserve them — knowledge woven into the rhythm of life. Nature’s Bounty follows these expert fungi hunters alongside fungi photographer Stephen Axford and mycologist Professor Peter Mortimer as they explore this remarkable fungal world. Here, mushrooms provide vital food and income and are part of an intricate fungal web essential to the forest itself. But the Miombo is disappearing as trees are cleared for agriculture and charcoal. Could wild mushrooms offer communities a sustainable livelihood — and give the forest greater value if left standing? Nature’s Bounty is a story of fungi, traditional knowledge and the hope that protecting one might help secure the future of them all.

Nature's Bounty: Mushroom Hunters of the Zambian Miombo
NARRATOR
Stephen Axford
FUNGI PHOTOGRAPHER
Stephen Axford
FUNGI TIME-LAPSE VIDEOGRAPHER
Stephen Axford
DIRECTOR
Catherine Marciniak
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Catherine Marciniak
SCRIPTWRITER
Catherine Marciniak
EDITOR
Catherine Marciniak
LOCAL PRODUCTION MANAGERS AND ASSISTANTS
Tenson Chanda Jeff Kapotwe Kelvin Munsaka
DRONE FOOTAGE
Bravedo Mwaanga
Planet Fungi
Catherine Marciniak
MEET THE DIRECTOR

Catherine Marciniak

Catherine Marciniak is an award-winning Australian documentary filmmaker and journalist whose work explores science, nature and human stories. She is co-writer of the IMAX documentary Fungi: Web of Life and director and co-writer of the feature documentary Follow the Rain. Through Planet Fungi, Catherine collaborates with scientists and communities around the world to reveal the extraordinary role of fungi in our lives and ecosystems.

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