“BLAME” – An award-winning documentary movie about science upended in a planet out of balance
“Blame” is a documentary movie by the Oscar-nominated, Sundance Festival award winning Swiss Director Christian Frei. The film focuses on three scientists, Dr. Zhengli Shi formerly of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Dr. Linfa Wang of Duke-NUS Singapore, and Dr. Peter Daszak of Nature Health Global, former President of the now-closed EcoHealth Alliance. Blame tells the story of how this scientific collaboration formed back in the early 2000s to try and understand the origins of SARS which caused global panic when it emerged in Southern China in 2003. It then shows how this research was shattered by conspiracy theories, geopolitics and a rising anti-science agenda during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are more details about the movie on Nature Health Global’s News Section, and on the official Blame website.
BLAME by Christian Frei – Official Press Photo – Credit Adam Dean for Christian Frei Filmproductions
Crew of Blame, the documentary movie by Christian Frei. Credit Dominic Nahr
Since its world premiere as the Opening Film in Nyon on April 4th, BLAME has since screened at seven international documentary film festivals — and has already won four major awards:
MAIN AWARD: SIGNS OF THE NIGHT, BANGKOK
Blame won the main award at the 11th International Festival Signs of the Night held in Bangkok, Thailand in this year (July 2025). In their Jury Statement, the film was recognized by the following commentary:
“Amid global confusion and suspicion over Covid-19’s origin, this film offers the true story by following three scientific bat experts. The film excels in both investigative journalism and passionate documentary filmmaking. It should be compulsory viewing in every school, especially in an era of conspiracy theories and skepticism about science.”
IN TRUTH WE TRUST AWARD, DOC EDGE FESTIVAL
Blame won the award for the Festival Category: In Truth We Trust at the 20th Doc Edge Festival Awards, Auckland NZ.
Doc Edge is one of over 30 international festivals officially recognized by the Academy as Oscar-qualifying for feature documentaries. Winners of the Best International and Best New Zealand categories are eligible for Oscar consideration in 2026. The award recognized that
“In a world of shadows and disinformation, these gripping stories risk everything to expose hidden truths and demand justice, transparency, and accountability.”
“Amid rising misinformation and political division, alumnus director Frei (Genesis 2.0), follows three scientists who traced the origins of SARS to bats in a Yunnan cave, only to have their warnings about future pandemics ignored. When COVID-19 strikes, they are thrust into the spotlight, facing attacks and global blame.
Through exclusive access, the film explores their fight to uphold science amid conspiracy, media frenzy, and geopolitical tension. Visually stunning and deeply political, it reveals how fact-free narratives paved the way for Trump’s return and the far-right’s surge across Europe, while nature quietly prepares its next move, unnoticed in the noise of outrage and denial.”
GRAND PRIX, CSFF, MOSCOW
Blame won the Grand Prix at the 5th International Contemporary Science Film Festival (CSFF) in Moscow, Russia
AUDIENCE AWARD, CINEMABIENTE, TORINO
Christian Frei, director of Blame, receives the Audience award at the CinemAmbiente Festival in Torino 2025
Blame won the Audience Award at the 28th CinemAmbiente Festival in Turin, Italy
CURRENT SCREENINGS
NEW ZEALAND
Extensive screenings at the Doc Edge NZ festival:
Tickets can be booked online here
July 3: Asia-Pacific premiere, 8:15pm, The Capitol Cinema, Auckland
July 11: 8pm, Bridgeway Cinema 3, Auckland
July 20: 11am, The Roxy Cinema, Wellington
July 20: 11am, Lumiere Bernhardt, Christchurch
July 28 – Aug 24: Virtual Cinema, NZ
FUTURE SCREENINGS
We will update this news item with FALL SCREENING dates very soon! Stay tuned…
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT BLAME
To keep up to date with listings, reviews, awards etc. for the movie, please follow Christian Frei on his public Facebook page, checkout the official Blame website, and check in regularly with this UPDATE page – we’re going to post all future screenings of the movie, and any other updates of interest!
Thank you for your support!
The Nature Health Global communications team