In this powerful episode of Northern Latitudes, host Bill Ault speaks with filmmaker Trixie Pacis and aerial artist Sasha Galitzki about their remarkable new documentary Embers, which makes its global premiere at the 50th Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival on November 4, 2025.
Embers follows Sasha through the emotional and physical aftermath of the 2024 Jasper National Park wildfire, one of the most devastating fires in recent Canadian history. The blaze destroyed her home and community, leaving behind a landscape of loss—but also the seeds of renewal. In the year that followed, Sasha turned to her art, using aerial performance as both therapy and protest. Her work became a living expression of resilience and a call to action in a world where climate change is no longer distant—it’s personal.
The conversation dives deep into the making of the film and the meaning behind it. Trixie and Sasha discuss how Embers evolved as a sequel to their acclaimed 2024 documentary Wild Aerial, which captured Sasha performing breathtaking aerial routines in the frozen Canadian Rockies. Where Wild Aerial celebrated strength and endurance in the face of nature’s extremes, Embers reveals what happens when that same landscape turns hostile, and the artist must rise again—this time from the ashes.
Throughout the episode, listeners will hear the story behind the story:
- The moment Sasha realized she had lost everything in the Jasper fire.
- How she channeled grief and fear into art that would inspire others.
- The creative partnership between Sasha and Trixie and how it deepened under pressure.
- The emotional and technical challenges of filming in wildfire-ravaged terrain.
- Why Embers is ultimately a film about hope, renewal, and the enduring connection between people and place.
Both Trixie and Sasha reflect on how the project changed their perspectives as artists and citizens. They discuss the importance of storytelling in the climate crisis, not just to raise awareness, but to humanize the experience—to show that behind every wildfire, flood, or storm are people rebuilding their lives in extraordinary ways.
As Sasha puts it in the film, “I lost my home and all my things, but I still have my art—and my love for Jasper.” That sentiment captures the essence of Embers: even when everything burns, the creative spark endures.
With Embers, Pacis and Galitzki deliver a deeply human portrait of loss and recovery, reminding us that even in a warming world, there is still light to be found among the ashes.
🎬 Embers — Global Premiere: Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, November 4, 2025 🎥 Director/Producer: Trixie Pacis 🎭 Featuring: Sasha Galitzki 🌍 Themes: Wildfire recovery, art as activism, resilience, climate storytelling
🔗 Related Links:
- Embers Official Trailer
- Wild Aerial (2024)
- Banff Centre Mountain Film & Book Festival
- Northern Latitudes Podcast
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