In August of 2022, a grave environmental disaster occurred in the Oder River: more than 1000 tons of dead fish washed up along the German-Polish border. This mass die-off was caused by a toxic algal bloom of Prymnesium parvum (golden algae), fuelled by industrial waste, stagnant water, and high temperatures. Coordinated efforts to protect the river from industrial and agricultural pollution remain inadequate. In mid–2024, dead fish once again appeared in the Oder, again due to toxic algae.

Everything Flows is a long-term project that documents the consequences of this disaster and the ecological changes to the Oder border region. In close cooperation with scientists from Germany and Poland, the project also highlights local residents’ voices and perspectives to capture the disaster’s human and social dimensions. This documentary project also raises questions about the future of the Oder as one of the last free-flowing river systems in Europe.