THINK LIKE A LYNX

A compelling mix of wildlife film and psychological thriller.

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THE STORY

Sam Rogers

"Every now and then, a project comes along that completely captures my imagination and my heart. Think Like a Lynx is one of them…"

– Sam Rogers, award-winning editor of Chimp Empire, Planet Earth III, Billy and Molly.

Jakub Mrocek and Lukáš Holásek always dreamed of photographing Lynx in the wild. It’s a crazy challenge because Lynx have almost supernatural powers of evasion. This film reveals the mind games they play with Europe’s most secretive killer.

It’s taken years of tracking, months on freezing mountains, and weeks of imagining their way into a Lynx’s head, to even get a single shot. So, the footage they have is priceless and unprecedented.

With long lenses and cutting-edge remote-cameras, Jakub and Lukáš bring us the family dramas of a female called Skalka, her complex relationships with different male Lynx, and her moving decline. They reveal a deeper understanding of how these big cats use their Carpathian home, including how lynx ambush red deer: prey that can be three times their size. Jakub and Lukas’s discoveries are even a surprise to scientists.

Jakub and Lukáš are funny, authentic, intelligent companions on this Carpathian adventure. The film is also a heart-warming story of friendship: how they have overcome extraordinary odds through physical and mental resilience, mutual respect…..and fearlessness.

"One winter, I followed Lynx tracks through deep snow, only to realize the Lynx was walking in my footsteps from the day before. I got goosebumps to think this lynx was actually tracking me!"

- Jakub Mrocek

"I never thought I would be this interested in something about a lynx. Wishing you the best of luck & looking forward to the film! ❤️"

- Michaela Ž., donor in crowdfunding campaign

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NEW BEHAVIOUR

The wealth of data we’ve collected is proving to be of interest to scientists across Europe. We are already collaborating with research into Lynx vocalisations and hope to contribute to a better understanding of Lynx social life. Our dense network of camera traps is revealing aspects of their behaviour that could prove useful to Lynx re-introduction programmes in Europe.

Capturing hours of wild lynx

Capturing hours of wild lynx

Challenging the myth of solitude

Challenging the myth of solitude

Decoding lynx vocalizations

Decoding lynx vocalizations

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Days
spent in the field studying lynx
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Cameras
watching the forest without pause
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Encounters
with lynx in person
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Story
never told before
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AWARD WINNING IMPACT

"At the beginning, we were too shy to even tell our closest friends. When we did go public with the project, we were blown away by how many people loved what we were doing. "

- Jakub Mrocek, Slovakian filmmaker

In October, 2024, we launched our crowd-funder in Slovakia. With a strategic social media campaign and prime time interviews on national TV, we reached an extremely wide demographic: including a high percentage of people who would not usually be drawn to natural history documentaries.

"Before we continue our conversation and I ask more questions—you have to tell me—how is the female Skalka doing?"

- Adela Vinczeová, Host of national TV show

Galéria 1
Galéria 2
Galéria 3
Galéria 4

With over a million social media hits and on-going interest in our efforts, we have evidence that our approach appeals to a wide range of people. Through our personal journey, the audience seems better able to relate to the wild. People are falling in love with lynx!

"Thanks to you, I have started to appreciate more the importance of the lynx in nature."

- Jaroslav G.

"Guys, you are amazing—you’ve honestly infected me with your enthusiasm. 😉"

- Jaroslava V.

"I’m incredibly excited for your film, guys. You’ve embarked on a challenging “mission,” but judging by the results, it’s all worth it. 🙂 Keep it up, and may Skalka keep jumping in front of your lens. 🐈"

- Simona M.

In April 2025, our efforts were recognized with 1st place in the national PR Awards competition—where we competed alongside major brands like Pfizer and Pilsner beer. We were also nominated in an international PR competition covering both the Czech and Slovak markets, and we are eagerly awaiting the results. Even this nomination confirms our belief that the messages we tell are not limited to a Slovak audience.

We will continue telling people about lynx, the project, and our partners, culminating in the film's premiere in September 2026. We believe that the positive responses, so far, are an indication that the film itself will resonate with a wide audience.

Crowdfunding

Through crowdfunding, we raised €35,439 from 1,123 donors.

Crowdfunding

In Slovakia, we secured 27 media appearances with an AVE of €63,390

Crowdfunding

On social media, we achieved 1,871,988 views and 22,759 interactions.

Crowdfunding

We were supported by well-known personalities and two corporate sponsors.

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A POWERHOUSE OF A TEAM

Jakub and Lukas’s unique skills, passion, and determination are blended with deep expertise from within the film industry. It’s a powerful mix. We are confident that our collaborative approach brings out the best in each of us, and will ensure the final film is narratively taut, beautiful, and moving.

Portrét: Jakub Mrocek

Jakub Mrocek

filmmaker, producer

Jakub is a wildlife enthusiast with a passion for long-term study of animals and capturing their hidden lives, a pursuit he has dedicated himself to for over 15 years. He has worked on several Slovak and international documentaries.

Portrét: Lukáš Holásek

Lukáš Holásek

photographer

Lukáš is a wildlife photographer and filmmaker specializing in large predators in the Carpathian forests. His readiness to endure the toughest conditions has led to over 25 encounters with lynxes.

Portrét: Sue Western

Sue Western

storyteller, producer

Sue has over 100 credits as a writer and story editor for films produced by BBC, Netflix, Disney, and other platforms. Many of these films have received prestigious international awards

Portrét: Tim Martin

Tim Martin

executive producer

Tim is an experienced executive producer with over 20 years at the BBC NHU, where he produced series such as Lost Land of the Jaguar and won four Emmys for the Netflix series Island of the Sea Wolves.

Portrét: Sam Rogers

Sam Rogers

editor

Sam is an award-winning editor with extensive experience, having worked on natural history blockbusters like Planet Earth 3, and breakthrough documentaries such as Jago: A life underwater and The Last Breath.

Portrét: Mike MacLennan

Mike MacLennan

music composer

Mike is a film composer and a graduate of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance. He composed the score for the Netflix documentary Living with Leopards and the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are

Portrét: Martin Hesko

Martin Hesko

cinematographer

Martin is a top-tier cinematographer from Slovakia with a keen eye for authentic shots. He joins us in the field to capture the moments of our journeys in search of lynx.

Portrét: Olaf Matthes

Olaf Matthes

engineer

Olaf is an engineer who develops hardware and software solutions for wildlife filmmaking, enabling the capture of animal behavior previously thought impossible to document.

"I've worked on many wildlife films down the years, so I know that Jakub and Lukáš are doing something very special. Through their good-humoured camaraderie and extraordinary dedication, they are easing the rest of us into a different world, where we can almost feel the Lynx's soft fur, hear mum and kitten purring to each other, and start imagining how they see their Carpathian home. To get these glimpses of such a rare and beautiful animal is spine-tingling and incredibly moving." - Sue Western

"The lynx is such a beautiful wild cat - you are very lucky to have them in Slovakia! Here in the UK they disappeared long ago, but people are now wondering about bringing them back. Making a film about the wild lives of lynx will help people in the UK, and across the world, to understand how wonderful they are, and how essential to forest ecology. This film will inspire more people to love lynx, and will make it crystal clear that we have nothing to fear from them, and much to gain." - Tim Martin

"What first attracted me to this uniquely exciting project, was not just the beautiful, charismatic Lynx, nor the jaw-dropping, mythic locations, instead it was the passion, commitment and friendship shared by Jakub and Lukáš. I jumped at the opportunity to be able to tread in their footsteps as they stalk the elusive lynx at the heart of the story. For those of you considering offering your support to this project, I urge you to join on this adventure!" - Sam Rogers

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PROJECT DETAILS

Programme time: 50 – 75+ minutes (two versions available)
Delivery format: 4K, 10-bit, HDR, Dolby Digital 5.1
Delivery date: September 2026
Language: English voice-over combined with original Slovak actuality, accompanied by English subtitles.
Total budget: 380,000 €
Secured funding: 258,000 € (68% of the total budget) as of June 2025
Co-producers: Slovak Television; currently seeking international partners
Partners and donors: Slovak Audiovisual fund, Corwin, AQT
Distributor: SILVERLINING RIGHTS LIMITED, United Kingdom
Producer: WildMedia, s.r.o., Slovakia

TIMELINE

1

2016

The Beginning of the Adventure

Autumn: First attempts to photograph a lynx, so far without success.

2

2019

First Encounter

October: Lukáš saw a lynx in the wild for the first time.

3

2021

Breakthrough Moment

March: First successful filming of a lynx.

4

2022

A Year of Perseverance

We committed fully to the project. In December, we celebrated the 300th day spent in the field since the start of our search for lynx.

5

2023

A Year of Growth

July: Sue Western, an experienced scriptwriter, joins the team
October: Support secured from the Audiovisual Fund
December: Over 2 hours of unique lynx footage collected

6

2024

A Year of Breakthroughs

April: Installation of the 100th trail camera
July: STVR becomes a co-producer of the film
August: Secured an international film distributor
October: Launch of a succesfull crowdfunding campaign

7

2025

Intensive Filming, Pre-edit

Fieldwork continues, with more lynx encounters and new footage. From April to June, we edited the first version of the film in Bristol to see whether our story would work and to identify what we still needed.

8

2026

Finalization

May: Editing of the final film begins with Sam Rogers
Autumn: World premiere of the film

GET IN TOUCH

Bethan Corney

Bethan Corney

DISTRIBUTOR

SILVERLINING RIGHTS LIMITED
59 Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6 6JR, United Kingdom

Email: bethan@silverliningtv.com
Phone: +44 (0)7812 084 448

Jakub Mrocek

Jakub Mrocek

PRODUCER

WildMedia, s.r.o.
Maramorova 1, Bratislava, 821 06, Slovakia

Email: jakub@wildmedia.sk
Phone: +421 904 002 292