Expetion Kazakhstan (2026)

“For the very first time worldwide, we succeeded in capturing European hamsters on film in their original steppe habitat.”
— David Cebulla, Director

Genre: Wildlife Adventure Documentary
Duration: ca. 45 minutes
Format: 2:1, UHD (3840×1920)

Log Line

Guided only by a nine-year-old GPS coordinate, wildlife explorer David Cebulla ventures into the endless Kazakh wilderness to capture the first-ever footage of a ‘steppe ghost”: the endangered wild European hamster in its native habitat.

Searching for a Tiny Ghost in the Steppe

In this upcoming documentary, wildlife explorer and filmmaker David Cebulla, accompanied by editor Heide Moldenhauer, travels to Kazakhstan for a month-long expedition to search for European hamsters in their original steppe habitat. His only clue: GPS coordinates from a chance encounter nine years ago.

Together with his colleague, David maps out kilometer-long stretches of the vast plains. Utilizing camera traps and biological baiting methods to prove their presence, David ultimately succeeds in his mission. By the end of the expedition, he manages to capture the world’s first-ever film footage of the European hamster in its native steppe habitat.

The wildlife adventure documentary “Expedition Kazakhstan”, seamlessly blends wildlife filmmaking and travelogue with a strong message of conservation for an endangered species. The narrative is guided by a voiceover from filmmaker David Cebulla. High-quality wildlife cinematography beautifully complements the raw, observational footage of the expedition. The film has a planned runtime of approximately 45 minutes.