Helen's blog

FIFE

It was a proud President of the FIFE International Environmental Film Festival of Paris, who stepped on to the stage of the Conseil de Paris, near the Pagode Cinema Babylone to announce the closing night ceremony of the 37th event.
President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France : Since 1998 and reelected in 2004 and 2010 for a third term, Jean Paul Huchon traced a short history of the festival, created in 1982 and organized by the French Ministry of Culture for the Environment
since 2001, the event is run by the Regional Council.

For Hélène Gassin, Vice-president of the Region in charge of environment, agriculture and energy affairs, the festival is a window on the world: "It gives a boost to the politics of environmental preservation and allows to look with lucidity at the conclusions we are sticking to."

Regional President Jean-Paul Huchon seized the opportunity to remind his commitment to the project of “ecoregion”: "Fife is a way to look at the environment with lucidity and optimism. All my life, I had this principle: we do not change things with fear but with talks and communication, Fife associates openness and cultural action. The festival is a good moment to look at the struggle. Since I am President, my wish is to build an ecoregion with a controlled urbanization and an efficient public transportation policy. We have chosen to promote economic changes for Île-de-France companies in order to favour growth. Preserving biodiversity rather than chasing it is the goal of the Region.”

Since 2003, as a result of its strong involvment both in cinema and environmental issues, the council intensified the festival by giving it a broader and more international scope and linked it to the concept of eco-region.

The FIFE aims to inform the public and raise awareness of eco-citizenship by screenings, meetings, events and debates on environmental issues and also on more far=reqching issues to support sustainable development.

Over the last years, the festival began addressing subjects such as health, urban development, housing, employment, solidarity, the fight against poverty, north-south relationships, among other.

Now at the crest ot its success, enriched by growing public interest in such topics and the support of players working in the environment and film, audiovisual and general media industries, the event celebrated its 28th anniversary with a program that is even richer and innovative than ever.

Over the past few years, a number of films on ecology and the climate have been awarded prizes and have succeeded in attracting a significant turnout in cinemas. The 28th International Festival of Environmental Film, held from 24th to 30th November in the La Pagode cinema, presents a unique panorama of this new genre which is inspiring filmmakers from around the world.
Sponsored by Isabelle Giordano, this year will focus in particular on the issues linked to biodiversity and climate change, with the spotlight on Mexican documentaries.
In their own way, each of these films address a variety of subjects such as the protection of nature, the rational management of resources, the greenhouse effect, the quality of agriculture and the environment, the fight against poverty, participative democracy, north-south and east-west relations, the influx of immigrants and integration etc...

PERSONAL FAVORITES this year "

México : el último país mágico                 

Mexico is a country filled with unbelievable contrasts : deserts and luxuriant jungles, blue mountains with silent valleys, ancient volcanos and forests.

Mexico – 2010 – 30' –  DVD - VOSTF
Director: Demetrio Bilbatua

For over fifty years, Demetrio Bilbatua has travelled all over Mexico, visiting its rocky paths, magical villages, outdoor markets, lands that belong to no one, and its ancient feasts and festivals that bring together two different worlds. He followed the lighted candles for All Souls day, capturing glances that meet in infinite solitude.
Through the language of great waterfalls, in the reflection of rivers and hidden lakes, at the edge of the sea, he has also made a journey of self-discovery. Every image reveals the best of himself and this unique and varied land where he discovered the magic of seeing the invisible.
Pablo Neruda referred to Mexico as “the last magical country”. Bilbatua filmed it. He was even able to convince the writer Carlos Montemayor to accompany him in this adventure using the force of words and image to reveal unexpected and surprising scenery, archaeological sites that, over the course of centuries, have merged with their surroundings, becoming an integral part of the landscape.
These two image and writing talents, backed by music written by young composers, result in a beautiful visual document: Le dernier Pays Magique (Mexico, the last magical country).

Chemerical - Redefining Clean for a New Generation

What impact do hygiene products and householder cleaners have on our environment and health? Do we really need them?

Canada – 2009 – 75' –  BetaNum/DVD - VOSTF
Director: Andrew Nisker
Web Sites: www.takeactionfilms.com - www.chemicalnation.com

From the creator of the award winning film Garbage! The Revolution Starts at Home (Sundance Channel, Super Channel) comes a shocking tale about the products we use to clean our homes and bodies. Chemerical explores the life cycle of everyday householder cleaners and hygiene products to prove that, thanks to our clean obsession, we are drowning in sea of toxicity. The film is at once humorous, as we watch the Goode family try to turn a new leaf by creating and living in a toxic free home, and informative, as director Andrew Nisker works with many experts to give audiences the tools and inspiration to live toxic free. Chemerical tackles the “toxic debate” in a truly informative and entertaining way, not only by raising awareness, but most importantly, by providing simple solutions.

PlASTIC  PLANET

A trip around the world that shows the unexpected impact of plastic on our daily lives. 

Austria – 2009 – 95’ – 35 mm/ DVD – VOSTF
Director: Werner Boote
Website: www.zootropefilms.fr

Werner Boote presents an up-close and personal view of the controversial and fascinating material that has found its way into every facet of our daily lives: plastic.
He takes us on a journey around the globe, showing that plastics have become a threat for both environment and human health.

FIFE Winners 2010

WINNERS of 2010 FIFE Festival:

Waste Land, by Lucy Walker (in theaters in France on March 23)
Into Eternity, by Michael Madsen
Prix Spécial du Jury: Vous êtes servis, by Jorge León
Best documentary: Weemoed & Wildernis (Wistful Wilderness) by Digna Sinke
Special distinction for the following documentaries:
1428, by Haibin Du
Nargis, by Kyaw Kyaw Oo & Maung Myint Aung
L'affaire Coca-Cola, by Germán Guttiérez & Carmen Garcia
Best fiction movies:
Le Voleur de lumière, by Aktan Arym Kubat
Agua fría, by Paz Fábrega
Special distinction for the following fiction movies:
Alamar, by Pedro González-Rubio
Schutzlos (Sans-papiers), by René Heisig

PHOTOS by ALAIN ROBERT, Paris
 

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