Experts Share Their Experiences on Environmental Festivals

Maribel Guevara, Susan Conlon, Kim Dorman, Jaume Gil I Llopart and Richard Miron, participated in a panel that took place at FUNGLODE.

Santo Domingo, September 7, 2013

The organizers of various film festivals from around the world shared their experiences on the implementation of environmental film festivals and the impact they have on people, at a panel discussion on "Environmental Documentaries: a useful tool for environmental education."

The panel was part of the program of activities of the III Dominican Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), which was organized by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its sister organization in the Dominican Republic, Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE).

Jaume Gil I Llopart, Director of the Environmental Film Festival of Barcelona said that this project started because there was interest in showing films that would raise awareness on environmental issues. "The Festival came up with the idea of ​​creating a space for independent films that would highlight the disasters we make but also the good things we do," he said.

Llopart explained that the goal is to use art and culture to provoke a profound change in society, "to make us realize that we are part of the solution," he said.

Richard Miron, Director of Programming at the Environmental Film Festival at Yale University, spoke of his beginnings at the festival, "I started as part of the audience during my first year in college and got so involved that today I am the Director," he said.

Miron said that all environmental film festivals have the same mission, but they take place in different places and have different audiences.

He added that the Environmental Film Festival at Yale is sponsored by the university itself, and receive support from the students and teachers, who write articles on environmental issues and that the public that is interested increases each year.

Susan Conlon and Kim Dorman, co-directors of the Environmental Film Festival at Princeton University, offered their experiences in the development of that activity, and on how the students and the community are involved, making it better year after year.

Dorman said that the films to be presented in the festival are selected according to the interest of the community, since every place has its own problems to consider.

Maribel Guevara, producer of the Environmental Film Festival in Washington, DC, spoke about the work she does at the largest environmental festival in the world, which seeks to raise people’s interest regarding taking care of the planet.

Guevara explained that the audience of the festival is very diverse since it encompasses schools, high school graduates, college students and others.

Natasha Despotovic, Director of the DREFF, offered the welcoming remarks and moderated the panel.

ABOUT THE III DOMINICAN ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL
The III Dominican Environmental Film Festival is an initiative of Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE) and its sister organization in the United States, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), in collaboration with: the Ágora Mall; the NGO Alianza; the American School of Santo Domingo; Banco de Reservas; Bepensa; the Dominican Republic Children and Youth Library of Santo Domingo; Centro Cuesta Nacional; the Monina Cámpora Cultural Center; the Narciso González Cultural Center; the Perelló Cultural Center; the León Jiménez Cultural Center; Children International; ECORED; the Propagas Foundation; FUNDAZURZA; the Siempre Más Foundation; Impulsar ORG; INSAPROMA; the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources; Odebrecht; OH! Magazine; Plan Lea; the Puerto Plata Tourism Cluster; Listín Diario; the PUNTACANA RESORT & CLUB; UNAPEC; UNPHU; the Vida Azul Foundation, and Ztadium Studios.

Since 2011, the Dominican Environmental Film Festival has sought to raise public awareness and deepen understanding of environmental issues. It also serves as a catalyst for the creation of projects and programs that promote responsible environmental practices toward the environment as a result of the interaction between young people and the general public with teachers, experts, activists, filmmakers and leaders in the public and private sectors.

Visit our webpage for more information and the full program: www.dreff.org or contact us at info@dreff.org.

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