DREFF will be Present at the 1st International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals in Seia, Portugal

October 9, 2018

Alongside 35 other festival directors from across the globe, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) Executive Director and Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) Director Natasha Despotovic will be present at the 1st International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals in Seia, Portugal next week, from October 13th to 15th. Despotovic will join the other festival directors in discussion and promotion of the environment through film. Areas for collaboration and the sustainability of film festivals to promote social change will be debated in panel-style conversations.

The International Forum on Environmental Film Festivals is organized by CineEco in collaboration with the Green Film Network (GFN) during the 24^thedition of the CineEco International Environmental Film Festival from October 13^thto the 20^th. 

The International Forum on Environmental Film Festivals is organized by CineEco in collaboration with the Green Film Network (GFN) during the 24th edition of the CineEco International Environmental Film Festival from October 13th to the 20th.

The 24th edition of CineEco – the International Environmental Film Festival of Serra da Estrela, Portugal, starts next October 13th and will go on until the 20th of the month. One of its highlights will be the very first International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals. From October 13th to 15th, CISE – the Serra da Estrela Interpretation Center shall be the meeting place and epicenter of all discussions regarding the importance of film and festivals on environmental issues to the appreciation of the topic, as public-attracting cultural offerings and sustainable tourism events.

It is highly likely that something special will happen, since it was not easy to gather in the same place members of institutions such as the United Nations, World Bank, Unesco, National Geographic, and even an indigenous leader to discuss Environmental Cinema. This year, CineEco has exceeded all expectations.

The 1st International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals features a world class and eclectic panel of speakers for the defense and promotion of the environment. Among these speakers are Catherine Beltrandi, from the United Nations Environment Program; Ailton Krenak, Brazilian Indigenous Leader, Environmentalist and Author; Giulia Camilla Braga, Communications Officer & Program Manager of the World Bank; Helena Freitas, UNESCO Chair Holder in Biodiversity Safeguard for Sustainable Development; and Ashley Hoppin, National Geographic Executive Producer.

Additionally to these distinguished guests, the Forum will count on the participation of 36 directors of environmental festivals from across the world, members of the Green Film Network (GFN). «In total, more than 40 personalities will be representing 30 countries: Malaysia, Serbia, Turkey, Mexico, Italy, Germany(3), India, USA (3), France (3), Kosovo, Dominican Republic, Russia, Spain (2), Albania, Brazil (3), Switzerland, Colombia, Argentina, Montenegro, Japan, Iran, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania, Canada, Croatia, South Korea and Portugal», urges the director of CineEco, Mário Branquinho. «During these days, the festival directors and speakers will be focusing the debate on what can cinema contribute to environmental matters, at a time of great concern for global warming and climate change. Simultaneously, we will be raising common questions among such festivals, strengthening ties and fostering reflection about the preponderance and sustainability of the audiovisual platforms that stimulate social change», he adds.

The opening ceremony of the 1st International Forum of Environmental Film Festivals will be held on Saturday, October 13th, at 09:30 am, overseen by the President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of Seia City Hall, Carlos Filipe Camelo, the President of the Central Portugal Tourism Board, Pedro Machado, the President of GFN, Gaetano Capizzi, and last but not least, the Director of CineEco, Mário Branquinho. On the following day, October 14th, between 10:00 am and 05:30 pm, the GFN General Assembly will take place. The Forum will close on Monday, October 15th, with most of the participants taking a tour around the Serra da Estrela region.

The programme can be seen here www.cineeco.pt. Between October 13th and 20th, more than 80 films will be screened in both auditoriums of the Seia House of Culture, on a lineup that comprises workshops, concerts and talks about environment and planet-driven topics. On par with the competitive sessions, Seia CineEco shall include two screenings for childrens; a talk facilitated by Fernanda Botelho on the journey of plants and their traditional uses in Portugal and several Portuguese speaking countries; a blindfolded concert, orchestrated by Luís Antero; workshops and exhibitions.

CineEco 2018 is organised by the Municipality of Seia and will hold this year its 24th edition. One of the oldest Environmental Film Festivals in the world, it is a founding and directing member of the Green Film Network, a platform which comprehends 40 different international environmental film festivals.