WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060907/asp/careergraph/story_6703357.asp

Studyabroad

Walk on the wild side

The UK Environment Film Fellowships seek to encourage young Indian

filmmakers who want to put ecology on the map, reports

Ghosh Caught

on camera: A herd of barasingha at Vanvihar National Park in Bhopal

 

They would have made Sir David Attenborough proud. The seven winners of the

2006 UK Environment Film Fellowships all share the same spirit of

documentary filmmaking espoused by the maestro. Started in 2005 by the

British High Commission, the UK Environment Film Fellowships seek to

encourage young Indian filmmakers whose concepts demonstrate originality in

research and choice of topic.

 

There was stiff competition for the seven fellowships on offer this year and

applications poured in from all over India. Seven filmmakers ultimately won

the awards worth Rs 6 lakh each. The awards select a particular theme every

year. This time the topic was 'Wildlife Trade'.

 

Himanshu Malhotra of Delhi is one of the winners. Malhotra is a pioneer of

animal related films in India, having worked on them for the past 20 years.

" This is an interesting opportunity for people interested in the arena of

environment related films, " says Himanshu. " I applied in July 2006 as per

the British High Commission guidelines and am glad that they have selected

my proposal for the award. " Himanshu's film *Vanishing Seas* focuses on the

marine trade in living organisms, an aspect of conservation that is often

overlooked. The proposed film will look at wildlife crime through its

effects on coastal areas and how tourism continues to support exploitation

of different forms of marine life.

 

" Applicants have to identify a UK-based partner agency for making the

films, " says Samarjit Guha, head of programmes at British Council (Eastern

India). He mentions that the proposed films have to be well researched so

that they can be used by environmentalists to promote the cause of wildlife

conservation. " Production values need to be impeccable since the winning

films are to be screened on Discovery Channel and the WildScreen Film

Festival, which is the most prestigious environment film festival in the

world, " reveals Guha. The films are judged by a distinguished panel,

including representatives from Animal Planet and the Foreign and

Commonwealth office of the British government.

 

All applicants need to submit a one-page statement on why the films should

be produced under the UK Environment Film Fellowships programme and they

have to adhere to a budget. Forty per cent of the total amount is given on

an applicant winning the film fellowship. Thirty per cent is given on

receiving the rough cut and 30 per cent on receipt of the completed films.

The fellowships are open to a joint team comprising a filmmaker and a

conservation agency.

 

Announcement of the awards are made in early June and applications have to

be submitted by early July. By the end of July the shortlisted candidates

are called for an interview and the final films are submitted by December.

 

Speaking at the announcement of the awards last month, the British High

Commissioner to India, Sir Michael Arthur said, " Wildlife crime is an issue

of concern for all of us today. India is home to many species of rare flora

and fauna and we hope that these seven fellowships will address the larger

issues of conservation of some of the world's most endangered species. " And

indeed the one recurrent theme in all the films is the imminent danger of

extinction of endangered species.

 

The winning proposals include a variety of subjects. Sonya Kapoor's film on

butterflies entitled *Once There Was a Purple Butterfly* aims to sensitise

people to the plight of butterflies. Other films deal with more practical

issues involving day to day human survival. " My film will try to address the

issues surrounding villagers who come in conflict with tigers in national

parks, " says Jay Mazoomdaar, whose film *The Hunted* has won a fellowship.

Mazoomdaar has been working on tiger conservation issues for four years and

hopes that his film will give nature conservation a human face. " I am glad

the fellowship is providing me an opportunity to highlight the plight of

poor people whilst tackling the plight of tigers, " he adds.

 

The British Council is also in the process of bringing in the WildScreen

Film Festival to India for the first time in 2007 to popularise the idea of

environment film making in India. " We are partnering with the Satyajit Ray

Film Institute and Nandan for the WildScreen Film Festival to be held on

January 23 and 24 next year, " explains Guha of British Council. The

filmmakers themselves are also upbeat about getting international

recognition. " Films on animals and the environment are made on very low

budgets, " explains Himanshu Malhotra. " If our efforts are recognised at an

international film festival, that will go a long way towards spreading the

message of conservation. "

 

*For further information, contact: *

 

• British High Commission,

Shantipath,

Chanakyapuri,

New Delhi-110021

Telephone: 91 11 26872161

 

• British Council,

17 Kasturba Gandhi Marg,

New Delhi-110001

Telephone: 91 11 23711401, 23710111 and 23710555