Indian films compete for Wildscreen award

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Bristol, Oct 18 (IANS) Indian filmmakers are strong contenders for the

prestigious Golden Panda award for the best wildlife film at the Wildscreen

2006 festival being held here.

 

Out of 412 entries this year for the competition, 18 are from India, with

five having made it among the 60 selected for the finals. The Indian films

are expected to pick up awards in the category for developing countries

among others with a total of 20 awards to be announced at the gala Wednesday

night.

 

The biennial festival is being held here Oct 15-20 in the backdrop of a

growing debate about global warming and climate

change<http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=18133#>,

its impact and the need to step up mitigation efforts.

 

Amid conservation campaigns and voluntary environmental organisations

striving to raise levels of awareness among policy planners, the festival

this year is witnessing a surge of new films where technology dominates,

says Harriet Nimmo, chief executive of Wildscreen, a Britain-based

educational charity working globally to promote conservation of nature and

biodiversity<http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=18133#\

>

..

 

" It is surprising but this year there is hardly any film focusing on the

issue of climate change. With the improvement in photography technology and

lower cost of production tools this year there are more films on insects

like ants and others that the naked eye can hardly see, " said Nimmo.

 

" Lower production costs are also seeing more Indian film entries that

before. We have some high quality films from India. "

 

Some of the best films from the show here are expected to be screened in New

Delhi in January when Wildscreen makes a debut in India with a

non-competitive version. Widening its sphere of activities, Wildscreen is

likely to hold a show in China next.

 

" In India our focus will be more on capacity building and outreach and less

focused on commercial activities like networking among filmmakers and

potential sponsors. The films will be screened for schoolchildren and

students with an aim to inspire the next generation of potential filmmakers

in India, " she said.

 

For Britain witnessing the longest summer ever in recorded meteorological

history, Wildscreen Festival, celebrating its silver jubilee this year, has

gathered greater significance to put the spotlight on shifting climate

patterns in the country and across the globe.

 

However, festival organisers admitted that issue based films are few at this

year's show.

 

Topics that usually dominate discussions in a year find expression in the

next edition of the festival. So possibly more films on environmental impact

of climate change will be seen in Wildscreen 2008, organisers said.

 

" The wildlife films are getting to be influenced more by the sponsors and

commercial considerations, " admitted Nimmo.

 

" Most stations are having to cater to advertisers and do not want hard

hitting films but cute films. "

 

--By Lola Nayar

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