CMS VATAVARAN 2014 - 6th Environment and Wildlife Travelling Film Festival and Forum

CMS VATAVARAN - India's only International Environment & Wildlife Film Festival and Forum is an outcome of CMS's core commitment to go "beyond research" (www.cmsindia.org). Based on extensive research, this festival (competitive and travelling) was initiated for encouraging environment films and forums that result in perception, practice and policy change. CMS VATAVARAN is organised by the CMS Environment team which has been involved multifariously in policy research and programmes evaluation aimed at creating sustainable solutions for environment protection.

This festival has an international recognition and is in its twelfth year of its eventful journey since 2002. It has organised 7 competitive and 39 travelling festivals in 30 cities of 26 Indian states during this period. CMS VATAVARAN has now become a movement and inspired many organisations & individuals to use films and film festivals as a medium to catalyse change. It has reached to more than 5,00,000 people directly. As a result, it has created a strong network of Indian and International filmmakers, policymakers, academicians, research think tanks, environmentalists, journalists, students of all streams, defence & paramilitary forces and nature enthusiasts. In 2012, the festival on the theme of biodiversity conservation was held in five cities, including one for delegates of CBD COP 11 at Hyderabad.

The 7th competitive festival was held from Jan 30 - Feb 03, 2014 at IGNCA Lawns, New Delhi on the theme "mainstreaming biodiversity conservation at different levels to promote living in harmony with nature". This festival and forum aimed to make people informed, motivated and committed towards values of biodiversity conservation through a range of outreach, communication and awareness activities & approaches. More than 10,000 participants representing organisations, students, academics and individuals from all sections participated in this festival. Brief Report

The year 2014 is also celebrating the 6th travelling edition of CMS VATAVARAN in selected 5 cities across India i.e. Agra, Amritsar, Gangtok, Puducherry and Raipur from Oct 2014 - Mar 2015. In each city, the festival will be held in different locations to facilitate the participation of audience of different kind in large numbers. The festival highlights include Inauguration by the Head of the State/ UT; Felicitation of Green Ambassadors; Special screenings followed by Open Forums & Quizzes; Panel Discussion on Biodiversity; and Filmmaking Workshop. Participation in the travelling festival will provide a unique opportunity to the people in the city to enhance their knowledge and understanding about a range of biodiversity and environment related issues.

CMS VATAVARAN is celebrating its 8th competitive edition from Oct 09 - 12, 2015 at India's capital city New Delhi. The theme for the 8th CMS VATAVARAN is ‘Water for Life’ with a special focus on "Conserving our Water Bodies". The festival theme also concurs with the United Nations General Assembly`s resolution A/RES/58/217, which has proclaimed 2005-2015 as the UN Decade for Action 'Water for Life'. Entries are invited in 11 award categories (Indian and International). Last date for submission is March 22, 2015 (World Water Day). www.cmsvatavaran.org