Best of Festival THE QUEEN OF TREES Film Synopsis: 'Impeccable, creative cinematography aside, the wondrous thing about this study of a single sycomore fig, Africa's queen tree, is that it's a microcosm of the eco-complexity of the Earth at large.'
Director: Mark Deeble and Victoria Stone
Jury Remarks: "Outstanding! Brilliant in its concept, using a single tree as a microcosm to show the intricate relationships in nature. Scientifically accurate but also emotionally moving. Excellent script, cinematography and editing. The film is a real treat to watch and represents the pinnacle of wildlife filmmaking."
Animal Behavior Award CUTTLEFISH - THE BRAINY BUNCH Film Synopsis: The film reveals the spectacular pyrotechnics of these alien creatures, discovers what goes on between their eyes and what can they teach us about our own brainpower.
Director: Gisela Kaufmann
Jury Remarks: "An excellent film that reveals a side of nature that few people in the world get to see. It is also a work of perseverance and dedication, effectively capturing the incredible beauty of these delicate creatures."
SDC India FESTIVAL THEME: Climate Change STRANGE DAYS ON PLANET EARTH - THE ONE DEGREE FACTOR Film Synopsis: Scientists are making connections, leading them to believe life on Earth is being pushed to extremes by a one degree rise in average temperature.
Director: Rob Whittlesey
Jury Remarks: "Strange Days brings out the startling inter-connections between people and nature in different and apparently unconnected parts of the earth. Through a powerful blend of personal stories, global narratives and innovative exploration, it shows just how the globe is one entity and how changes in any part of it affect all other parts."
SDC India FESTIVAL THEME: Climate Change CLIMATE CHANGE SEASON - CAN WE SAVE PLANET EARTH
Film Synopsis: David Attenborough explores just how much climate change is altering our planet. He looks ahead to find out what needs to be done to save Planet Earth from the worst impact of global warming and discovers what could happen to the planet once a 'tipping point' of carbon emissions is reached. He also discusses the solutions we can all adopt to prevent catastrophic change.
Director: Nick Brown Jury Remarks: "Climate Change Season provides a very clear and educative insight into the causes and effects of climate change, simplifying what are often very complicated messages beyond the reach of the ordinary person. Most importantly, it shows how an individual can make a difference to a global problem."
Nature and People Award NATURAL WORLD: BEAR MAN OF KAMCHATKA Film Synopsis: Charlie Russell is a Canadian naturalist who believes that Grizzly Bears aren't actually very dangerous and that our unnecessary fear of them is driving them to extinction. His beliefs have taken him to Russia where he's been raising orphaned grizzly cubs for the past ten years in the wilderness of the Kamchatka peninsula. Becoming their surrogate mother he struggles to keep his cubs alive and teach them everything they need to survive a life in the wild, from catching salmon to avoiding other bears that would eat them. But his greatest challenge is proving to the world that we've got these bears all wrong, that Man and bear can live side by side.
Director: Jeff Turner Jury Remarks: "A captivating and touching story of a single man's dedication to save a highly threatened species. The plight of the grizzly bear comes out vividly, as does the need to rid ourselves of the irrational fear of animals like these."
Nature and People: Jury Special Mention THE CATHEDRAL FOREST Film Synopsis: This film is about conservation of the Minkebe forest in Gabon, central Africa.
Director: Patrick Rouxel
Jury Remarks: "A moving film about the struggle to protect rainforest in the midst of a conflict ridden landscape. The film also clearly establishes the link between deforestation in the Gabon and the greedy consumerism of the West and China, a matter of great contemporary relevance."
Children Film Award CARPA DIEM Film Synopsis: Before sleeping, a child in her apartment is lovingly watching a fish (just a carp) in the aquarium. In the meantime her younger brother is playing and listening to the music in the bathroom, above all, he's mindless of the tap just opened and liters of water flowing out of the washbasin. A waste that could turn into a tragedy...
Director: Sergio Cannella
Jury Remarks: "A cleverly conceived short film that is of enormous contemporary relevance. With its effective use of images it communicates to people across all languages and ages the need to conserve and use water responsibly."
Environmental Conservation GLOBAL FOCUS III: THE NEW ENVIRONMENTALISTS Film Synopsis: 'Global Focus III- The New Environmentalists' is the third annual installment of a half hour program that features intimate portraits of six passionate and dedicated activists. These are true environmental heroes who have put themselves between corrupt governments, greedy corporations and other intimidating adversaries. Their goal: safeguarding our natural resources from shortsighted exploitation.This year's stories feature Liberia, one the world's poorest nations; Brazil, where fighting for the rain forest can cost you your life; Ukraine, home of the Danube River Delta; Papua New Guinea, a remote island nation that is struggling to protect its resources; China, home to the world's largest river gorge; and Kentucky where massive stockpiles of weapons have generated an international movement for safe disposal methods.Robert Redford narrates.
Director: John Antonelli
Jury Remarks: "An inspirational film with stories of hope, showing how ordinary people can bring about extraordinary changes. The need to resist and confront the forces of destruction is evident in each of the portrayed struggles."
Animation Award
The jury decided to withhold the award because there were not enough nominations, none to compare this with. In itself the film was not outstanding enough to win the awards.
