Mediterranean Environmental Award - 4th edition
an official event of COP15 - Barcelona Convention
15-18 January 2008 Almerνa, SPAIN
This Festival celebrates the environment, the sea, the protection of cultural and natural resources and speaks all languages in the world, primarily the emotional and innovative language of cinema.
The past three editions of Mediterranean Environmental Award took place as part of COP 13 which was held in Catania, Italy, in 2003; COP 14 in Portoroz, Slovenia, along with the celebrations for the 30th Anniversary of UNEP/MAP, in 2005; the launch of MEDday - BLUEweek in Antalya, Turkey, in conjunction with celebrations for the 30th Anniversary of the Barcelona Convention in 2006.
This fourth edition, which was held in Almerνa (Spain) as an official event of COP 15, featured more than 800 films. Following the selection around 400 works coming from 60 different countries were chosen.
An International Jury chaired by
Atila URAS (UNDP Project Manager)
and including
Paolo LOMBARDI
(WWF Mediterranean)
Ferit KARAKAYA
(film producer)
Rossella IMPERIO
(RAI Educational)
Emanuele COSTANZO
(FOTOCult publisher and journalist)
declared the short film section's winners of this fourth edition.
1st prize ex aequo
Carpa Diem
by Sergio Cannella - ITALY
Motivation - The director's ability to be concise, in addition to his brilliant irony by which he told us about the importance of some actions taken unconsciously which, however, may sometimes lead to unavoidable consequences.
Synopsis - A waste of water that could turn into tragedy.
1st prize ex aequo
Arenella Gang
by Marta Tagliavia - ITALY
Motivation - The director's ability to pick the true and innocent words of two children eager to change the course of life and imagining a different future, namely a sustainable and tailor-made one.
Synopsis - At Arenella, a fishermen neighbourhood in Palermo, the children hover between dreams and urban decay, adults' disenchantment and their unconscious intention to change the course of life.
2nd place
Hammer and Flame
by Vaughan Pilikian - UK
Motivation - Because he tackled a vital and poorly debated human and environmental issue thanks to his sober and elegant style backed by stunning shooting.
Synopsis - A sans-dialogue portrayal of Gujarat, India's Alang-Sosiya shipbreaking yards, this 10-minute think piece is compelling: Scores of Indian workers dismantle some of modern life's true steel juggernauts with hammers, picks, chisels and welding machines. Rest assured, it will hurt your Western feelings.
3th place
O
by Pieter-Jan De Pue - Belgium
Motivation - A breathtaking and fragile visual poem that can boast astonishing photography and an intense surreal and desolate environment where all players act. A dreadful omen, hopefully not a future scenario.
Synopsis - The search for the last remaining drop of water symbolizes the return to purity, to pure emotions and amazement in a superficial era where life is dominated by fast-changing technology, where man has lost touch with nature.
A Special Mention goes to:
Jonathan Brown and the Lost Penguin
by Sarah Stephen - Australia
Motivation - By reason of the fantasy and creativity by which the author handled an increasingly topical issue which translated into an invitation to think pink and sustainable!
Synopsis - When Jonathan Brown, an eccentric outback inventor, discovers a penguin in his backyard - a victim of melting polar icecaps - he and grandson Jack must travel to Antarctica in his thought powered flying machine, encountering the realities of global warming.
