As many as 27 films from 12 countries will be showcased free for all at the first Urban Climate Film Festival to be launched on March 24 at the ML Bhartia Auditorium, Alliance Française, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi.
The films will be screened in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad over subsequent months. The programme in Delhi to be held on March 25-26 will showcase 11 award-winning films from nine countries, inlcuding India, France, Germany, Belgium, Poland and the USA and interactive sessions.
The Urban Climate Film Festival aims to create wider awareness of the impact of climate change on life in cities and engage the public in the dialogue on sustainable urban development, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.
According to the ministry, the objectives of the festival are to employ the powerful medium of film to enlighten audiences about the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on urban settlements. It also aims to spark conversations about building climate-resilient cities and invite inputs from the public and encourage citizens to undertake “environmentally responsible behaviours” in line with the U20 Priority Areas and the Hon. Prime Minister’s clarion call through the LiFE Mission.
“Cities are facing massive challenges due to unsustainable levels of stress on infrastructure, natural resources and public services. NIUA supports efforts to enable the transition of Indian cities to a greener future – one that is sustainable, inclusive, and prioritises the health and well-being of the people, along with the country’s economic growth,” Hitesh Vaidya, director, National Institute of Urban Affairs, said.
“I believe films are a powerful medium for reaching out to people and starting important conversations about the world around us. By showcasing a variety of films on urban environments, the Urban Climate Film Festival will surely be an eye-opener for many,” he added.
The Urban Climate Film Festival is being organized by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) through the CITIIS programme under U20 engagement events. It is being organised with support from the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, the French Development Agency (AFD), and the European Union.
The global call for entries for the festival was launched on 23 January 2023 and closed on 13 March 2023. Filmmakers from around the world were invited to submit films that reflect how the changing environment is affecting life in cities around the world. As many as 150 films from over 20 countries were received. The entries were evaluated by a jury that shortlisted 27 films from 12 countries.
The jury comprised Surbhi Dahiya (Professor, Indian Institute of Mass Communication), Dr Pranab Patar (Chief Executive, Global Foundation for Advancement of Environment), Sabyesachi Bharti (Deputy Director, CMS Vatavaran).
While the inaugural session of the festival will be chaired by Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, ambassadors of France and the European Union to India will deliver the inaugural addresses, and Richa Sharma, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC and Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary, MoHUA will deliver the keynote addresses.
The Entry to the Urban Climate Film Festival is free for all, The schedule can be viewed here: tinyurl.com/2jc873d2 | Attendees can register themselves online at https://niua.in/citiis/urban-climate-film-festival#
