best documentary feature
|
We are thrilled to announce the Winner of the Best Documentary Feature at this year's London Eco Film Festival is Sharkwater Extinction.
Sharkwater Extinction is a thrilling and inspiring action packed journey that follows filmmaker Rob Stewart as he exposes the massive illegal shark fin industry and the political corruption behind it — a conspiracy that is leading to the extinction of sharks. From West Africa, Spain, Panama, Costa Rica, and France Stewart’s third film dives into the often violent underworld of the pirate fishing trade to expose a multi-billion dollar industry. Shark finning is still rampant, shark fin soup is still being consumed on an enormous scale, and endangered sharks are now also being used to make products for human consumption. Stewart’s mission was to save the sharks and oceans before it’s too late. Sharkwater, Rob’s first film, brought the devastating issue of shark finning used in shark fin soup to the world stage. His multi award-winning film changed laws and public policy worldwide, created hundreds of conservation groups. Today more than 90 countries have banned shark finning or the trade of shark products. Tragically, Rob passed away during the making of this incredible film. His family and friends vow to continue his legacy and work in order to stop the global slaughter. |
BEST narrative FEATURE
|
Jean, the Man of Trees, has a cosmic and visceral link with nature, the true source of life.
His gesture is a sign of love towards exploited nature, raped and dried up by the "civilized" man; it's to her that the protagonist devotes an entire existence, with humility and transport. Jean is inspired, without selfishness and expectations, he plants seeds of oak, acorns, trees ... where before there was nothing, just for love. oosely inspired: L'homme qui plantait des arbres by Jean Giono Director Biography Tore Manca lives and works in Sassari ( Sardinia: Italy). He is a video artist, director and poet. His career began in the early 90s as a visual artist by participating in Reading poetry and collective art and video art. He has conducted so far 40 works of video art and experimental cinema, documentary. |
BEST documentary short
|
Made with no flights, recycled footage and zero net carbon. Given away for free. Viewed 44 Million times, played to the United Nations.
This film is a personal and passionate call to arms from Greta Thunberg and George Monbiot to use nature to heal our broken climate. Director Statement I wanted to make a film that told a global conservation story with a personal feel. Which connected individual actions to system change and that used existing pictures in a way that felt fresh, rather than filming the same visuals we have grown used to. We made it for a tiny budget in very little time to be used to get people at the UN climate summit in NYC talking about NCS, we were astonished and humbled when it went viral. Director Biography Tom Mustill is a wildlife and science filmmaker and founder of micro-indie Gripping Films, which has recently trail-blazed low carbon film-making. He specialises in telling environmental stories that entertain and move people. He’s worked with David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Fry and environmental champions across the world. His films have won over 20 awards and they include other BBC Natural World programmes such as smash-hit Kangaroo Dundee, The Bat Man of Mexico and Giraffes: Africa’s Gentle Giants, which was nominated for an EMMY. His films have been played to the EU Parliament and UN to encourage action on conservation and protecting the atmosphere. Before then he directed the special episodes among others of genre-busting BAFTA, RTS and Broadcast-award winning series Inside Nature’s Giants. |
BEST narrative SHORT
|
What if plastic could be integrated into sea life? Take a deep breath and dive into a world, where feelings of guilt dissolve amongst the mysterious depths of the ocean.
A world where we encounter bizarre creatures and discover eerily beautiful landscapes. Unfortunately, our air doesn’t last forever and we have to realize that nature alone can't solve this issue. Director Statement The trigger for this film was obviously our massive plastic pollution issue, which we all have to deal with these days. But, instead of showing another mournful stomach full of plastic bags, I thought, what if plastic could be integrated into the sea life and nature solves the problem? The film should take you on a journey, where all our feelings of guilt will disappear. But in the end, we wake up and realize that we need to change something. Director Biography After he graduated as a graphic designer back in 2007, Pascal Schelbli discovered his fascination to the motion pictures. In the following years, he collected a lot of experiences in terms of Motion Design, Visual Effects and Animation. He also got the opportunities to direct several image films and broadcast opener as well. Addicted to telling stories with computer generated images, he got accepted to the renowned institute of animation at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, which he successfully finished with his diploma film „The Beauty“ in 2019. Today he is working as a freelance 3D artist and director based in Zurich |
BEST under 18 SHORT
|
A jarring documentary that expresses the problem, causes, and effects of oceanic plastic pollution. The film explores the complex issues behind ocean pollution through the views of both youths, and professionals alike.
The film offers a unique perspective from the point of view of the current day teens who will soon be inheriting this massive problem. Director Statement From a very young age, I have always admired the ocean. I live three blocks away from the ocean and have always stood in awe of the vast beauty and power of the endless body of water. To learn that every day it is receiving one dump truck's worth of garbage was horrifying for me. I made this film in the hope that it will contribute to the growing consciousness surrounding oceanic plastic pollution and inspire youths like myself to engage in environmental issues such as this one. Director Biography Julian Jordan is a junior in high school attending San Francisco Asawa School Of The Arts under the discipline of media and film arts. Julian has been interested in filmmaking from a very young age. This enthusiasm began by making short stop-motion animations with his childhood toys which evolved into live-action shorts. His films progressed as he went on to create better, longer, and more meaningful pieces about his deepest thoughts of the world, such as global climate change and growing corporatism. Julian taught himself many post-production programs, such as Final Cut X, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, and Blender. Combining his technical talents and artistic creativity, Julian made a dramatic short film, "Meteor Miracle", which he submitted to SOTA, a highly respected and competitive public arts school in San Francisco. The film earned Julian admission to the school in which he is now thriving in the rigorous film program. |
BEST animated SHORT
|
Meet influencer, online personality and Internet sensation PolarBarry: The mischievous Polar Bear who knows how to make the North Pole rumble. PolarBarry introduces his followers to the Climate Change debate.
The debate focuses on what should be done to help the climate. VLOG #207 sheds a light on the likeliness that humanity cannot act as a collective. The direct effects are imperceptible to us. The video shows a variety of possible views (without judgement) and the disastrous consequences. Director Statement It’s a waste to constrain ourselves to reality. Wouter Dijkstra (1993) explores the boundaries of humour, peppered with absurdity and oddity. Dijkstra feels no need to express any desire for a better world. He focuses on people and their actions and the peculiarity of their actions. By distancing himself, taking a bird’s-eye view, Dijkstra is able to shed new light on contemporary discussions, like the climate change debate. He prefers his work short and rough-and-ready. His work consists of a combination of documentary-audio and animation. Director Biography Wouter Dijkstra graduated at the Utrecht University in Media & Culture and at the School of the Arts Utrecht in Image & Media Technology |
