On Rev. Martin Luther King Day, I went to Busboys and Poets in Washington DC to hear Naomi Klein speak about her new book, The Shock Doctrine. It was standing room only and the line was around the block with people still trying to get in. I was invigorated by Naomi yes, but more so by her fellow speakers on the Climate Debt Panel. Michele Roberts, the Campaign and Policy Coordinator for Advocates for Environmental Human Rights, recited a spoken word poem "Vulnerable Community" that captured the voices of those people that suffer most from Climate Change but are heard from the least. watch it below.
Pablo Solanos, Bolivia's Ambassador to the UN also spoke about his disheartening and unbelievable experience and ultimately, null results of the Coopenhagen "talks", watch it below. (Thank you Farrah Hansen for the video footage).
Solano's discussion on the World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth encouraged me to attend. Perhaps, I am an idealist, perhaps I am naive to believe that the diversity within civil society will save us and lead the way on the environmental front, if only because our health and security depends on it.
Regardless, this is my journey, I am going to Cochabamba to lead La Trenza Leadership's Eco-Hermanas group of 12 Intergenerational Indigenous, migrant, Afro-descendant, and Latino women and men leaders. They represent the dignified yet vulnerable voices and communities of the United States. I want you to also be part of this journey, so I will be blogging regularly and sharing resources and links on my Facebook and Twitter pages where you may meet these leaders and share the experience with us as it unfolds in Cochabamba. Pack Lightly!
"When we heal the earth, We heal ourselves." David Orr
March is turning out to be a very exciting month in DC for International and Environmental film buffs. We have three great film series in town that overlap. RWUL, the Global Film Initiative, and the Letelier Theatre got a head start, kicking off Global Lens 2010: Passport to a New World of Cinema" in late February with two films from Africa. National Geographic, All Roads Film Project, launched its Women Hold Up Half the Sky series on the 4th of March (see Rachel's post on the movement that inspired this series). The 18th annual Environmental Film Festival begins on March 16th and runs at different venues throughout the city until the 28th of March. While it is important to support these film festivals, I did a little research into how filmmakers get their films into these festivals that highlight greater global cultural and environmental understanding.
I caught up briefly with Rebekah Frimpong, the Founder of RWUL at the opening film of Global Lens 2010. RWUL's mission is "We Motivate, Create, Live, Love, Build, Network, Start, Focus, Mentor, Serve, Communicate," sounds like a great place to work. Operating out of Richmond, Virginia since 2007, RWUL supports independent film culture by sponsoring filmmakers but also values community by educating audiences about the diverse issues in films. For the Global Lens 2010 series, they will be hosting spoken word, traditional Indian dancers and panel discussions about Iran in the media and great tapas from various countries. All following a movie of that respective country. In the interview below you can hear what other exciting projects RWUL is involved in.
HOW DO FILMMAKERS GET THEIR FILMS INTO THESE FILM FESTIVALS?
National Geographic, All Roads Film Project is currently accepting film submission to their full film festival (September 2010) until April 30th for documentary films that provide a "platform for indigenous and underrepresented minority-culture storytellers from around the world." They also provide Seed Grants to Film-makers, watch the YouTube Video below to show you how to go about applying.
The Global Film Initiative receives grant applications from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania and provides 10-20 filmmakers up to $10,000 in grants twice a year for films that encourage "authentic self-representation." The Environmental Film Festival doesn't have a formal film submission process. It is recommended that you submit a synopsis and screener of the film in late summer or early autumn. This year the Environmental Film Festival has a feature on their website where film-makers can upload Green Short Films for all visitors to see, making it easy for a budding green film-maker to get some free advertising.
The Floating Cities green short film submitted by the European Environment Agency submitted the film below exploring the engineering and technology to build flood proof homes in the Netherlands. It would be fascinating to combine traditional and indigenous building practices with some of this new technology and apply it to many of the communities around the world struggling with climate change adaptation.
The last film, 2501 Migrants: A Journey, by Yolanda Cruz in the Women Hold Up Half the Sky Series is powerful. It is about an artist that spends 6 years documenting through sculpture the 2501 people that have migrated from his town in Oaxaca, Mexico. See the trailer below.
If you take a moment to look at the programs, I promise you, more than one of these independent films will peak your interest, so schedule some time to support independent film and while you are there, you just may begin to "motivate..network, live, love, build..." through film yourself.
How is art, design, and an evolving communications and media landscape making a positive impact in the world? Citizen Inspired documents imaginative efforts that lead to real sustainable solutions, and serves as a resource and meeting place for artists, designers, entrepreneurs, activists and global citizens. A place where connections are forged and solutions flourish. Please contact us with your contributions and tips.
Editors
Angela Adrar
Email - Twitter - Full Bio is an international strategy and communications consultant based in Washington, D.C. who specializes in social/environmental project and business planning, often combining traditional marketing with social media for global impact.
Rachel Clift
Email - Twitter - Full Bio is an Emmy-Nominated producer, writer, documentary filmmaker, and communications consultant based in Brooklyn, NY. She has filmed projects in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and has a passion for development.
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