CMS VATAVARAN

CALLS FOR ENTRIES BY ASIA`S BIGGEST GREEN FILM FESTIVAL (PRESS NOTE)

2014-06-05T00:02:00.000-07:00

New Delhi, June 05, 2014: Films have the power to break down barriers of languages and classes, giving us a window to look into new possibilities. It opens our eyes to things that we don`t see every day. For more than 10 years, CMS VATAVARAN has been committed to spreading awareness on environment and wildlife issues through films.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, CMS VATAVARAN announces its Call for Entries for the 8^th competitive edition of CMS VATAVARAN – Environment & Wildlife Film Festival and Forum 2015 from Indian and International filmmakers.

The theme for the 8^th competitive edition is ‘Water for Life’ with a special focus on “Conserving our Water Bodies”. The festival is scheduled to be held from October 09 – 12, 2015 in New Delhi. The early bird deadline is October 08, 2014 which also coincides with the Wildlife Week. The award money for Indian category ranges from INR 50,000 – 1,50,000.

The festival theme also concurs with the United Nations General Assembly`s resolution A/RES/58/217, to proclaim 2005-2015 as the UN Decade for Action 'Water for Life'. The challenge of the decade is to focus attention on action-oriented activities and policies that ensure long-term sustainable management of water resources, in terms of both quantity and quality, and include measures to improve sanitation.

The CMS VATAVARAN 2015 ‘Water for Life’ theme with a special focus on “Conserving our Water Bodies” will encompass various sub themes such as water sources, pollution, conservation, cleaning mechanism, health, social and management issues, corporatization, water conflicts and solutions.

Competition and Selection Process

The participation is open worldwide to environment and wildlife filmmakers - professional and amateur. Films which are produced on or after January 01, 2013 are accepted. Like previous competitive years, CMS VATAVARAN 2015 entries will be subjected to three-tier rigorous selection process in which 40-50 eminent personalities from different sectors will dedicate their valuable time and expertise to recognise high quality films.

“In 2014, the 7^th competitive edition, CMS VATAVARAN has received record submission of 541 entries including 337 International and 204 Indian films - 41% more compared to 2011 competitive festival,” shares P N Vasanti, Director, CMS.

“The environmental movement has moved from the periphery to the center of human consciousness and some actions are been taken and some goals are being set but I am afraid we are very far in reaching those goals. What CMS VATAVARAN is doing through the medium of films to bring these environmental values to the consciousness of the younger generations is commendable” says Dr Karan Singh, President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

Eminent Filmmaker Shri Amol Palekar remarked “I am glad to be a part of the green movement, to protect and celebrate our nature by being a part of the CMS VATAVARAN 2014 Award Jury. Films are a powerful medium of change and I hope award winning films are used extensively for the same.”

For submission related queries contact Ms Bharti Kapoor (submission@cmsvatavaran.org). The last date for submission is March 22, 2015 (World Water Day).

About CMS VATAVARAN

As a committed research and advocacy think-tank, CMS has pioneered India’s only environment and wildlife film festival and forum – ‘CMS VATAVARAN’. Based on extensive research, this festival was initiated for encouraging environment films and forums that result in perception, practice and policy change. CMS VATAVARAN has recently completed ten glorious years of its journey from 2002-2012. The festival has an International recognition and till date 40 festivals have been organised in 26 cities of India. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, GOI and Government of NCT of Delhi has been our partner since the beginning. Renowned people like Dr Karan Singh, Shyam Benegal, Amol Palekar, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Jahnu Baruah, Prakash Jha, Mahesh Bhatt and Suresh Prabhu have been CMS VATAVARAN patrons.

For more details contact:

Priya Verma Talwar

Festival Coordinator

M: 91-9899979165; E: priya@cmsindia.org

CMS VATAVARAN – International Environment & Wildlife Film Festival and Forum

RESEARCH HOUSE, Saket Community Centre, New Delhi 110017, INDIA

P: 91‐11‐26522244/55; F: 91‐11‐26968282

www.cmsvatavaran.org

BOOKS ON BIODIVERSITY TO BE LAUNCHED AT 7TH CMS VATAVARAN

2014-01-30T22:55:00.000-08:00

DATE	TIME	VENUE	Book Launch
Jan 31 Friday	11:00 am- 12:30 pm	Young Champions Lawn	The Tiger of Taboo Valley by Ranjit Lal followed by a session with Ranjit Lal, Children’s Writer, Columnist and Birder
Jan 31 Friday	12:45 pm- 1:45 pm	CMS Lawn	Himalaya: Mountains of Life by Sandesh Kadur and Dr Kamal S Bawa & Sahyadris: India’s Western Ghats by Sandesh Kadur and Dr Kamal S Bawa followed by a session with Sandesh Kadur
Feb 2 Sunday	5:45 pm- 6:45 pm	CMS Lawn	First Food: A Taste of India’s Biodiversity edited by Edited by: Sunita Narain, Vibha Varshney & Kaushik Dasgupta followed by a session with Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE (Organised by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE))

CMS VATAVARAN is kicking off with an exciting line up of programmes from Jan 30- Feb 03, 2014 at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (entry from Gate no. 2, near India Gate and Central Secretariat Metro Station). The 5 day biodiversity gala will feature film festival, forums, book launches exhibitions, musical festival, food festival, green bazaar and many more at the IGNCA Lawns from January 30- February 3, 2014.

Three book launches will be held in the 5 day gala with attendance of eminent filmmakers, authors, conservationists, among many others.

Activities in Young Champions Lawn, one of the venues at the 7^th CMS VATAVARAN will begin on Jan 31 at 11:00 am with the launch of Mr. Ranjit Lal’s children book The Tiger of Taboo Valley that tells a hilarious and touching story of Rana Shaan-Bahadur, an alpha-male tiger of a wildlife national park who moves to Taboo Valley while a poacher Khoon-Pyaasa is on the prowl to kill him. Ranjit Lal has written books for both adults and children. Some of his books include The Crow Chronicles, The Life and Times of Altu-Faltu, Bossman and the Kala Shaitan, Birds from my Window. He has been a winner of the Crossword Best Children s Book Award for Faces in the Water.

Coffee table books, Himalaya: Mountains of Life and Sahyadris – India’s Western Ghats both by Sandesh Kadur and Dr Kamal S Bawa will be launched at the 7^th CMS VATAVARAN- Day 2( Jan 31, 2014 from 12:45 to 1:45 pm) at CMS Lawn. The books visually depicts the great canyon of Yarlung Tsangpo and the Siang Gorge in the east to the Kali Gandaki Gorge in the west and the Malabar Coast of southern India, along the Arabian Sea, where lies a range of mountains known as the Western Ghats, or Sahyadris.

Day 4 of CMS VATAVARAN will see the book launch of recently released book called First Food: A Taste of India’s Biodiversity brought out by the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). It has recipes collated from across the country of indigenous food, spices and beverages. The book session with Sunita Narain, Director, CSE who has edited will be talking about the indigenous food from the country and how it is necessary to highlight local and regional food recipes.

7th CMS VATAVARAN to be inaugurated by Minister of Environment & Forests

2014-01-29T22:37:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: In a completely new format, a five day green festival is being organised at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi from (Thursday – Monday) Jan 30 to Feb 03, 2014. The festival will host a high profile Inaugural Ceremony on the evening of Jan 30, 2014 from 6:30 pm onwards.

The inaugural ceremony will be graced by eminent guests representing the Ministry of Environment and Forest, conservation organizations, diplomats, filmmakers and others.

Dr M Veerappa Moily, Minister of Environment & Forests, GoI will be gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dr Karan Singh, MP and President, ICCSR and Ms Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in India will also be present at the inaugural ceremony. Mr. Vivek Menon, Senior Professor & Dean, Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Mr A S Panneerselvan, Executive Director, PANOS South Asia are among the special invitees.

Ms. Vijaya Mulay, veteran documentary filmmaker will be felicitated with the CMS VATAVARAN Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding contribution in filmmaking. Also receiving the CMS VATAVARAN Prithvi Ratna Award is Mr. Sanjay Barnela, filmmaker for outstanding contribution to nature and conservation filming throughout their career which has resulted in bringing change in perception, practice and policy with regards to environment. CMS VATAVARAN will also present the PSA CMS Media Excellence Awards for excellence in environment reporting. This year, the awards have been presented to Ms. Juhi Chaudhury (CNN IBN), Ms. Chandan Haygunde (Indian Express, Pune), Amantha Perrera (Sri Lanka) and Subhra Priyadarshini (India)

Bamboo Band of the Vayali Folk Group will also be performing at the inaugural ceremony. Vayali is a group of young people from the cultural capital of Kerala, and is engaged in preserving the roots. The group uses indigenous percussion instruments to create foot tapping music to preserve the dying Valluvanandan tradition and culture.

Celebrate diversity in nature in Asia’s largest film festival & forum on environment and wildlife !

To participate, register online - www.cmsvatavaran.org

About CMS VATAVARAN: The rich experience of CMS in environmental issues & development communication sowed the seeds of CMS VATAVARAN, India’s only International Environment & Wildlife Film Festival and Forum. In its decade long eventful journey from 2002 – 2012, CMS VATAVARAN has become a movement and inspired many organisations / individuals to use films and film festivals as a medium to catalyse change. It has created a strong network of Indian and International filmmakers, policymakers, academicians, research think tanks, environmentalists, journalists, students of all streams, defense & paramilitary forces and nature enthusiasts. The festival has an International recognition and till date 39 festivals have been organised across 26 cities of India.

CMS VATAVARAN remains resolute to encourage environment films and forums resulting change in perception, practice and policy.

For more details contact:

Ms Indira Akoijam, Media Coordinator - CMS VATAVARAN

E: indira@cmsindia.org, Cell: 9899979161, Phone – 011 26864020 / 26851660

CMS, RESEARCH House, Saket Community Centre, New Delhi 110017

Feature Films and Celebrities at CMS VATAVARAN

2014-01-16T06:00:00.002-08:00

Ajoba | 01:50:39 | Marathi with English subtitled | Sujoy Dhake

Junnar is a small city placed at the foothills of Sahyadri mountain range in Maharashtra. A city with thousand years of rich history, it is also the place with the highest number of leopards. Leopard attacks, injuries, human-animal conflict is the order of the day. The film tells the story of a leopard "Ajoba" rescued by forest officials in Junnar and subsequently collared and released into the wild. The chip installed in the collar empowers Purva the wildlife biologist to track Ajoba's behavior and actions. But there is a constant threat from the villagers who fear for their security. Purva fights a lone battle, as voices clamour to trap the animal. Does Purva manage to save Ajoba?

This film will be screened at CMS VATAVARAN on Feb 01, 2014 (Saturday) at the ONGC Lawn 2 pm. It will be preceded by a discussion with Director Sujoy Dhake and Actress Urmila Matondkar (tbc) scheduled from 12.45 – 1.45 pm.

Feature Films and Celebrities at CMS VATAVARAN

2014-01-16T05:52:00.002-08:00

Kalpvriksh | Hindi | 01:53:07 | Manika Sharma

The film gives the message of nature conservation through a Kalpvriksh (wishing tree). The tree is in search of that one special person to whom it will divulge the secret of infinite happiness - the secret of living in harmony with nature, the fountainhead of peace and joy. Intertwined with this story is the story of a girl who does not like her fat frame, two brothers, a boy who lives with his mother and longs for his absent father. These troubled children go to the Kalpvriksh for love and solace. The tree punishes those who disrespect it and nurtures those who believe in its powers. One day when some people decide to cut down the tree, the children come together to save the tree.

A special session with renowned actress Shabana Azmi,

film producer Raajaysh Chetwal and director Manika Sharma

is scheduled at CMS VATAVARAN on Friday Jan 31, 2014

from 4.30 to 5.30 pm at the Young Champions Lawn.

CMS VATAVARAN Lifetime Achievement Award for Vijaya Mulay

2014-01-09T02:34:00.001-08:00

Filmmaker behind children “Ek, Anek Aur Ekta” to be conferred at CMS VATAVARAN

Delhi based veteran documentary filmmaker Vijaya Mulay, will be conferred with the prestigious CMS VATAVARAN Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award is being conferred for her efforts that has shaped how India is viewed by Indian and non-Indian filmmakers through her films. She has worked closely with legendary filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Louis Malle, Mrinal Sen, etc . Several of her films received National awards and awards at International Film Festivals including Delhi, New York, Teheran.

Vijaya Mulay, now 92, has Master’s degree in Education from the University of Leeds, UK where she inculcated her taste for cinema. She was also the President of Federation of Film Societies of India. She made her first film- 'The Tidal Bore' (about the 15 feet tidal bore coming from Bay of Bengal like a wall of water on the Hooghly River). She has also received the Vikram Sarabhai Life Time Achievement award for educational communication in 1999. In 1974, she made the popular children’s film Ek, Anek, aur Ekta that was repeatedly broadcast on Doordarshan channels.

As an educationist, she developed a multimedia package through SITE (Satellite Instructional Television Experiment) for training of more than 48000 primary school teachers which is widely considered to be a path-breaking program in the area of educational technology.

CMS VATAVARAN in its endeavour to recognise people’s efforts in the field of filmmaking and conservation issues will be awarding Vijaya Mulay for her outstanding contribution in filmmaking. The award will be conferred on February 02, at the 7^th CMS VATAVARAN Award Nite to be held in IGNCA Lawns, near India Gate from 7 pm onwards.

Shubhra Gupta Film Critic, and senior columnist The Indian Express

2014-01-07T06:21:00.000-08:00

Shubhra Gupta is a well-know film critic and a senior columnist at "The Indian Express". Among her early works were a weekly television column in "Sunday", the prestigious magazine of the Ananda Bazaar (ABP) group in 1989 and many articles on cinema. The weekly movie column at "The Indian Express" began in 1992. Since then, it has run without a break. Gupta is one of the very few journalists in India who has delved beyond the screen appearance of films to look at the multiple aspects of the film industry, in India and around the globe. She has covered national and international film festivals, and has been on juries and selection pan-els as well. Gupta won the Ramnath Goenka award, one of India's most prestigious awards, for Best Writing on Film in 2012.

Mr Ranjit Lal Children's Writer, Columnist, Birder

2014-01-07T06:18:00.000-08:00

Ranjit Lal is an author and columnist and writes for children and adults. He has had 30 books published so far, fiction and non-fiction. As a journalist and columnist he has had over 1000 articles/ features published in over 50 publications. He currently writes a column, Down in Jungleland, for the "Indian Express" Sunday magazine, "Eye". His special interests include photography, natural history, birds, dogs, automobiles, cooking and humour. His book, "Faces in the Water" won the 2010 Crossword - Vodafone Award for Children's Fiction and the Ladli Media Award for Gender Sensitivity 2011 - 2012. His book "Taklu and Shroom" has been shortlisted for this year's Crossword - IDBI Award for children's fiction. He lives in Delhi.

Dr Neelima Jerath Executive Director, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST)

2014-01-07T06:15:00.000-08:00

Dr Neelima Jerath is Executive Director, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST), Member Secretary, Punjab Biodiversity Board and Member Secretary, Punjab State Innovation Council. She is also Chairperson, State Expert Appraisal Committee for Environment Clearance of projects in Punjab. As Executive Director, PSCST, she promotes science popularisation and outreach programmes, promotes sustainable development, conservation of natural resources, provides consultancy to industry for pollution control and energy efficiency, biotechnological interventions for socio-economic improvement and handles intellectual property rights. As Member Secretary, Punjab Biodiversity Board, she is also involved in biodiversity studies and multi-stake holder processes for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and associated knowledge. Dr Jerath is a Ph.D. in Botany and a gold medalist for topping amongst women candidates in all PG subjects in the university. Widely traveled, she has more than 33 years of experience in the area of environment and sustainable development and has handled projects sponsored by UNESCO, UNDP, etc. Dr Jerath is recipient of Punjab State Award (Punjab Sarkar Praman Patra) for her work in the area of environment.

Mr M D Madhusudan Senior Scientist and Trustee Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore

2014-01-07T06:14:00.000-08:00

M Madhusudan is fascinated by nature and by people. As a conservation scientist, he is interested in identifying the scope and the limit to coexistence between wild species and humans in densely settled landscapes. He strives for a reasoned reconciliation between the two by studying the ecology and behaviour of wildlife, as well as by understanding their interactions with human society. He has a Masters degree from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and a Ph D from the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. In 1996, he co-founded the Nature Conservation Foundation, an organisation that undertakes and promotes science-based and socially responsible nature conservation in diverse ecosystems across India.

Mr Ganesan Balachander Director, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)

2014-01-07T06:10:00.001-08:00

Ganesan Balachander is the Director of Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). Earlier, he was the Ford Foundation's South Asia Representative for six years until late 2008. In 2010, he was appointed as Director of the founding consortium board of the CGIAR, overseeing reform across the 15 centres in the CG system. For a decade prior to joining the Ford Foundation, he worked for a variety of organisations concerned with community-based environmental management and development in Asia-Pacific and North America. Before charting a career in conservation, he worked for many years in the banking sector - as Vice President with Citibank and Marine Midland Bank in New York and Standard Chartered Bank in Europe and India. Balachander has an MS degree in Physics from IIT, Chennai. He holds an MBA from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Rutgers University, New Jersey. He was also a Bullard Fellow at Harvard University. Besides being a keen mountaineer who has hiked in many remote parts of the world, he is also an avid tennis and cricket player.

Mr Ramesh Sharma (Jury Chairperson) Film Maker

2014-01-07T06:09:00.000-08:00

Ramesh Sharma is an award-winning feature film and documentary producer/ director. His films have won numerous awards in national and international film festivals. He is the recipient of six national awards. Among many films, he has produced and co-directed the EMMY-nominated feature documentary "The Journalist" and "The Jihadi - The Murder of Daniel Pearl." The film won the National Award in India for the Best Investigative Documentary of the Year in 2008. Sharma has served as a member of the Key Advisory Body to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India from 2001 to 2005 and as member of the Indo-China Sub Commission for Film and Television. In 2007 he was awarded the Caviliere dell'Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta' Italiana by the Government of Italy. He has served as Member Trustee of the India Brand Equity Foundation. He has also served as the Chairman of the Jury of the National Film Awards for non-feature films in India in 2012.

Mr Ziya Us Salam Features Editor The Hindu, New Delhi

2014-01-07T05:59:00.000-08:00

Ziya us Salam, features editor with "The Hindu", has served on the jury of the International Film Festival of India. He has also been part of the jury for Best Writing on Cinema in 2008. An eminent film critic, he has also been on the preview committee of International Film Festival of India (IFFI - world cinema). He edited a book, "Housefull: The Golden Age of Hindi Cinema" last year. His book, "Delhi 4 Shows", an anecdotal history of cinema of Delhi, is scheduled to be released shortly. It has been published by Om Books International. He has been writing about Indian cinema regularly, and takes a more multilayered approach to the medium often reduced to the slapstick. A dispassionate observer of Hindi cinema, he has contributed to anthologies published by Oxford University Press, Roli Books and the British Council.

Ms Sumitra Bhave Film Maker Vichitra Nirmiti, Pune

2014-01-07T05:54:00.000-08:00

Sumitra Bhave (along with Sunil Sukthankar) has 14 feature films ("Dodhi", "Zindagi Zindabaad", "Dahavi F" ( 10th F ), "Vastupurush", "Devrai", "Badha" and "Nital", "Gho Mala Asala Hawa", "Bewaqt Barish", "Ek Cup Chya", "Mor Dekhane Jungle Mein", "Ha Bharat Maza", "Samhita", "Astuand"), 40 short films, five telefilms and two television serials to her credit. Her films have received three International Awards (one for "Doghi" and two for short film "Chakori"), six National Awards (for short films "Bai" and "Pani" and for feature films "Doghi", "Vastupurush" and "Devrai"), several national-level awards including Arvindan Puraskaram, more than 45 state awards and several state-level awards. Her films "Doghi", "Dahavi F" and "Nital" have won Maharashtra State Best Film/ Best Direction awards. Ms Bhave is an alumni of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She taught social work and social research before turning to filmmaking in 1983. Her films have been screened in many film festivals in India, France, Italy, UK, USA, Norway, Canada, Japan, Austria, Australia, and Holland and so on. Ms Bhave has worked as Jury on various national and international festival committees including the National Award Committee of India.

Mr R M S Liberhan Director, India Habitat Centre (IHC), New Delhi

2014-01-07T05:32:00.001-08:00

Raj Liberhan currently Director, India Habitat Centre (IHC), New Delhi, India, served in the Government of India's financial services for 30 years, before moving to the non-governmental sector to head the IHC. He has varied experience with a significant range of responsibilities at the senior level in government, public sector and NGO environments. His profile includes creating and sustaining economic and financial systems for large organisations, financial evaluation and negotiation of contracts, budget formulation and management, resource mobilisation and fund management; processing of project approvals vis-à-vis their feasibility, economic viability and funding patterns, monitoring their implementation, and identification and finalisation of organisations' investments. At the India Habitat Centre, he has created platforms for conversations on art, culture and issues of contemporary concern to society. As Chief Executive of the India Habitat Centre, he has helped create a unique institutional mechanism where various professions and institutions dealing with different facets of habitat function, interact, and attempt to resolve habitat related problems in a coordinated manner; and cooperate and collaborate with other national or international institutions.

Dr Nanditha Krishna Director, C P Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation and Founder-Director of C P R Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC)

2014-01-07T05:28:00.004-08:00

A historian, environmentalist and writer based in Chennai, Nanditha Krishna has a Ph.D. in Ancient Indian Culture from Bombay University. She is also professor and research guide for the Ph.D. programme of the University of Madras and has received several national and international awards, including the University Women of Asia Award, Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, Dr M S Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection, Stree Ratna and Seva Ratna. Dr Krishna is Director of C P Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation and Founder-Director of C P R Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC), a Centre of Excellence, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, and has pioneered documentation of India's ecological traditions and restoration of sacred groves. Dr Krishna is author of several books such as "Sacred Plants of India" (Penguin); "Sacred Animals of India", "Book of Demons", "Book of Vishnu" (Penguin); "Madras Then" (Roli Books); "Madras-Chennai" (New Horizon); "Balaji Venkateshwara"; "Ganesha" (Vakils); "Painted Manuscripts of the Sarasvati Mahal Library" (Govt. of Tamil Nadu); "Arts and Crafts of Tamil Nadu" (Mapin); "Art and Iconography of Vishnu-Narayana" (Taraporevala); "Folk Toys of South India" and "Varahishwarar Temple", besides research papers and popular articles.

Dr Nagesh Rao President and Director, Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad

2014-01-07T05:27:00.001-08:00

Dr Nagesh Rao is President and Director, Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad, with scholarly interests in intercultural communication competence and health communication. He Rao holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Michigan State University and has taught in several universities in the United States of America, including University of Maryland, Ohio University and University of New Mexico. In each of these universities, Dr Rao was voted "Teacher of the Year". He has also been visiting professor at Bangkok University, Zayed University (U.A.E.) and Hong Kong Baptist University. Dr Rao's work has been published in internationally-reputed communication and health journals, including communication monographs, "International Journal of Intercultural Relations", and "Studies in Family Planning". He has served as consultant/ trainer for Siemens, NextGen Health Care, PricewaterhouseCoopers, England, Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and Northwestern University Medical School. Dr Rao has worked on research projects funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) and National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). He recently co-edited a book titled, "Communicate. Care. Cure."

The Dongria Kondh Tribe of Odhisha

2014-01-06T21:38:00.002-08:00

Written by Karishma Saurabh Kalita

The Kondhs are an indigenous tribal group, found in the state of Odhisha, in the eastern part of India. They are one of the oldest tribal groups to be found in the country. The Kondhs also have sub-groups, the majority being the Dongrias. The Dongria Kondhs live in villages scattered around the Niyamgiri Hills and have a population of about 8000 people. They call themselves Jharnia, meaning ‘protector of streams’, because they protect their sacred mountains and the life-giving rivers that rise within its thick forests. To the Dongria, Niyam Dongar hill is the seat of their god, Niyam Raja and they also believe that they are alive till the mountain is alive or else they will all perish.

But the Dongrias have been fighting a battle to save their beloved mountain since a decade. Vedanta Resources, a UK based mining giant has targeted the Niyamgiri hills for mining because it is rich in bauxite. To the Dongria, the Niyamgiri is the seat of their deity but for Vedanta Resources, it is a $2billion deposit of bauxite. The bauxite-capped Niyamgiri hills soak up the monsoon's rain, giving rise to more than a hundred perennial streams and rivers, including the Vamshadhara River. They are the only water sources for communities who live in the hills, and major sources for others who live lower down the hills, where drought and starvation deaths have made national news.

Vedanta Resources have been trying to mine the Niyamgiri bauxite since 2003. They built a refinery at the foot of the mountain and a lot of villagers lost their homes and means of livelihood and not to mention the health threats, livestock diseases and crop damage.

The Dongria have resiliently resisted the attempts of Vedanta to mine in the Niyamgiri Hills. They have held roadblocks, formed a human chain around their hill and even set a Vedanta-owned jeep alight when it was driven onto the mountain's sacred plateau. In 2010, the findings of a committee sent to the Niyamgiri Hills persuaded the Indian government to block the development of the mine. Due to the blockage and also without any means of Niyamgiri's bauxite, the company has had difficulties running the refinery, leading to a temporary shutdown in 2012. Vedanta admitted that this had led to losses of at least $82 million.

In April 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that communities affected by the mining project must be consulted. But the Odhisha State Government ruled out only 12 communities out of more than 100. By August 2013, all 12 Dongria villages had unanimously voted against Vedanta's mining project. The results are being considered by India's Ministry of Environment and Forests who will give the final verdict. The conclusion isn’t out yet, but the villagers are still hopeful that they can still protect their sacred land.

Come be a part of the discussions related to the Niyamgiri Mining Issue at the Forest Lawn in the 7^th CMS Vatavaran- Environment and Wildlife festival & Forum, starting from the 30^th January till the 3^rd February, 2014, at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi.

Artificial Glaciers

2014-01-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

Written by Karishma Saurabh Kalita

The melting water from the glaciers, have been the only source of water for irrigation in Ladakh. But with the growing phenomenon of global warming and constant climate changes, there has been lesser snowfall and also the glaciers have started to melt at an alarming rate. Due to less precipitation and shorter winter and also an increase in winter temperatures, the glaciers are melting away even before they can be put to use.

The summer season is also very short in this region and as a result, only one crop can be cultivated per year and that too in the months of April and May. But, during this time, the glaciers being at a higher altitude does not melt and there isn’t sufficient water for irrigation. If the crops aren’t sowed at this time of the year, they do not fully mature which further result in low yielding crops.

Keeping these major problems in mind, one man called Chewang Norphel came up with the idea of creating artificial glaciers which can be manipulated to melt at the right time so that there is surplus water which is needed at the particular time of irrigation. Nicknamed as ‘The Ice Man’, Chewang Norphel, changed the course of the irrigation system in Ladakh. He created the artificial glacier by diverting the water from the river into a valley. The invention of artificial glaciers has solved the big problem of livelihood and has prevented shortage of food and unemployment among the people of Ladakh.

During the early winter months (November-December), a channel is built which divert the running water to the shady side of the mountain where it slows down gradually and accumulates and freezes over time. Retaining walls / channels are built on every slope in the terrain, which helps in further slowing down the water all along the slope and as a result the artificial glacier is formed. These glaciers are built at a lower altitude so that it takes a short time to melt. It is also on a closer proximity to the villages which helps the water supply to reach the fields at the correct time of irrigation.

The whole phenomenon of the artificial glaciers will come to life at the 7^th CMS Vatavaran- Environment and Wildlife Film Festival & Forum, 30^th Jan-3^rd Feb, 2014, at the IGNCA Lawns, New Delhi. A film based on this phenomenon, “Ladakh’s Artificial Glaciers”, directed by acclaimed documentary film maker Rajendra Srivathsa Kondapalli, has been nominated under the category ‘Climate Change & Sustainable Technologies’. Not only will the film celebrate this life saving invention, the festival will also conduct talks and sessions at the ‘Mountain Bio-Diversity’ lawn.

Adapting to Climate Change

2014-01-04T03:56:00.000-08:00

Written by Romiya Das

Two films- A Climate of Change and Wind of Change brings about impact of climate change on the livelihood of people in Africa. The films will be shown at the 7^th CMS VATAVARAN Environment and Wildlife Film Festival and Forum.

CMS VATAVARAN is an enterprise to encourage environment films and forums that result in perception, practice and policy change. Both National and International issues are brought to attention by the films participating for these prestigious awards. This year for the 7^th CMS VATAVARAN, two films from Africa -
‘A Climate of Change’ and ‘Wind of Change’, have been nominated under the category climate change and sustainable technologies. The festival is scheduled to be held from Jan 30- Feb 03, 2014 at IGNCA Lawns, near India Gate.

Climate change in Africa has jeopardized the food security and economic growth, leading to lower crop yields, farmers losing arable lands leading to less food to eat and increase in the number of malnutrition children. The farmers have adapted various sustainable developments methods to manage the risks associated with the climate change. They have adapted cultivation of those crops that can sustain higher temperatures and drought conditions. Sustainable development is the development that meets the need of the present without compromising those of future generations.

The film ‘A Climate of Change’ directed by Jenny Sharman reveals how Africa's people adapted to climate change and significantly contribute to mitigating the impacts of global warming through innovative, simple systems of farming and sustainable development. These systems are saving lives, increasing prosperity and protecting the continent's biodiversity. This highly effective approach is providing farmers in Africa with a winning scenario, that if sufficiently supported could help prevent some of the suffering and environmental destruction that is so frequently reported from this fragile continent. The director has focused farmers life and there adaption to sustainable farming practices.

‘Winds of Change’ directed by Julia Dahr gives the draught a human face and brings us closer to the challenges that individual faces from climate change. The film follows a farmer in Kenya with his big dreams for his family`s future. The family fights against the effects of both global and local human induced climate change, experiencing a rainy season with a less rain than usual in recent years. The film shows the farmers own video diary.

The film ‘Winds of Change’ has been a part of many film festivals some of which include the International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival (2013), Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital, Washington D.C. (2013) and has won awards like Best Medium-Length Film at the FICA, Goiás, Brazil (2013) and Best Short Documentary at the Nordic Docs, Fredrikstad (2013).

Dr Anupam Joshi Senior Environmental Specialist, The World Bank, New Delhi

2013-12-28T00:53:00.000-08:00

A trained ecologist, Dr Anupam Joshi has wide experience in the fields of ecosystem analysis, biodiversity conservation, protected area management, habitat restoration, impact assessments and evaluations. Armed with a Ph.D. from University of Delhi, he has worked with the Government of India (Planning Commission), civil society, private sector (as a freelance environment and management consultant) and with multilateral donor agency (The World Bank – since 1997). Presently, as Senior Environmental Specialist in the World Bank, Joshi is a team leader for managing two complex multi-state projects on biodiversity conservation, natural resource management and livelihood improvement spanning a total of nine Indian states. His projects also include two GEF-funded projects on improving ecosystem services and sustainable land management. In other bank operations, his primary responsibilities include providing environmental safeguard support to ensure investments are sustainable. He has provided technical support in developing a range of research-based knowledge products as well as acted as a trainer on various capacity building efforts on environmental and conservation topics. He enjoys travelling and listening to music. A photographer by hobby, Joshi has won several awards.

CMS VATAVARAN Jury Headed by Shri Amol Palekar

2013-12-21T04:09:00.000-08:00

The Award Jury Meeting of the 7^th CMS Vatavaran- Environment and Wildlife Film Festival & Forum was held from Dec 18 – 20, 2013 (Wed – Fri) at the ITC Maurya, New Delhi. CMS Vatavaran is Asia’s largest Film Festival and Forum and it is also rated as one of the world’s top ten festivals on environment and wildlife.

Eminent film maker, actor and producer - Amol Palekar headed the list of eminent jurists for the coveted 7^th CMS VATAVARAN Awards in national and international categories. The Jury Committee comprises of 13 eminent personalities from widely divergent sectors and streams representing environment, film and media/communication experts (Details of all Jury members is given below). Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Palekar said, “I am glad to be a part of the green movement, to protect and celebrate our nature by being a part of the CMS Vatavaran Award Jury. Films are a powerful medium of change and I hope award winning films are used extensively for the same.”

In the Award Jury meet, all 12 Jury members saw more than 24 hours of films (all 86) in each category (national and International). Based on discussions, they have now selected the awards – 15 in National category and 12 in International category. The awards in national category range from Rs50,000 to 1,50,000 each along with citation and trophy. Similarly, the awardees in the international category also receive trophy and citation. There is no cash award for the international category

In this 7^th edition of CMS VATAVARAN, a total of 541 entries were received in both National and International categories. From these, 86 have been nominated in 11 categories by the Nomination Jury of 31 experts headed by Mr Srinivasan Iyer, Assistant Country Director and Head, Energy and Environment Unit, UNDP India.

Known for its rigorous and credible selection process, the coveted CMS VATAVARAN awards will be announced and presented on Feb 02, 2014 during the 7th CMS VATAVARAN-Environment & Wildlife Film Festival and Forum which is scheduled from January 30 – February 03, 2014 at IGNCA Lawns, New Delhi.

The Award Jury for the national category consisted of:

1. Dr Nagesh Rao - President & Director - Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA). Dr Nagesh Rao has scholarly interests in intercultural communication competence and health communication.

2. Dr Nanditha Krishna – Director, C P R Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC), Chennai. Dr. Krishna is a historian, environmentalist and writer.

3. Dr Anupam Joshi - Senior Environmental Specialist- The World Bank, New Delhi

4. Mr R M S Liberhan – Director - India Habitat Centre (IHC), New Delhi

Raj Liberhan has served in the Government of India’s financial services for 30 years, before moving to the non-governmental sector to head the IHC.

5. Ms Sumitra Bhave- Award winning Film Maker – Vichitra Nirmiti, Pune

Sumitra Bhave (along with Sunil Sukthankar) has made 14 feature films, 40 short films, five telefilms and two television serials to her credit.

6. Mr Ziya Us Salam – Features Editor – The Hindu, New Delhi

Ziya Us Salam has served on the jury of the International Film Festival of India.

The Award Jury for the International category consisted of:

1. Mr Ramesh Sharma – Award winning Film Maker, New Delhi

2. Ms Shubhra Gupta- Film Critic & Senior Columnist - The Indian Express, New Delhi

3. Mr Ranjit Lal - Children's writer, columnist, birder, New Delhi

Ranjit Lal is an author and has 30 books published so far, fiction and non-fiction.

4. Dr Ganesan Balachander – Director - Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore

5. Mr M D Madhusudan - Senior Scientist and Trustee - Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), Mysore.

He co-founded the Nature Conservation Foundation, an organisation that undertakes and promotes science-based and socially responsible nature conservation in diverse ecosystems across India.

6. Dr Neelima Jerath - Executive Director - Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST), Chandigarh.

Dr Jerath is also Member Secretary, Punjab Biodiversity Board and Member Secretary, Punjab State Innovation Council. She is also Chairperson, State Expert Appraisal Committee for Environment Clearance of projects in Punjab.

About CMS VATAVARAN: The rich experience of CMS in environmental issues & development communication and a commitment to perform the role of a practitioner of its own research, sowed the seeds of CMS VATAVARAN, India’s only International Environment & Wildlife Film Festival and Forum. In its decade long eventful journey from 2002 – 2012, CMS VATAVARAN has become a movement and inspired many organisations / individuals to use films and film festivals as a medium to catalyse change. It has created a strong network of Indian and International filmmakers, policymakers, academicians, research think tanks, environmentalists, journalists, students of all streams, defense & paramilitary forces and nature enthusiasts. The festival has an International recognition and till date 39 festivals have been organised across 26 cities of India.

CMS VATAVARAN remains resolute to encourage environment films and forums resulting change in perception, practice and policy.

The Diary of a Refugee

2013-12-17T01:23:00.002-08:00

Dir: Bishnu Dev Halder

Language: Bengali

Duration: 52 minutes

Year: 2012

Synopsis:

A wild jungle of settlement for the Bengali refugees from East Pakistan in 1949, the film maker’s

village became a busy industrial hub in the 1980s, which brought his farming villagers regular earning and, thereby, uninterrupted meals. Today, some 25 years later, the village is about to be engulfed by the ever-expanding boundaries of the land-hungry industries and in the direct line of fire stands the director’s own sister as the industries surround her house on three sides. Seen through his multiple visits over a period of five years, this is the story of the vanishing village and the uncertain future of the people.

A national award winning filmmaker based in Kolkata, Bishnu Dev Halder found his calling in filmmaking at the age of 13 while in his military boarding school. He completed his post-graduate diploma in direction and screenplay writing in 2007 from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. His films have won accolades at various national and international film festivals, which include the National Award for his documentary Bagher Bachcha. A UKEFF scholar, Halder's films have been supported by theSundance Institute, British Council and NHK among others and have been telecasted on the NHK and National Geographic Channels.

Bal Bharati Public School (Pitampura) Celebrates 10 Year Film Screening of CMS VATAVARAN

2013-12-16T00:58:00.000-08:00

Bal Bharati Public School (BBPS), Pitampura in association with CMS VATAVARAN organized a special film screening on 16 December, 2013 at the school auditorium. Two films – ‘Rajaji- A Forest by the Ganges’ by Praveen Singh and ‘Home- Our Garden of Eden’ by Suresh Elamon were screened for the students of Std. VI.

350 Students are participated in this programme.

The both films screening programme are very helpfull for the school students.

“Home - Our Garden of Eden”, inspired by several jungle stories, reveals nature’s wonders, right in the backyard of our homes. The film is about a wildlife enthusiast and his two children.

“Rajaji: A Forest by the Ganges” seeks to bring to viewers the amazing biodiversity of Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, and the challenges the park faces for protecting its wildlife and forest corridors and the urgent need to conserve this haven of a unique and rich ecosystem.

For more details:

Ms. Indira Akoijam, Media Coordinator - CMS VATAVARAN

E: indira@cmsindia.org, Cell: 989979161, Phone – 011 26864020 / 26851660

CMS, RESEARCH House, Saket Community Centre, New Delhi- 110017

www.cmsvatavaran.org

2013-12-10T22:47:00.002-08:00

God Save the Green

Dir: Alessandro Rossi

Language: French, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Italian, Swahili & English

Duration: 78 minutes

Year: 2012

Synopsis:

Since 2007 the majority of people living in our world, for the first time in history, live in the suburbs of the cities and no longer in the countryside. An anthropological transformation is rising globally: shepherds and farmers become citizens. However, in the suburbs, between shining crystal skyscrapers, in the anonymous suburbs, in crumbling slums, re-emerges so often the man’s need to work the land. That is farmers, that constitutive need of our species, in every culture, to work the land, resurfaces unhinged rhythms and duties of urban life. The narration flows into possible and innovative routes: the last garden in one of the most crowded peripheries of Casablanca (Morocco), hydroponic cultivation in Teresina (Brazil), community gardens in Berlin; growing vegetables inside bags in one of Nairobi's slums (Kenya), hanging gardens in Berlin, Turin and Bologna, Guerrilla gardening in Berlin.

Alessandro Rossi works together with partner Michele Mellara in a solid artistic partnership since fifteen years, with a good dose of eclecticism in cinema, creative documentary, theatre and creating events. Their original artistic career has been recognized globally by audience and critics. They both degreeted at DAMS in Bologna. They are the founders of DER (Documentarist association of Emilia Romagna).