The 20th edition of FiCMA brings the best environmental films to the UB
The Environmental International Film Festival (FiCMA), the longest running environmental film festival in the world, celebrates its 20th edition from 1 to 10 November in Barcelona. This yearʼs programme includes more than 70 films that will be screened at different locations around Barcelona: the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona, Cinemes Girona, the French Institute of Barcelona, CosmoCaixa and Sagrada Familia Library. Its main objective is to bring environment closer to citizens and to raise their awareness by means of cinema and audiovisual art.
The Environmental International Film Festival (FiCMA), the longest running environmental film festival in the world, celebrates its 20th edition from 1 to 10 November in Barcelona. This yearʼs programme includes more than 70 films that will be screened at different locations around Barcelona: the Faculty of Biology of the University of Barcelona, Cinemes Girona, the French Institute of Barcelona, CosmoCaixa and Sagrada Familia Library. Its main objective is to bring environment closer to citizens and to raise their awareness by means of cinema and audiovisual art.
The main feature of this edition is the collaboration set up with the Goldman Prize, known as ʻthe Nobel Prize in Environmentʼ. FiCMA turns to be the European headquarters of these prestigious awards: the festival will gather annual award-winners who will describe their contributions to the environmental protection of our planet.
Within this collaboration, the festival includes the premiere of The New Environmentalists - From Chicago to The Karoo, a film narrated by Robert Redford. The screening will be attended by the director, Will Parrinello, and the winner of the Goldman Prize in 2010, Humberto Ríos, a scientist specialised in biodiversity and promoter of sustainable agriculture in Cuba. The session takes place on Wednesday 6 November, at 6 p.m., at the Faculty of Biology of the UB.
1st Global Meeting for Environmental Education and Divulgation
Over last years, FiCMA has crossed borders. Besides collaborating with institutions such as the Redford Centre and, this year, with the Goldman Prize, the festival is also present in twelve Latin-American countries thanks to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that offers a Travelling Festival.
This year the festival gives a step forward and organise the 1st Global Meeting for Environmental Education and Divulgation. The conference takes place on Saturday 9 October, at 11 a.m., at CosmoCaixa. It will gather representatives of several international and national environmental organizations —for instance, the UB, the Goldman Prize (USA), Polo Cultural Ambiental (Argentina), Ambiente e Futuro (Italy) and the Biodiversity Foundation (Spain)— to discuss the present situation of environmental dissemination and education, exchange experiences and join forces to consolidate a global environment culture.
A film of protest produced by Daryl Hannah opens the festival
Once again, FICMAʼs programme includes a selection of the best environmental films produced during the last year. The Official Section of the contest is composed by more than 70 films which deal with hot environmental issues.
The actress and activist Daryl Hannah, who has been FiCMAʼs ambassador for seven years, is the executive producer of Greedy Lying Bastards, the film that opens the festival. Directed by Craig Scotte, it investigates the hidden reasons why the fight against climate change is at standstill.
The documentary Bottled Life, by Urs Schnell, is another important title of FiCMA. It investigates how the Swiss company Nestlé has been able to turn water into a million-dollar business.
UBʼs second collaboration with FiCMA
UB has hosted the festival twice. From 4 to 6 November, the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Biology hosts the screening of the Official Section of Short Documentaries. The Aula Magna also hosts a master class given by the prestigious Spanish documentalist Fernando López Mirones on Tuesday 5 November, at 6 p.m. The filmmaker and biologist has written and directed more than 120 documentaries, such as the first productions of the National Geographic Television and BBC Natural History Unit, made in Spain which have been internationally awarded.
Moreover, the festival includes the second UniFiCMA Award. A jury composed by students of the Bachelorʼs degree in Communication and the Culture Industries at the UB confers the prize on one of the films of the Official Section of Short Films.
These actions strengthen UBʼs commitment to the environment and consolidate its collaboration with the festival in promoting cinemaʼs ability to disseminate the respect for the environment.
For further information please visit the website of FICMA.