„This year, the festival programme includes films focusing on long-term, topical and escalating ecological issues from all over the planet. I can mention for instance films about fires in Australia and California, films about jungle conservation, stories of indigenous people of Bolivia and Cambodia and their fight against big corporations and a look at expanding collections of extinct animals in museums. The common denominator of all competition films is their activism and concrete cases of people fighting to preserve their way of life and activities in harmony with nature. This year, the submissions included excellent films so we had to turn some of them down with a heavy heart, but we believe that the audience and the jury will appreciate our selection,” says Jitka Kotrlová, head of the festival programmers.
The strongest representation has Germany with five films and the Czech Republic and the Netherlands with three films each. The competition also includes two films from Belgium, Poland and Slovakia and one documentary from each of the following countries: Australia, France, India, Italy, Canada, USA, Spain and Great Britain. The awards come with prize money, this year, the jury will allocate 2 733 USD.
Majority of the screenings will traditionally take place at the University Cinema Scala which will also host discussions in its chill-out zone. Films we also be screened at the main hall of the Brno-centre Cultural Centre. With its non-film programme, the Faculty of Social Studies will play an important part, too, and the centre of the festival will be at the Freedom Square. In addition to competition films, the festival will also offer three non-competition films. The organisers also prepared virtual reality events, a performance by the band Brass Avenue, discussions, lectures, school programmes and a family day.
“EKOFILM has a very long tradition in Brno where it has lots of supporters. I am therefore glad that we are also a part of it and can support it by providing the hall of our town hall. This year’s festival theme, green architecture and smart city planning, is very topical and I recommend everyone to come and see some of the festival films. I definitely have my picks,” says Brno-centre Mayor Vojtěch Mencl and extends an invitation to the festival.
The 47th edition of the oldest European festival of environmental films EKOFILM takes place in Brno from 20th to 23rd October 2021. It is held under the auspices of the Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic Richard Brabec, Governor of the South-Moravian Region Jan Grolich, Mayor of the Statutory City of Brno Markéta Vaňková, Mayor of the Brno-centre district Vojtěch Mencl, Chancellor of the Masaryk University Martin Bareš and the Chancellor of the Mendel University Danuše Nerudová.
More information at www.ekofilm.cz.
Contact: Vratislav Vozník, PR manager, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
