The first annual All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) has announced its line-up of 33 films on social and environmental issues and 11 engaging live events.

 The 2020 ALT EFF will take place from 5– 13 Dec 2020.  The festival, originally conceived as a physical event in Panchgani, will be held virtually this year due to the current circumstances.

  Apart from Indian films, the program includes award-winning international films from different parts of the world such as South Africa, Germany, Madagascar & U.K, USA, Republic of Guinea and Mozambique. The diverse and engaging films including 15 Indian and 18 international films (shorts as well as features) will be accompanied by 11 live events that will bring together panels of experts, and thought leaders to discuss topics including human-animal conflict, wildlife film-making, investigative journalism, sustainable tourism, and offer masterclasses on storytelling, film-making, animation and zero-waste living among others.

 The festival jury includes filmmaker  Satyanshu Singh, David Martinez, Monika Naranjo Gonzalez, Sudheer Palsane, Sophy Sivaraman and Akanksha Sood Singh will awarded the winning film in each of the following categories, Indian Short, India Feature, International Short, International Feature and Jury Special Mention.

The advisory team of the festival includes the legendary Mike Pandey, who has spent over 35 years in the environmental and filmmaking space, and Pooja Jauhari, the CEO of Glitch.  The ambassadors representing the festival includes Jackie Shroff and Mrunmayee Deshpande amongst other leading figures in the industry. Shaan Kumar, Pooja Gupta, Gunjan Menon, Arati Kumar Rao and Gautam Pandey round off a talented group of ambassadors.

 The founding team comprises Kunal Khanna, Neha Shreshta, Marie Schega and Rudransh Mathur. It is in their vision and direction that ALT EFF is able to hold a virtual festival despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

 Founding member and the festival director, Kunal Khanna says, “Humans are in an existential crisis and it is a result of how we are treating all other species and ecosystems apart from ourselves, we need a fundamental shift in the way we do things and generally go about our existence. Using film as its core medium, ALT EFF is a platform and a confluence that will nurture and inspire thinking critical to address the climate emergency we are in.”

 The wildlife filmmaker, Mike Pandey says, “Environmental festivals like ALT EFF, bring environmental issues to the forefront and offer viable solutions. They motivate and empower us to take the right step and attempt to make a difference to restore the beauty and sustainability of our only home, this planet we call Earth.”  He adds “Festivals like ALT EFF, play a crucial role in communicating and sensitizing people, and guide them to care for the environment through films. It is when you see the [problem], you understand and learn to respect. It is what you respect, that you love and protect.”

 The actor Jackie Shroff says, “It is really exciting and I am waiting to see what type of films are in the festival, films are such a powerful medium to express your feelings for the future, for the next generation (अपने बच्चो के लिए). It is a loan taken from them, [of] the soil, the water, the seeds, and we contaminate them. It is nice that so many people are thinking alike [about environmental restoration], I am very happy to be part of this team. Good luck to the team at ALT EFF and the filmmakers that will be able to showcase their feelings through their art. See you guys soon!”

  Some of the film selections for 2020

 Stroop: Journey into the Rhino horn war (dir. by Susan Scott • South Africa • 2018)

Two first-time filmmakers explore the war for rhino horn. Initially setting out on a six-month project, the duo leave their jobs, sell their homes, move in with their mothers and give up nearly four years of their lives to document not just the rhinos but the various people connected to this iconic animal. In this roller-coaster ride between Africa and Asia, the two women embed themselves on the front-lines of a species genocide where they are given exclusive access to the enforcement aspect of the fight.

Stroop has multiple accolades including, San Francisco Green Film Festival, Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam and many more awards.

 Elephants in my Backyard (dir. Vikram Singh • India • 2020)

Set largely in Hassan, in Karnataka, the film

follows Ananda Kumar, a conservationist who believes in the possibility of peaceful coexistence between humans and elephants. For the last sixteen years, he has been pioneering a radically different approach to conservation. Will Dr. Kumar and his team succeed in changing the attitudes of humans, and give the elephants of Hassan a chance to survive?

 Kokoly (dir. by Garth Cripps, Paul Antion • Madagascar & U.K • 2019) – India Premiere

Kokoly offers an insight into the life of an incredible woman. Against a backdrop of extreme poverty, personal loss and a marine environment changing beyond her control, Kokoly lives on a knife edge. Kokoly follows a traditional Vezo fisherwoman Madame Kokoly – as she reflects on her life experiences and carries out her daily routine in and around the coastal waters of southwest Madagascar. The film is a powerful and personal exploration of how one woman is navigating her daily life against a backdrop of poverty and marine biodiversity loss.

 Our Gorongosa (dir. James Byrne • Mozambique • 2019) – India Premiere

Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique is one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife restoration stories. The coexistence of humans and animals in Gorongosa is a phenomenon we must all witness. The park has been able to increase the large mammal population over 10-fold, a truly remarkable achievement, also bringing in heavy sets of roadblocks. The movie follows the story of Dominique Gonçalves, a young African elephant ecologist – her efforts to uplift young girls and women, and bring in long term changes within Gorongosa.

For the Stripes (dir. Aayush Dudhiya, Divy Bhagia • India • 2020) – India Premiere

This film chronicles the people of Ranthambore, and their intricate relationship with the tigers of the Ranthambore National Park. Portraying the nuances of our relationship with wildlife, this documentary ponders upon how a coexistence between us could prosper.

 Cries of Our Ancestors (dir. Rebecca Kormos, Kalyanee Mam • Republic of Guinea • 2020) – India Premiere

Cries of Our Ancestors is a short documentary detailing peaceful coexistence between humans and chimpanzees in Guinea, and the impact of bauxite mining on both of them.

 The Love Bugs (dir. by Allison Otto and Maria Clinton • U.S.A • 2020) – India Premiere

Over the course of 60 years, entomologists Charlie and Lois O’Brien amassed a collection of more than 1 million insects from nearly 70 countries —the largest private collection in the world with a value of $10 million dollars. But as Charlie’s battle with Parkinson’s becomes increasingly pronounced, he and Lois, 90, make the difficult decision to give away their drawers full of iridescent weevils and planthoppers. This humorous and poignant film explores the love of Nature–and the Nature of Love–and what it means to devote oneself completely to both.

The Love Bugs has won multiple awards including, International Science Film Festival, Nijmegen, Netherlands, New York Wild Film Festival, etc.

 Peng Yu Sai (dir. Malaika Vaz, Nitye Sood • India • 2020) – India Premiere

Peng Yu Sai is an investigative documentary that dives into the illegal trade in Manta Rays from India’s oceans. Through this documentary, wildlife presenter Malaika Vaz follows the illegal trade pipeline from fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean, to the Indo-Myanmar border and finally undercover in the wildlife trafficking hubs of Hong Kong and Guangzhou, in China. Along the way – she meets with fishermen, middle men, traffickers, armed forces personnel and wildlife trade kingpins, as she tries to understand what it will take to protect these magnificent ocean giants.

Wade (Directed by Upamanyu Bhattacharyya • India • 2019) 

In an animated version of Kolkata, India rendered unlivable by sea level rise, things take a dark turn when a family of climate change refugees are ambushed by a tiger on the flooded streets. The directors hope that people who watch this film are compelled to imagine what their lives look like as climate change takes its toll over the years, and ensure that they do all in their capacity to avoid such futures for our communities.

White Wolves – Ghosts of the Arctic (Directed by Oliver Goetzl • Germany • 2018)

With never-before-seen footage of wolf family life, Ghosts of the Arctic is a dramatic and touching story of loyalty, companionship and devotion. It’s an epic true tale that reveals the struggles and triumphs of a family working to survive in one of the last great wildernesses on Earth.

White Wolves has collected many plaudits for its ground-breaking work, including being a finalist in International Nature Film Festival in Gödöllő, Hungary as well as winning the Best Film on Nature, Best Cinematography, Best Editor, Outstanding Achievement Award in Category Direction at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival.

Some of the live events for 2020

1. Human – Wildlife Conflict: Whose Backyard?

This conversation will deep dive into the wounds – and potential for healing – of human-wildlife conflict. The panel consists of filmmakers, ecologists and conservationists, who will discuss how film can bring the complexities of human-wildlife conflict closer to home.

The panel for this event will host Cara Tejpal, a wildlife conservationist and writer for the Sanctuary Nature Foundation. Cara will be joined by Vidya Athreya, an ecologist who has worked on leopard-human interaction, as well as, Dr. Ananda Kumar who is a scientist with the Nature Conservation Foundation. The final panel member is Dr. Rebecca Kormos who is involved in the conservation of chimpanzees in Guinea for two decades, co-directing ‘Cries of our Ancestors’, an official selection for ALT EFF 2020.

2. Investigative Journalism – What does it take?

Investigative journalism is a thrilling and intriguing space to work in, it sustains one’s thirst for astonishing adventures hoping for a reward in the form of uncovering a major story. However, investigative journalism comes with its own share of risks. This event asks pertinent questions on the time taken to conduct research, the personal costs involved and what does it take to be an investigative journalist in the environmental space.

The event is moderated by Yashaswini Raghunandan, an artist and filmmaker by profession. She will conduct a conversation between Susan Scott, the director of Stroop and Nitye Sood, the co-producer of Peng Yu Sai, both movies part of the official selection for ALT EFF 2020. They will be joined by Rishika Pardikar, a grantee of the Earth Journalism Network.

3. Teeth, Tails and Tentacles – Wildlife Filmmaking and Photography

When we hear wildlife filmmaking and photography, our imagination is captured by National Geographic or Discovery Channel. For many, it is their dream job to travel far and wide, track magnificent animals, capture their lives on film and show the results of this process to the eager audience. This panel starts a conversation with those behind the scenes, filming and documenting wildlife, and what a profession in this field would entail.

The conversation will include Doel Trivedi, Writer-Director-Producer at Riverbank Studios, documenting wildlife in the last 10 years. She will be joined by Jen Guyton, a photographer and ecologist, holding a doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University. The panel will also have RIta Banerji, founder and director of the Green Hub Project, Robin Darius Conz, an editor and cameraman based out of Bangalore and Augusto Bila, who worked on ‘Our Gorongosa’, part of the 2020 Official Selection at ALT EFF.

4. Sustainable Tourism – Welcome To Panchgani

The discussion will question the concept of sustainable tourism, and whether it is a problem limited to the upper middle class? Is this a relevant topic to discuss during a global pandemic? The real question is, how does it tie into a film festival? This real conversation will include a panel of zealous individuals who champion responsible travelling. From the Sahyadari to Nagaland, meet those who want to make a difference in the way visitors experience local culture and nature.

The panel will have Soity Banerjee, Project Editor at Outlook Responsible Tourism initiative, Mona Patrao who runs the Redstone Organic Farm Stay in Panchgani and Kevisato Sanyü, founder of the social enterprise called Wander Nagaland, helping travellers explore the remote places within Nagaland.

 Quotes by the Co-founders

The co-founder Neha Shreshta says, “Humans who are just one of all the living things on this planet actually control the fate of every living thing and the planet itself – what we do with this power, can make or break our collective future. ALT EFF is our way of bringing awareness via the powerful medium of film- no matter how much information or research there is in the world, it has no meaning unless it is presented such that people can understand it. Film does that.”

 Rudransh Mathur says, “Through ALT EFF, we hope to make Panchgani a hub for eco awareness and move the town in the direction of sustainable tourism while retaining and promoting it’s natural beauty and unique geography.”

 Marie Schega says, “ALT EFF is as much a call to action as it is a celebration. We are motivated by a grand vision – to co-create a sustainable future – and this desire for collaboration, for diversity, for having the courage to dream big has shaped our festival programm. Many of the stories told in the films we chose seem complex, some polarising, which is reflective of the environmental crises at large. Yet, as the credits roll and the screen turns black, we wish for viewers to simply look up, explore their own environments and ask themselves: Where can I make a difference in my community?”

 About the Festival

ALT EFF, is a platform that inspires and mobilizes communities to take action towards co-creating a sustainable future, locally and at large. The festival will show current films that showcase the beauty of the planet, create awareness on critical issues and leave viewers feeling inspired to envision and shape our possible futures. Films will cover various topics under the umbrella of nature and environment; these may include but are not limited to climate change, biodiversity, habitats, geography, urban life, food systems, energy, sustainability, wildlife, exploration, conservation, social justice, connections and challenges between people and place, protection and restoration of wild places.

 ALT EFF occupies the physical and virtual space. Panchgani, Maharashtra is the physical playground, where the festival will take place from 2021 while continuing to maintain a strong virtual presence as well.

 ALT EFF is dedicated to supporting filmmakers, creators and artists who are eager to connect  audiences with environmental themes through impactful storytelling. Indeed, since its inception earlier this year, ALT EFF has aimed to push the boundaries of storytelling and find innovative ways to connect with its audience through numerous pre-events.

 The past year presented a challenging period for ALT EFF to organize the festival, however, the efforts of the team, consisting of 18 volunteers, were monumental. With the help of ALT EFF’s esteemed jury and advisors, the festival aims to create a fresh experience for film viewers interested in the social and environmental issues of our time.

 Stay tuned to the ALT EFF social media channels for information on live events, workshops and the official selection release.

 Instagram (@alt.eff)

Facebook (@alllivingthingsfestival)

Tickets are now live at https://watch.eventive.org/alteff2020.

Tickets range between Rs.250 – Rs.1199

 About our Partners

ALT EFF is pleased to announce its 2020 partners: Earth Matters Foundation, Rise Up Kombucha (Beverage Partner), Network of Creative Thinkers (Design Partner), Outland Circle (Social Media and marketing Partner), The Vibe (Outreach/Media Partner), Avid Learning (Outreach Partner), The Live Music Project (Music Partners) and Greenlane.tv (Outreach Partner).

 About our Sponsors

ALT EFF is grateful for our sponsors, their belief lets us achieve this festival. Our sponsors for 2020 are: Billimoria High School, Bare Necessities, Christie Law Group, Magnaa Venture, Brown Living, Taru and Lufkin Family Foundation.

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Ajay KR