All Living Things Environmental Film Festival to be held from 5 to 13 December

The first All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) is set to take place virtually from 5 to 13 December 2020. The festival will include a line-up of 33 films on social and environmental issues and will include 11 live events. ALT EFF was originally conceived to be a physical event in Panchgani but will be held virtually in light of the current pandemic.

Fifteen Indian and 18 international films, including shorts and features, will be screened at the festival. Aside from this, there will be panel discussions on human-animal conflict, wildlife film-making, investigative journalism and sustainable tourism. The festival organisers will also hold masterclasses on storytelling, film-making, animation and zero-waste living.

Some of the films in the Indian selection include Elephants in my Backyard by Vikram Singh, For the Stripes by Aayush Dudhiya and Divy Bhagia, Peng Yu Sai by Malaika Vaz and Nitye Sood, and Wade by Upamanyu Bhattacharyya and Kalp Sanghvi. 

Founding member and the festival director, Kunal Khanna said, "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 advisory team of the festival includes the filmmaker Mike Pandey, who has spent over 35 years in the environmental and filmmaking space. The ambassadors representing the festival include Jackie Shroff, Mrunmayee Deshpande, Shaan Kumar, Pooja Gupta, Gunjan Menon, Arati Kumar Rao and Gautam Pandey.

Pandey said, “Environmental festivals such as the 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 added that festivals like ALT EFF, play a crucial role in sensitizing people about the environment. "It is when you see the [problem], you understand and learn to respect. It is what you respect, that you love and protect.”

Speaking about the festival, Shroff said, “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. 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! (sic)”

The complete programme of films and live events as well as passes are available here.