14th CinemAmbiente – International Environmental Film Festival

CinemAmbiente drew record audiences to film screenings and visitors to its highly diversified side program of literary aperitifs and other events plus a new addition: FierAmbiente. Greening Turin’s downtown streets, FierAmbiente showcased eco-sustainability and good green practices.

Attracting over 20,000 people during Festival week, it was “a roaring success compared to last year’s festival,” said Festival director Gaetano Capizzi, “despite the cancellation of outdoor screenings because of bad weather.”

The ever popular Ecokids section, this year organized with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, and the “Going with Mom and Dad to the Cinema” initiative provided rewarding opportunities for young people to learn about environmental issues and eco-sustainable habits.

The international guest list included 50 filmmakers; the program featured over 100 films shown in and out of competition

Taken together, the figures confirm CinemAmbiente’s key role in popularizing green cinema in Europe.

Award winners

Best International Documentary - There once was an Island (dir. Briar March), a clear exposition on one of the third millennium’s major environmental problems: the threat of rising ocean levels due to climate change. ASJA award (€5000). Jury members: Michael Cimino, Mimmo Calopresti, Myriam Gast-Loup, Paola Maugeri, Mario Tozzi.

Best Italian Documentary - Loro della Munnizza (dir. Marco Battaglia, Gianluca Donati, Laura Schimmenti, Andrea Zulini), a compelling account of Palermo’s ragpickers. CIAL Award (€3000). Jury members: Bunna (Africa United), Enrico Camanni, Simona Risi.

Best Short Film - Un monde pour soi (dir. Yann Sinic), a story about the urbanization of rural areas and the limits of natural resources. European Institute of Design Award (€2000). Jury members: Heinz Hermanns, Andrea Segrè, Lia Furxhi.

Other awards

Special Sub-Ti Prize (commercial value, €1200) for the subtitling of Polvere (dir. Niccolò Bruna and Andrea Prandstraller), an enquiry into the asbestos controversy. Jury members:  Bunna (Africa United), Enrico Camanni, Simona Risi.

Legambiente’s Special Mention Prize to Polvere. Jury members: Fabio Dovana, Salvatore Venezia, Federico Vozza.

Special Mention Prize to Dive! Living off America’s Waste (dir. Jeremy Seifert), an account of the food waste occurring in a “developed” country like the United States. Jury members: Heinrich Hermanns, Andrea Segrè, Lia Furxhi.

WWF’s Special Mention Prize to Dive! Jury members: Martin Atkin, Riccardo Fortina, Isabella Pratesi.

Provincial Student Council Award (€1500) to Into Eternity (dir. Michael Madsen).

Green Cross Italia’s Special Mention Prize to Into Eternity.