Ecofilms awards 2009 www.ecofilms.gr
THE FEATURE FILM COMPETITION AWARDS
The feature film jury: Jim Quilty, Richard Kwietniowski, Stergios Niziris,
Awarded their first award to
“Pachamama” , by Toshifumi Matsushita (Japan-Bolivia).
because:
Though the film’s director was not native Bolivian, it was a movie that rose above the limits of anthropology and documentary to tell a story about human and environmental matters in a context of change. “Pachamama” is an immensely well-made, imaginative and visual film with a very big heart.
The director was in New York and could not attend the ceremony, but Lucia Rikaki had a telephone conversation with him where he expressed his emotion and his joy for the prize and promised to join Rhodos as soon as possible.
The second prize was awarded to the movie:
King Corn, by Aaron Wolf (USA).
The jury agreed that it was very important to have a film in which the filmmakers turn their camera on their own country. “King Corn” is especially significant because the film-makers turn their very critical eye on America, the centre of the international economy. The film succeeds in developing a complex analysis on screen, a problem that is profoundly disturbing, yet delivered with a great sense of humor. A Hollywood-esque buddy movie about the world coming down with diabetes.
Special Jury prize was awarded to the movie
El Sistema, by Paul Smaczny (Germany)
An extraordinaire subject with far reaching implications that very few people know about. It’s an incredibly well made film in which it demonstrates the movement of the underprivileged children in the centre of the film as well as the bourgeois musicians who devised it.
The director, who also received by the Staff Award of the feature film competition has left Rodos after the screening of its film. In its message he said that he felt extremely flattered adding that:
I take this as a recognition for what El Sistema has achieved in Venezuela. As a recognition for José Antonio Abreu's visionary work, his humanistic approach to art and to the social problems in Venzuelian society. Thank you very much.
THE FEATURE FILM COMPETITION AWARDS
The feature film jury: Jim Quilty, Richard Kwietniowski, Stergios Niziris,
Awarded their first award to
“Pachamama” , by Toshifumi Matsushita (Japan-Bolivia).
because:
Though the film’s director was not native Bolivian, it was a movie that rose above the limits of anthropology and documentary to tell a story about human and environmental matters in a context of change. “Pachamama” is an immensely well-made, imaginative and visual film with a very big heart.
The director was in New York and could not attend the ceremony, but Lucia Rikaki had a telephone conversation with him where he expressed his emotion and his joy for the prize and promised to join Rhodos as soon as possible.
The second prize was awarded to the movie:
King Corn, by Aaron Wolf (USA).
The jury agreed that it was very important to have a film in which the filmmakers turn their camera on their own country. “King Corn” is especially significant because the film-makers turn their very critical eye on America, the centre of the international economy. The film succeeds in developing a complex analysis on screen, a problem that is profoundly disturbing, yet delivered with a great sense of humor. A Hollywood-esque buddy movie about the world coming down with diabetes.
Special Jury prize was awarded to the movie
El Sistema, by Paul Smaczny (Germany)
An extraordinaire subject with far reaching implications that very few people know about. It’s an incredibly well made film in which it demonstrates the movement of the underprivileged children in the centre of the film as well as the bourgeois musicians who devised it.
The director, who also received by the Staff Award of the feature film competition has left Rodos after the screening of its film. In its message he said that he felt extremely flattered adding that:
I take this as a recognition for what El Sistema has achieved in Venezuela. As a recognition for José Antonio Abreu's visionary work, his humanistic approach to art and to the social problems in Venzuelian society. Thank you very much.
THE MEDIUM FILMS COMPETITION AWARDS
The medium film jury consisted of Aneta Lesnikovska, Irena Taskovski and Yiannis Mylopoulos. The jury made comments on the vast variety of this year’s films and underlined that:
One can reach the conclusion that Cinema on ecology looks like the object it cures. Its characteristics include a wide variety equivalent to the biodiversity that exists in Nature. And as long as biodiversity is threatened, this Cinema blooms, like an effort of mankind to restore, through Art, the damage that other sectors of human activities cause. But that’s always the way Art is. When not copying Life, Art opens new paths and saves our souls…
The jury gave the first award to the movie:
“The golden beach” by Hasse Wester
Because it records the dramatic changes of the magical and exotic beach in India due to the development of tourism, through the personal view of the director-traveller. He also describes the changes of the inhabitants due to the sudden invasion of money into their lives.
The director Hasse Wester while receiving the award said
I have spend 20 years of my life visiting this beach, noticing the changes of the people living there as their economical conditions where constantly changing. This has not happened solely in that beach. Virgin coasts lose their characteristics every day Thus, I tried to demonstrate the way of thinking of the people who live in that beach
The second award went to the movie:
“The beetle” by Yishai Orian (Israel)
The director not only looked for and managed to locate the car’s previous owners, who narrated their personal stories of their relationship with the car, but he also recorded his trip to neighboring Jordan which he took in order to repair the car for an affordable price. As the director shows us in the end, his son- who was born when the director was in Jordan – grows up with the car as well.
Karina Rubinstein received the award on behalf of the director and wished for peace
The special mention went to the movie
“The Deadline” by Phil Stebbing (UK)
The title of the film reminds us the fact that natural wealth is limited on the earth. A film that showed in a wonderful way, the problem of the catastrophe of the Oceans through overfishing and illegal fishing in the Atlantic and the huge issue of the quality and the source of our nutrition. The film did not limit itself to the presentation of the problem, but it extended and proposed activism as the effective solution for dealing with it.
The award was received by Thanasis Anapolitanos, President of the Mediterranean Antinuclear watch representing . Nikos Charalabides, General Director of the Greek Bureau of GREENPEACE who commented on the award
The fact that specialists – as you – consider that the story of the film contains something special, gives us the courage to go on. Sometimes I have the impression that there’s a conspiracy of those who engage in battles that some others consider already as defeated. That is why I personally believe that the roads of Greenpeace and those of the Ecofilms Festival get intertwine. I am sure that we will meet again in the future. Don’t give up! Be courageous and we cordially thank the organizers and the jury committee once more.
The medium film jury consisted of Aneta Lesnikovska, Irena Taskovski and Yiannis Mylopoulos. The jury made comments on the vast variety of this year’s films and underlined that:
One can reach the conclusion that Cinema on ecology looks like the object it cures. Its characteristics include a wide variety equivalent to the biodiversity that exists in Nature. And as long as biodiversity is threatened, this Cinema blooms, like an effort of mankind to restore, through Art, the damage that other sectors of human activities cause. But that’s always the way Art is. When not copying Life, Art opens new paths and saves our souls…
The jury gave the first award to the movie:
“The golden beach” by Hasse Wester
Because it records the dramatic changes of the magical and exotic beach in India due to the development of tourism, through the personal view of the director-traveller. He also describes the changes of the inhabitants due to the sudden invasion of money into their lives.
The director Hasse Wester while receiving the award said
I have spend 20 years of my life visiting this beach, noticing the changes of the people living there as their economical conditions where constantly changing. This has not happened solely in that beach. Virgin coasts lose their characteristics every day Thus, I tried to demonstrate the way of thinking of the people who live in that beach
The second award went to the movie:
“The beetle” by Yishai Orian (Israel)
The director not only looked for and managed to locate the car’s previous owners, who narrated their personal stories of their relationship with the car, but he also recorded his trip to neighboring Jordan which he took in order to repair the car for an affordable price. As the director shows us in the end, his son- who was born when the director was in Jordan – grows up with the car as well.
Karina Rubinstein received the award on behalf of the director and wished for peace
The special mention went to the movie
“The Deadline” by Phil Stebbing (UK)
The title of the film reminds us the fact that natural wealth is limited on the earth. A film that showed in a wonderful way, the problem of the catastrophe of the Oceans through overfishing and illegal fishing in the Atlantic and the huge issue of the quality and the source of our nutrition. The film did not limit itself to the presentation of the problem, but it extended and proposed activism as the effective solution for dealing with it.
The award was received by Thanasis Anapolitanos, President of the Mediterranean Antinuclear watch representing . Nikos Charalabides, General Director of the Greek Bureau of GREENPEACE who commented on the award
The fact that specialists – as you – consider that the story of the film contains something special, gives us the courage to go on. Sometimes I have the impression that there’s a conspiracy of those who engage in battles that some others consider already as defeated. That is why I personally believe that the roads of Greenpeace and those of the Ecofilms Festival get intertwine. I am sure that we will meet again in the future. Don’t give up! Be courageous and we cordially thank the organizers and the jury committee once more.
The director Phil Stebbing thanked the jury and said
Hopefully the Deadline film will alert people to the blatant destruction of the world's fish stocks and put pressure on governments everywhere to put down their napkins, clear away the fish bones from their plates and start to create a lifeline for the world's oceans by eradicating piracy once and for all from the world's fishing fleets.
THE SHORT FILMS COMPETITION AWARDS
Elena Giuffrida, Christos Georgiou and Evanthia Tsantila the short films jury
Awarded . the first jury prize to the movie
“Raw” by Annoeleck Sollart (Holland)
For highlighting with sensitivity the world of a very special child and for encouraging through the film the discussion on important social issues.
Annoeleck Sollart while receiving the award said I feel extremely happy that I am awarded for this film especially as this is a documentary for children and I wish to defend this genre which is now threatened by limited funding
The second prize went to the film
“The Big Ask” by Nic Balthazar (Belgium)
For communicating with strength the impeding environmental disaster and encouraging the world to take a stance.
The award was received on behalf of the director Nic Balthazar by the Dodecanese Consul for Belgium Mr.A.Kabourakis who conveyed the directors gratitude and congratulated the festival organizers
THE EFFN GREEN AWARD
The ECOFILMS FESTIVAL 2009 gave the GREENAWARD, the green OSCAR, that is awarded by the Environmental Film Festival Network to a movie that was screened in Network’s Festivals last year. This year the awarded movie was “Encounters at the end of the world” by Werner Herzog. The movie had participated last year in the Ecofilms 2008 Festival and received the First Prize of the feature film competition. The award was given to the President of the Environmental Film Festival Network (EFFN), Gaetano Capizzi, by the deputy Spiros Kouvelis, who noticed the importance of the Ecological Festivals. “In crucial moments for the future of the environment it is important that artists contribute to the development of ecological thought and force governments to act, putting a limit in the environmental disasters and slowing down lawlessness. I attend the Ecofilms Festival for many years and I think that is a dynamic contribution to the cinema and to the ecological thought as well.
THE AUDIENCE AWARDS
The Cinema Club of Rhodos awarded equally two movies:
“Trading the Future” by b.h. Yael (Canada) and
“Pachamama” by Toshifumi Matsusita (Japan)
The Cinema Club of Rhodos awarded equally two movies:
Hopefully the Deadline film will alert people to the blatant destruction of the world's fish stocks and put pressure on governments everywhere to put down their napkins, clear away the fish bones from their plates and start to create a lifeline for the world's oceans by eradicating piracy once and for all from the world's fishing fleets.
THE SHORT FILMS COMPETITION AWARDS
Elena Giuffrida, Christos Georgiou and Evanthia Tsantila the short films jury
Awarded . the first jury prize to the movie
“Raw” by Annoeleck Sollart (Holland)
For highlighting with sensitivity the world of a very special child and for encouraging through the film the discussion on important social issues.
Annoeleck Sollart while receiving the award said I feel extremely happy that I am awarded for this film especially as this is a documentary for children and I wish to defend this genre which is now threatened by limited funding
The second prize went to the film
“The Big Ask” by Nic Balthazar (Belgium)
For communicating with strength the impeding environmental disaster and encouraging the world to take a stance.
The award was received on behalf of the director Nic Balthazar by the Dodecanese Consul for Belgium Mr.A.Kabourakis who conveyed the directors gratitude and congratulated the festival organizers
THE EFFN GREEN AWARD
The ECOFILMS FESTIVAL 2009 gave the GREENAWARD, the green OSCAR, that is awarded by the Environmental Film Festival Network to a movie that was screened in Network’s Festivals last year. This year the awarded movie was “Encounters at the end of the world” by Werner Herzog. The movie had participated last year in the Ecofilms 2008 Festival and received the First Prize of the feature film competition. The award was given to the President of the Environmental Film Festival Network (EFFN), Gaetano Capizzi, by the deputy Spiros Kouvelis, who noticed the importance of the Ecological Festivals. “In crucial moments for the future of the environment it is important that artists contribute to the development of ecological thought and force governments to act, putting a limit in the environmental disasters and slowing down lawlessness. I attend the Ecofilms Festival for many years and I think that is a dynamic contribution to the cinema and to the ecological thought as well.
THE AUDIENCE AWARDS
The Cinema Club of Rhodos awarded equally two movies:
“Trading the Future” by b.h. Yael (Canada) and
“Pachamama” by Toshifumi Matsusita (Japan)
The Cinema Club of Rhodos awarded equally two movies:
On behalf of the Club Mr. Giannis Hajicostas and Mr. Costas Calligas said
We award the movie “Trading the Future” because it demonstrates the difference between two possible worlds. On the one hand, revelational religious theories bound towards the end of the world, that encourage fatality and passivity, and on the other hand the conviction that no battles are beaten for the planet nor for the people, as long as we realize the situation, have faith and keep on struggling to change the world.
We also award the movie “Pachamama” for the way it deals with relationships among the members of a remote society and the values that regulate these relationships. It is a film visually perfect with a clear environmental message.
THE ECOFILMS TEAM AWARDS
A new award was established this year. The award of the team working for the festival .
The short film competition award went to the movie
“The power of light” by the Anthony Utkin (Russia)
The medium length competition award went to the movie:
“Addicted to plastic” by Ian Connacher (Canada)
The feature film competition award went to the movie:
“El Sistema” by Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier (Germany)
Antigoni Mixafenti presented the awards and the vice-prefect of the Dodekanese Adrianna Bafiti gave the awards on behalf of the festival’s staff.
THE ECOFILMS TEAM AWARDS
A new award was established this year. The award of the team working for the festival .
The short film competition award went to the movie
“The power of light” by the Anthony Utkin (Russia)
The medium length competition award went to the movie:
“Addicted to plastic” by Ian Connacher (Canada)
The feature film competition award went to the movie:
“El Sistema” by Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier (Germany)
Antigoni Mixafenti presented the awards and the vice-prefect of the Dodekanese Adrianna Bafiti gave the awards on behalf of the festival’s staff.
Paul Smaczny send the following message.
“Thank you very much for this wonderful award! I feel extremely honored and would like to thank the entire, wonderful team of Ecofilms for this most appreciated recognition. I'm very sorry not being with you tonight celebrating the closing ceremony but hope to see you all again in 2010 when you will be celebrating the 10th anniversary!
“Thank you very much for this wonderful award! I feel extremely honored and would like to thank the entire, wonderful team of Ecofilms for this most appreciated recognition. I'm very sorry not being with you tonight celebrating the closing ceremony but hope to see you all again in 2010 when you will be celebrating the 10th anniversary!
Ian Connacher received the award itself. In his thank you speech he mentioned that
the struggle for the decrease in the use of plastic as well as of all contagious elements, should be constant. He said that he loved the festival and discovering Rodos but he also underlined the fact that he observed here too the extensive use of plastic
the struggle for the decrease in the use of plastic as well as of all contagious elements, should be constant. He said that he loved the festival and discovering Rodos but he also underlined the fact that he observed here too the extensive use of plastic
Antony Utkin when receiving the award he said was really surprised as this was his first ever festival , he thanked the team and said that he would like return to the Rodos with another movie.
THE GREEK FILM COMPETITION AWARDS
Afroditi Athanasopoulou, Evanthia Tsantila and Christos Georgiou. were the members of the jury of the greek film competition
THE GREEK FILM COMPETITION AWARDS
Afroditi Athanasopoulou, Evanthia Tsantila and Christos Georgiou. were the members of the jury of the greek film competition
The first award sponsored by the Greek Film Center was awarded to the fiction film
“Instructions” by Costas Yiallourides
Because it expresses with a simple and successful dramaturgy the desires and the fears of a love affaire.
The director received the award by the vice-mayor Mr. Taraslias and the vice- president of Greek Film Center Mr D.Sofianopoulos,
The second award went to the film:
“SOS, animals in danger” by Aggelos Kovotsos
Because it achieves to communicate its theme in a manner which is attractive to children and it also conveys important educational information which is of a great interest to all of us.
The writer of the film, Vaso Kanellopoulou, received the award and said that
The documentary is the participation of ERT in an EBU documentary series which contributes to the environmental awareness of young children. The script writer also reffered to the contribution of the 8-year-old student, the little reporter, who worked for the film. She loved the wildlife and realized that after all we are nothing different from the rest ecosystem.
The special mention was given to the film:
“Bells, threads and miracles” by Marianna Ekonomou
Because it focuses on a very special case, addressing religious and cultural matters.
The award was received by the writer of the film, Niki Tsiligiroglou, on the behalf of the director.
“Instructions” by Costas Yiallourides
Because it expresses with a simple and successful dramaturgy the desires and the fears of a love affaire.
The director received the award by the vice-mayor Mr. Taraslias and the vice- president of Greek Film Center Mr D.Sofianopoulos,
The second award went to the film:
“SOS, animals in danger” by Aggelos Kovotsos
Because it achieves to communicate its theme in a manner which is attractive to children and it also conveys important educational information which is of a great interest to all of us.
The writer of the film, Vaso Kanellopoulou, received the award and said that
The documentary is the participation of ERT in an EBU documentary series which contributes to the environmental awareness of young children. The script writer also reffered to the contribution of the 8-year-old student, the little reporter, who worked for the film. She loved the wildlife and realized that after all we are nothing different from the rest ecosystem.
The special mention was given to the film:
“Bells, threads and miracles” by Marianna Ekonomou
Because it focuses on a very special case, addressing religious and cultural matters.
The award was received by the writer of the film, Niki Tsiligiroglou, on the behalf of the director.
A documentary on the most multinational school in Cyprus just a few hundred meters away from the Green line. Nicosia is the only European capital which yet remains divided. 
But, is there any such likeness between the loveliness of this world and the splendours in the Supreme? Such a likeness in the particulars would make the two orders alike: but what is there in common between beauty here and beauty There? We hold that all the loveliness of this world comes by communion in Ideal-Form. All shapelessness whose kind admits of pattern and form, as long as it remains outside of Reason and Idea, is ugly by that very isolation from the Divine-Thought. And this is the Absolute Ugly: an ugly thing is something that has not been entirely mastered by pattern, that is by Reason, the Matter not yielding at all points and in all respects to Ideal-Form.
And on what has thus been compacted to unity, Beauty enthrones itself, giving itself to the parts as to the sum: when it lights on some natural unity, a thing of like parts, then it gives itself to that whole. Thus, for an illustration, there is the beauty, conferred by craftsmanship, of all a house with all its parts, and the beauty which some natural quality may give to a single stone.
