Science Film Festival 2023 Calls for Ecosystem Restoration

Films can be more than entertainment. Just like news or commercials, films have the power to deliver messages, inspire actions, and influence the public. Amidst environmental destructions that threaten the survival of humans, the planet, and everything in it, a call to heal our nature is becoming increasingly relevant. Initiated by the Goethe-Institut, Science Film Festival 2023 highlights the importance of ecosystem restoration to children and youth.

Worldwide Environmental Destruction

Environmental destructions due to human’s exploitative practices happen across the world. Air pollution, ocean waste, land degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss are only several examples of very real destructions happening everywhere.

Ecological balance is on the line. The negative impacts from climate crisis, natural disasters, and conflicts compound the destruction. Therefore, ecosystem restoration is an urgency that requires participation from everyone, including children and youth as the next generations. Improving the spread of awareness and knowledge of the environment in the past, present, and future can lead to bigger actions.  

Science Film Festival 2023

First held in 2005, Science Film Festival is an annual celebration of science communication in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and South America. The Festival collaborates with local partners to promote science literacy and facilitate awareness on issues related to science, technology, and contemporary environment through local and international films as well as other educational activities.

Science Film Festival 2023 has 21 participating counties. The theme supports the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, “a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world.” The Decade refers to the year 2021 until the deadline of SDGs, the year 2030.

The Festival features 150 films from 35 countries. Some of them are titled Animal Intelligence (Argentina), Checker Tobi: The Waste Check (Germany), House of Little Scientist – Starfish (Thailand), Kelp – South Africa’s Golden Forests (South Africa), and The Story of Kawal Dugong (Indonesia). These films have been curated since March 2023 and will be screened in person from October 1 to December 20. The titles and schedules in each participating country vary.

At the Festival opening in Indonesia, Stefan Dreyer, the Director of Goethe-Institut Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, said that the Science Film Festival was committed to highlighting the importance of the ecosystem approach in the integrated management of land, water, and natural resources. He also mentioned the urgency to step up the efforts to tackle deforestation, land degradation, erosion and drought, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity.

He added, “By bringing films from around the world on scientific topics to young audiences, we hope to inspire creativity and spirit in children and young people to explore and love science.”

Read the Indonesian version of this article at Green Network Asia – Indonesia.

Translator: Nazalea Kusuma

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