Earth Reel – The Real World Captured on Film

This week, Earth Day Network-India announced Earth Reel – a film competition to awaken interest in the environment and build awareness among Indian youth about critical environmental issues.

The competition has been developed keeping in mind the strong influence the film medium has on young minds, coupled with the belief that youth can play a major role in spreading awareness about the many environmental problems the world faces today. 

The competition consists of two parts: 1. the making of a short film on an issue of environmental concern and 2. the filmmaker speaking about the environmental issue filmed in a manner that displays a basic understanding of what is depicted, as well as suggests ways youth can play a role to protect the Earth.

Earth Day Network is working in partnership with the NGO Bichitra Patshala and the educational organization iLEAD for this competition. Mr. Pradeep Chopra, chairperson of iLEAD said that he strongly believed that students must be encouraged to learn through experiencing things, and ‘Earth Reel’ would definitely provide them an opportunity to do just that.  Father Gaston Roberge, president of Bichitra Patshala, emphasized that making the films would greatly help the students better understand the natural environment around them.  

Short-listed films will be screened on Earth Day 2013. An Awards Ceremony will also take place at the iLEAD campus. Judges will include both youth filmmakers and well-known ones.

To widen awareness, every endeavor will be made to widely screen the winning films - in particular, through TV channels. 

EDN Country Director Karuna Singh making a presentation on EDN at the announcement of the Earth Reel competition before students and teachers of several schools of Kolkata