Film: Development in the Western Ghats

‘Annihilation’ a documentary film proposal by Dr. Mayuri Panse focuses on the development in the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats are a biodiversity hotspot and this amazing chain of mountains stretches across five states along the western coast of India. Every year, new species of plants and animals are discovered here and yet they are being destroyed at an alarming rate even before we can study them, under the guise of ‘development projects’. The film will showcase the beauty of the Western Ghats as they stand today (perhaps for posterity?). In the human and controversial zones, it will be shot veritestyle, much of it has been an undercover camera. It attempts to be the voice of the brave young men and women who are battling to retain the right to just survive. We also want to interview ‘the other side’ – miners, energy companies, builders, other stake-holders and find out what their say is. The film will also have animation to explain the finer details of the reality that the camera sees.

The film takes on the mining in Goa, the forest degradation in Bhimashankar and the land grabbing of the sacred groves in Tamhini. Does money mean everything to today's developing India? Are we up for sale to the highest profit-makers? What will it mean when the rivers in the Ghats begin drying up? Will this unruly, inhuman development in the Western Ghats become a synonym for annihilation? These are some of the questions the film poses. Expected to release August 2011.

BANFF Film Festival

TrekDi and Protecterra intends to organize a one day film festival partnering with “Banff Mountain Film festival.”

Both organizations have come together keeping only one objective that Environment is still highly ignored in India and herculean efforts are needed to create awareness in masses. As our small contribution towards this big objective we intend to organize a screening of Environmental films partnering with “Banff Mountain Film festival.”

Under initiative of Banff Mountain Film Festival they promote films and documentaries regarding wildlife and adventure activities. Under “The Banff Mountain Festival World tour program” they take Banff to worldwide audience. Each year, the films travel to 30 countries reaching more than 210,000 people at over 550 screenings.

L.I.F.E. - Lively Introduction to Forests & Environment.

L.I.F.E. was an attempt to understand nature in its various forms. It was through our conviction that education is the first step towards nature conservation. Keeping this idea in mind we had decided to organize this festival that aims at introducing people to the various facets of nature. L.I.F.E. 2011 was being organized from 2nd to 5th of June 2011 at Yeshwantrao Chavan Auditorium, Kothrud. Registration was on the website : www.lifefestindia.org to get free e-passes for L.I.F.E:- Environmental Festival- A combination of rare wildlife films screenings, photo exhibitions as well as nature walks.