We present a list of 10 Documentaries you cannot miss at the 9th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival that is taking place from October 14th – 16th in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
After the Spill by Jon Bowermaster – US | 2015 – 62 min.
Hurricane Katrina was devastating for Louisiana’s coastline. The BP disaster — the worst ecological mess in North American history accelerated that land loss–and had long-lasting impact. But those aren’t the worst things facing Louisiana’s coastline. It is that the state is fast disappearing.
Daughters of the forest (Hijas del bosque) by Samantha Grant – US | 2016 – 56 min.
DAUGHTERS of the FOREST tells the powerful, uplifting story of a small group of girls in one of the most remote forests left on earth who attend a radical high school where they learn to protect the threatened forest and forge a better future for themselves. Set in the untamed wilds of the Mbaracayú Reserve in rural Paraguay, this intimate verité documentary offers a rare glimpse of a disappearing world where timid girls grow into brave young women even as they are transformed by their unlikely friendships with one another. Filmed over the course of five years, we follow the girls from their humble homes in indigenous villages through the year after their graduation to see exactly how their revolutionary education has and will continue to impact their future lives.
Flying Rainbow by Vishal Jadhav – India | 2016 – 49 min.
The Western Ghats in India is one of important biodiversity hotspot of the world, the story is based in the part of the Ghats adjoining Western state of Maharashtra in year 2015, covering the period from end May to October which is period of the Monsoon in India and the effect the El- Nino had on the weather condition and life in the Ghats.
Story is based around the smallest Kingfishers of Asia that lives in these parts of the Ghats called the Oriental Dwarf kingfisher. This bird is super adaptable when it comes to prey and feeds on anything it can catch including fish. Monsoon is the breeding season for this bird and arrival of the monsoon triggers the breeding for them. The Oriental dwarf builds the nest and starts its breeding, however relent-less part of the Monsoon floods its nest and causes failure of the brood…
Freightened: the real cost of shipping by Denis Delestrac – Spain | 2016 – 83 min.
90% of the goods we consume in the West are manufactured in far-off lands and brought to us by ship. The cargo shipping industry is a key player in world economy and forms the basis of our very model of modern civilization; without it, it would be impossible to fulfil the ever-increasing demands of our societies.
Yet the functioning and regulations of this business remain largely obscure to many, and its hidden costs affect us all. Due to their size, freight ships no longer fit in traditional city harbours; they have moved out of the public’s eye, behind barriers and check points.
From Mass to the Mountain by Kurt Sensenbrenner – US | 2016 – 63 min.
“From Mass to the Mountain” takes you to eastern Panama, where decades of government corruption and neglect have impoverished the region. But thanks to the tireless efforts of one priest to build infrastructure, protect watersheds, and conserve the rainforest, life is looking up for the locals.
Fukushima and the bats by Philipp von Becker – Germany | 2016 – 83 min.
After the catastrophic events in Fukushima, the transition to renewable energy was placed firmly on the political agenda in Germany. Wind power is a preferred energy source. As a result, ever-increasing numbers of wind turbines are built across Germany, casting an expanding mark on previously unspoilt landscapes. The film takes a deeper look at the implications of the German “Energiewende” (energy transition) by examining the controversy over wind farms in the forests of Central Germany. How does renewable energy, which should protect nature, paradoxically threaten it? What are we willing to sacrifice to keep our energy-intensive lifestyles? Do we need to abandon the paradigm of permanent growth?
Not Without Us by Mark Decena – US | 2016 – 94 min.
At the U.N. Climate talks in Paris, two weeks after terrorist attacks created a state of emergency that outlawed all “unofficial” political gatherings, follow seven global grassroots activists as they attempt to unleash the only force that can prevent catastrophic climate change: the will of the people.
Not Without Us documents a crucial moment in history, framing the root causes of the global climate crisis and the greatest inequality in the history of mankind, as one and the same. Seen from the perspective of frontline communities, the film interweaves the personal stories and motivations of the activists portrayed, conveying to a broader audience why the call for deeper and far reaching change is not only necessary, but also humane.
On the brink: uncharted waters by Vicent Soberano – US | 2016 – 55 min.
“On The Brink: Uncharted Waters” explores the whale shark tourism industry in the Philippines. The documentary takes an in-depth look at different practices in various parts of the country where whale shark interactions have become a staple of the economy. This film poses the question: Do these practices promote conservation or exploitation?
Painted Nails by Erica Jordan and Dianne Griffin – US | 2016 – 57 min.
In “Painted Nails” we witness the American dream crumble when Van, a Vietnamese nail salon worker, discovers her health problems, including two miscarriages, are the result of toxic chemicals in the products used in her salon. She courageously becomes involved in the fight for safe cosmetics. Van transforms from a self-described shy woman who speaks minimal English to a forthright advocate who testifies before Congress. In Washington, DC, at hearings for the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act, Van, now pregnant, steps forward to speak out for all people exposed to the toxic chemicals in personal care products.
Seed: The Untold Story by Taggart Siegel & Jon Betz – US | 2016 – 94 min.
Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. Worshipped and treasured since the dawn of humankind. SEED: The Untold Story follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy. In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. In a harrowing and heartening story, these reluctant heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a culture connected to seeds. SEED features Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbrell, Winona Laduke and Raj Patel.
To know more about this festival visit the FESTIVAL PROFILE or go to the official webpage HERE.
Categories: Film Festival
Asian Film Festivals 