Ecozine Film Festival presents the awards of its 17th edition at a gala in the Luis Galve Hall of the Zaragoza Auditorium.

Andrew Nisker’s “Nuked/Bombed” (Canada, 2023) won the Chameleon” in International Documentary Feature, while Christophe Sion’s Spanish film “Unsustainable, on the trail of waste” won the award in National Documentary Feature.

Nuked/Bombeda story about the human victims of the Cold War nuclear arms race and ‘Unsustainable, on the path of waste’, about Rafa Marrasé’s journalistic investigation that reveals the lack of control of garbage transportation in Europe have won the prizes in the Official Selection in the category of Documentary Feature, international and national in the list of winners of Ecozine Film FestivalThe event, a reference in environmental issues, today awarded the “chameleons” of its 17th edition at a gala in the Luis Galve hall of the Auditorio de Zaragoza, hosted by actress Irene Alquézar and multidisciplinary artist Sergio Muro. The jury in charge of awarding the prize has awarded “Nuked/Bombed”, by Andrew Nisker, “for showing us the harsh and harsh reality suffered by the inhabitants of the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands during the detonation of dozens of American nuclear bombs in the inhuman arms race of the Cold War and its consequences, which reach our days, 70 years later”. He highlights that “Unsustainable, on the path of waste”, directed by Christophe Sion, “brings to light the practices of waste trafficking and its serious impact on health and the environment through an exhaustive research work, which although it focuses on countries such as Italy and Spain, in reality has a global impact that affects our daily lives without us being aware of it. We also believe that it is a problem unknown to the vast majority”. In the Documentary Short Film category, the award went to the film “Un campo que ya no huele a flores” (Mexico, 2023), by filmmaker César Flores Correa, while the “Chameleon” for Fiction Short Film went to “Last days of summer/Últimos días de verano” (France/India, 2023), by director Stenzin Tankong. The Animation Short Film Award went to “The Waiting/La espera” (Germany, 2023) by Voker Schlecht. “Què li pasa al cel?” (Spain, 2022), by filmmaker Irene Iborra won the Youth Section Award, the only one that awards the Audience Award at Ecozine Film Festival. Nearly 3,400 young people from Zaragoza, Pamplona, L¿Eliana (Valencia) and Matarraña (Teruel), participated this year in this program that screened 6 animation and fiction short films. In the Ecozine Youth Film Festival section, created with the aim of promoting and stimulating the creativity of young people throughout the production of audiovisual works on environmental issues. The award in the category of schools up to 12 years old went to “No hacemos nada” (Spain, 2022), directed by Nerea Ezcay from CEIP Leandro Alejano de Cilleros. In the category for children over 12, the award went to “Adopt Me/Adóptame” (Spain, 2023), directed by Adriana Hernández and Noelia Esqués from IES Pedro de Luna. For the second consecutive year, Aragón TV sponsored the Environmental Commitment Award, chosen by representatives of ecological and environmental organizations of this Autonomous Community, and in this edition it went to “Donde quisimos vivir” (Spain, 2023), directed by Lucía Castillón and Ana Valle Del Río “for its humility and the palpable and contagious affection that is printed in its images” about the history of four villages: Mediano, Clamosa, Javierre de Ara and Finestres, whose houses were abandoned, evicted or even flooded as a result of the construction of reservoirs. The first Distribution Award, sponsored by “#ConUnPack” and “Film&Co”, media partners of Ecozine Film Festival, goes to “Parallel Currents” (France, 2023), Pablo Chavanel’s debut feature film.

JJ Montero, founder of the independent distribution company “#ConUnPack” has highlighted that the film, which addresses the problem of dam construction on the Mekong River, stands out among other things for its environmental commitment, for its narrative approach, which intertwines two interconnected perspectives, offering a unique vision of diverse realities with a special sensitivity and adds that its innovative way of telling the story makes it a powerful, unforgettable and universal cinematic experience. Filmmaker Pablo Chavanel was grateful for this first award for his debut feature film, which also had its world premiere at Ecozine Film Festival. “I am very happy, very grateful, happy to receive this and it is important to know the story of the protagonists of my film,” he said. The Berta Cáceres Award, in honor of the Honduran environmental activist assassinated in 2016, went to the “Mayan People’s Council” of Guatemala, a popular and indigenous organization that has significant experience in developing alternative energy generation proposals for indigenous communities and in discussing this resource as a common good and not a commodity. On behalf of this community organization, Lolita Chávez received the award consisting of a statue created by artist Norberto Fuentes. The Official Competitive Section has counted in this 17th edition with 34 titles from 16 countries in the categories of Documentary Feature (9), Documentary Short (10), Fiction Short (7) and Animation Short (8), out of more than 386 films received from 50 countries. The 17th edition of the festival is organized by the Asociación Cultural Ecozine, with the sponsorship of the Zaragoza City Council, Tranvías de Zaragoza, FNAC Spain and Con un Pack Distribución. The purpose of the international event is to disseminate, exhibit and award fiction, animation and documentary films focused on the environment, as well as to promote parallel activities related to art and environmental issues.

Source:

https://www.zaragoza.es/sede/portal/cultura/servicio/noticia/330151