<p>Alia Bhatt has been appointed as the goodwill ambassador for All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2024. The actress has been a vocal supporter of sustainability and environmental awareness. This year joining her and her production banner Eternal Sunshine Productions is filmmaker Richie Mehta as a brand ambassador for ALT EFF 2024.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Richie directed <em>Poachers</em>, which was produced under Alia's production banner, a series that reflects the connection between humans and the environment.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
On her association with ALT EFF, Alia said, “I am so thrilled to announce that once again Eternal Sunshine Productions partnering with All Living Things Environmental Film Festival for its 2024 edition. So this festival is truly special, it's a celebration of films that uplift and showcase nature's resilience and remind us how beautiful it is to protect our planet. It is an opportunity for all of us to see and feel the real impact of environmental change through powerful storytelling. With over 100 screenings across India Alt Eff brings together the most compelling stories about our climate, our planet and the future shaping together”.</p>

<p>Festival Director Kunal Khanna expressed his excitement about Alia’s continued association, stating, "Alia Bhatt is not just a remarkable artist but also a passionate advocate for the environment. Her creative endeavors through Eternal Sunshine exemplify the transformative power of storytelling in addressing pressing global challenges. With Alia and Richie Mehta as our ambassadors, ALT EFF is uniquely positioned to amplify the voices of filmmakers who seek to use impact film and storytelling to drive environmental action. Together, we are building a platform that goes beyond films, inspiring tangible change and hope."</p>

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<p>ALT EFF 2024 promises an engaging lineup of films, workshops, and panel discussions, fostering global dialogue on the most urgent environmental issues. With Alia Bhatt and Richie Mehta championing its cause, the festival is set to create ripples of change, inspiring communities worldwide to rethink their relationship with the planet.</p>


Alia Bhatt has been appointed as the goodwill ambassador for All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2024. The actress has been a vocal supporter of sustainability and environmental awareness.

Alia Bhatt has been appointed as the goodwill ambassador for All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2024. The actress has been a vocal supporter of sustainability and environmental awareness. This year joining her and her production banner Eternal Sunshine Productions is filmmaker Richie Mehta as a brand ambassador for ALT EFF 2024. Richie directed Poachers, which was produced under Alia's production banner, a series that reflects the connection between humans and the environment. On her association with ALT EFF, Alia said, “I am so thrilled to announce that once again Eternal Sunshine Productions partnering with All Living Things Environmental Film Festival for its 2024 edition. So this festival is truly special, it's a celebration of films that uplift and showcase nature's resilience and remind us how beautiful it is to protect our planet. It is an opportunity for all of us to see and feel the real impact of environmental change through powerful storytelling. With over 100 screenings across India Alt Eff brings together the most compelling stories about our climate, our planet and the future shaping together”. Festival Director Kunal Khanna expressed his excitement about Alia’s continued association, stating, "Alia Bhatt is not just a remarkable artist but also a passionate advocate for the environment. Her creative endeavors through Eternal Sunshine exemplify the transformative power of storytelling in addressing pressing global challenges. With Alia and Richie Mehta as our ambassadors, ALT EFF is uniquely positioned to amplify the voices of filmmakers who seek to use impact film and storytelling to drive environmental action. Together, we are building a platform that goes beyond films, inspiring tangible change and hope." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Environmental Film Festival (@alt.eff) × ALT EFF 2024 promises an engaging lineup of films, workshops, and panel discussions, fostering global dialogue on the most urgent environmental issues. With Alia Bhatt and Richie Mehta championing its cause, the festival is set to create ripples of change, inspiring communities worldwide to rethink their relationship with the planet.

Alia Bhatt returns as Goodwill Ambassador for ALT EFF 2024

<p>A film festival that aims to spread awareness about the environment, ALT EFF 2024 or All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2024 is truly unique in more ways than one. The festival in its fifth year aims to create awareness of the rapid change in the environment through cinema. WION chatted up with Kunal Khanna, the co-founder and festival director of ALT EFF. Khanna spoke about how the idea of starting a film festival on the environment was conceived and what are the films to look out for in the 2024 edition. Here are the excerpts from the interview.<br />
<br />
<strong>India faces a unique set of environmental challenges, from air pollution to deforestation. How does your festival showcase the diversity of these issues, and what role do you see films playing in shaping public understanding?</strong><br />
<br />
As India continues its rapid path to 'development', essentially rolling over most things coming in its way, may it be 1000s of villages for dam projects, or cutting through national parks and conservation areas to build expressways; it is becoming increasingly difficult to grasp the scale what we are losing; the access to the commons of this country, the rich biodiversity that makes us who we are, along with our lived experience of this change as the people of this great nation! Films allow us to see this, through the fog of development, and it is our mission as a festival to cut through the noise and show the public the many facets of environmental narratives, through powerful storytelling. Because "people forget facts but they remember stories" - Joseph Campbell.</p>

<p><img alt="f" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="301c6019-2c08-4db8-b5be-9f4206b64942" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Farmers%20burning%20the%20stubble%20-%20Shaz%20Syed.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<strong>What has been the response from filmmakers and audiences to the festival so far? Have you noticed a shift in the types of environmental themes being explored in Indian cinema over the years?</strong><br />
<br />
We have been receiving an overwhelming response both from our audiences, and the film-making community. Year on year we are receiving hundreds of more film submissions, and we see this change as the consequences of climate collapse, biodiversity loss and breakdown of the planetary systems become more stark and start to affect each one of us more so than ever before. Film-makers and storytellers are therefore increasingly making this part of the tales they choose to tell and observe our world. This includes stories of hope and resilience, which plays a very important role in inspiring change and action. For the same reasons, an increasing number of audiences are seeking to engage with this content. We are also seeing a whole range of climate stories and themes being covered within the Indian mainstream cinema too.</p>

<p>This includes films like <em>Shreni, Poacher, The Jengaburu Curse</em>, along with Oscar-winning and nominated films from India like <em>The Elephant Whisperers</em>, and <em>All that Breathes.&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
<strong>What are the main highlights of the festival in 2024 you would want people to know about?</strong><br />
<br />
The 72 film program at ALT EFF 2024 will comprise the following themes and we are looking forward for our audiences to deep dive into these aspects of our experience of the rapidly changing world we live in and our impact of the same.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
1. <em>Our Fellow Earthlings<br />
2. Reflections in a Changing World<br />
3. Co-Existence<br />
4. Food Politics<br />
5. Future-Proofing<br />
6. Fighting Back<br />
7. Forced to Adapt<br />
8. Cost of Growth<br />
9. Women-led Narratives</em><br />
<br />
<strong>You have roped in Dia Mirza and Richie Mehta this year for the festival.&nbsp;What about their work inspired you to have them be part of ALT EFF?</strong><br />
<br />
Dia is an Eco Investor, Goodwill Ambassador UNEP, UN secretary general advocate for SDGs and Ambassador WildLife Trust Of India, she is one of the most recognisable faces advocating tirelessly to inspire change and address climate issues. Having her onboard with ALT EFF is a clear alignment with the work she does and is advocating for. Similarly, Richie is bringing climate storytelling to the mainstream, namely his shows like Poacher and Extrapolations are a clear example of the same. As he continues to explore these narratives, we are very excited to be working with him to inspire and enable more mainstream filmmakers to weave impact into their work on the screen.<br />
<br />
<strong>What inspired you to start an environmental film festival in India, and how do you think films can contribute to raising awareness about environmental issues?</strong><br />
<br />
After my undergrad in economics back in 2007, I worked in economic policy for four&nbsp;years for the Australian government. During this time I spent a lot of time volunteering at and attending film festivals in Australia, and it was these films, stories and experiences that was pivotal for me to realise that we are in the midst of existential crises whilst presenting me with possible solutions and the vast global movement addressing the said issue. It was clear that we need to do everything we can to address the many facets of climate collapse. This led me to take up a Masters of Environment, and then work with the Australian government advising them to help shape climate policy. My own journey into this sphere is a testament to the power of film and storytelling to drive awareness and catalase action on climate. When I arrived in India in 2018 after living in Melbourne for 13 years, I noticed that a platform to showcase films on the environment to inspire the masses did not exist, so I decided to create one. &nbsp;</p>


A film festival that aims to spread awareness about the environment, ALT EFF 2024 or All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2024 is truly unique in more ways than one.

A film festival that aims to spread awareness about the environment, ALT EFF 2024 or All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2024 is truly unique in more ways than one. The festival in its fifth year aims to create awareness of the rapid change in the environment through cinema. WION chatted up with Kunal Khanna, the co-founder and festival director of ALT EFF. Khanna spoke about how the idea of starting a film festival on the environment was conceived and what are the films to look out for in the 2024 edition. Here are the excerpts from the interview. India faces a unique set of environmental challenges, from air pollution to deforestation. How does your festival showcase the diversity of these issues, and what role do you see films playing in shaping public understanding? As India continues its rapid path to 'development', essentially rolling over most things coming in its way, may it be 1000s of villages for dam projects, or cutting through national parks and conservation areas to build expressways; it is becoming increasingly difficult to grasp the scale what we are losing; the access to the commons of this country, the rich biodiversity that makes us who we are, along with our lived experience of this change as the people of this great nation! Films allow us to see this, through the fog of development, and it is our mission as a festival to cut through the noise and show the public the many facets of environmental narratives, through powerful storytelling. Because "people forget facts but they remember stories" - Joseph Campbell. What has been the response from filmmakers and audiences to the festival so far? Have you noticed a shift in the types of environmental themes being explored in Indian cinema over the years? We have been receiving an overwhelming response both from our audiences, and the film-making community. Year on year we are receiving hundreds of more film submissions, and we see this change as the consequences of climate collapse, biodiversity loss and breakdown of the planetary systems become more stark and start to affect each one of us more so than ever before. Film-makers and storytellers are therefore increasingly making this part of the tales they choose to tell and observe our world. This includes stories of hope and resilience, which plays a very important role in inspiring change and action. For the same reasons, an increasing number of audiences are seeking to engage with this content. We are also seeing a whole range of climate stories and themes being covered within the Indian mainstream cinema too. This includes films like Shreni, Poacher, The Jengaburu Curse, along with Oscar-winning and nominated films from India like The Elephant Whisperers, and All that Breathes. What are the main highlights of the festival in 2024 you would want people to know about? The 72 film program at ALT EFF 2024 will comprise the following themes and we are looking forward for our audiences to deep dive into these aspects of our experience of the rapidly changing world we live in and our impact of the same. 1. Our Fellow Earthlings 2. Reflections in a Changing World 3. Co-Existence 4. Food Politics 5. Future-Proofing 6. Fighting Back 7. Forced to Adapt 8. Cost of Growth 9. Women-led Narratives You have roped in Dia Mirza and Richie Mehta this year for the festival. What about their work inspired you to have them be part of ALT EFF? Dia is an Eco Investor, Goodwill Ambassador UNEP, UN secretary general advocate for SDGs and Ambassador WildLife Trust Of India, she is one of the most recognisable faces advocating tirelessly to inspire change and address climate issues. Having her onboard with ALT EFF is a clear alignment with the work she does and is advocating for. Similarly, Richie is bringing climate storytelling to the mainstream, namely his shows like Poacher and Extrapolations are a clear example of the same. As he continues to explore these narratives, we are very excited to be working with him to inspire and enable more mainstream filmmakers to weave impact into their work on the screen. What inspired you to start an environmental film festival in India, and how do you think films can contribute to raising awareness about environmental issues? After my undergrad in economics back in 2007, I worked in economic policy for four years for the Australian government. During this time I spent a lot of time volunteering at and attending film festivals in Australia, and it was these films, stories and experiences that was pivotal for me to realise that we are in the midst of existential crises whilst presenting me with possible solutions and the vast global movement addressing the said issue. It was clear that we need to do everything we can to address the many facets of climate collapse. This led me to take up a Masters of Environment, and then work with the Australian government advising them to help shape climate policy. My own journey into this sphere is a testament to the power of film and storytelling to drive awareness and catalase action on climate. When I arrived in India in 2018 after living in Melbourne for 13 years, I noticed that a platform to showcase films on the environment to inspire the masses did not exist, so I decided to create one.

ALT EFF 2024 will showcase facets of environmental narratives through powerful storytelling

<p>All Living Things Environmental Film Festival, India's biggest platform for environmental cinema, is scheduled to commence on December 1. This year National Award winner filmmaker Satyajit Bhatkal has joined the jury panel. Bhatkal is well-known for his impactful work, and for putting forward compelling stories. For the unversed, he's the mind behind Aamir Khan's immensely successful show <em>Satyamev Jayate</em> and is renowned for his social change initiatives.</p>

<p>In a conversation with WION, Satyajit talked about his inclusion in the jury team of the environmental film festival, talked about climate change crises, how the film industry can help fight it, and much more.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Read excerpts.&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>Q- What are your views on the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF)?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A - </strong>Climate change is the most important threat we face as a species. The Festival curates and makes available films from around the globe on this crisis. Films give a face and voice to these problems. They give one an opportunity to learn a lot about it. Being a part of the jury was an opportunity to engage with all of this.</p>

<p><strong>Q - The festival has an exciting line-up of films and documentaries, what are the projects you are looking forward to?</strong></p>

<p><strong>A - </strong>The festival lineup is really exciting. Some of the films I am&nbsp;looking forward to: <em>We are Guardians </em>from the International Features, <em>Haulout&nbsp;</em>and <em>From Dreams to Dust</em>&nbsp;in the international shorts category,<em> No Water No Village</em> and <em>Tiger&nbsp;Army</em>&nbsp;in the Indian short films and <em>Once There was a Sea</em> and <em>Egret River</em>&nbsp;in the animated&nbsp;films and of course <em>Pleistocene Park</em>, the festival winner.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q- How can films&nbsp;and documentaries motivate&nbsp;young people to fight climate change and other global&nbsp;challenges?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A - </strong>&nbsp;Movies and documentaries inform, educate and emotionally move the audience. They act as a&nbsp;trigger action and sometimes as an aid to it. There is of course no substitute for the actual&nbsp;action itself.</p>

<p><strong>Q - You have been part of the industry for so many years, so what are the climate-related storylines that are typically missing from fictional TV and film worlds?&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><strong>A - </strong>&nbsp;I don’t think we have much of a reflection of the ecological crisis in our films so far. I hope&nbsp;that the Festival triggers the imagination of writers and directors to give voice and direction&nbsp;to these issues.</p>

<p><strong>Q - How can the film industry tackle climate change?</strong></p>

<p><strong>A - </strong>I don’t think any industry in the world, much less the film industry can alone tackle climate&nbsp;change. Equally, I think that no industry in the world can stand aloof from this task. The film&nbsp;industry will need to reflect on how it can reduce its carbon footprint. It will also need to figure out how it can best use its influence to inform and motivate others to do the same.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Q - What are your views on green filmmaking?</strong></p>

<p><strong>A - </strong> It’s not easy at all, but it needs to be done. Like any other industry, the film industry will also&nbsp;need to reduce its carbon footprint.</p>


All Living Things Environmental Film Festival, India's biggest platform for environmental cinema, is scheduled to commence on December 1. This year National Award winner filmmaker Satyajit Bhatkal has joined the jury panel.

All Living Things Environmental Film Festival, India's biggest platform for environmental cinema, is scheduled to commence on December 1. This year National Award winner filmmaker Satyajit Bhatkal has joined the jury panel. Bhatkal is well-known for his impactful work, and for putting forward compelling stories. For the unversed, he's the mind behind Aamir Khan's immensely successful show Satyamev Jayate and is renowned for his social change initiatives. In a conversation with WION, Satyajit talked about his inclusion in the jury team of the environmental film festival, talked about climate change crises, how the film industry can help fight it, and much more. Read excerpts. Q- What are your views on the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF)? A - Climate change is the most important threat we face as a species. The Festival curates and makes available films from around the globe on this crisis. Films give a face and voice to these problems. They give one an opportunity to learn a lot about it. Being a part of the jury was an opportunity to engage with all of this. Q - The festival has an exciting line-up of films and documentaries, what are the projects you are looking forward to? A - The festival lineup is really exciting. Some of the films I am looking forward to: We are Guardians from the International Features, Haulout and From Dreams to Dust in the international shorts category, No Water No Village and Tiger Army in the Indian short films and Once There was a Sea and Egret River in the animated films and of course Pleistocene Park, the festival winner. Q- How can films and documentaries motivate young people to fight climate change and other global challenges? A - Movies and documentaries inform, educate and emotionally move the audience. They act as a trigger action and sometimes as an aid to it. There is of course no substitute for the actual action itself. Q - You have been part of the industry for so many years, so what are the climate-related storylines that are typically missing from fictional TV and film worlds? A - I don’t think we have much of a reflection of the ecological crisis in our films so far. I hope that the Festival triggers the imagination of writers and directors to give voice and direction to these issues. Q - How can the film industry tackle climate change? A - I don’t think any industry in the world, much less the film industry can alone tackle climate change. Equally, I think that no industry in the world can stand aloof from this task. The film industry will need to reflect on how it can reduce its carbon footprint. It will also need to figure out how it can best use its influence to inform and motivate others to do the same. Q - What are your views on green filmmaking? A - It’s not easy at all, but it needs to be done. Like any other industry, the film industry will also need to reduce its carbon footprint.

Satyajit Bhatkal on how films can help fight climate change: They Inform, educate & move the audience

<p>ALT EFF, India's largest environmental film festival focusing on themes of environment, sustainability, and climate change, is thrilled to announce the official India premiere of Jason Momoa's highly acclaimed film, <em>Deep Rising.</em> The festival, now in its 4th edition, will take place from 1st to 10th December 2023 and will feature more than 60 films of various formats including international and Indian features, shorts, student films and animated films. This year, ALT EFF is set to captivate audiences with its hybrid festival model, featuring screenings across cities in India and a virtual leg accessible to global viewers.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jungkook-surprises-fans-with-times-square-performance-sings-army-please-dont-change-657162">Jungkook surprises fans with Times Square performance, sings 'ARMY Please Don't Change'</a></p>

<p><em>Deep Rising</em>, narrated and produced by the iconic Aquaman famed actor, Jason Momoa, and directed by Matthieu Ritz, is a groundbreaking real-life documentary that delves into the fate of the planet's last untouched wilderness: the deep ocean.</p>

<p>The film sheds light on the imminent threat faced by the deep ocean due to a secretive organization's plans to allow massive extraction of seabed metals to address the world's energy crisis. Through awe-inspiring visuals and compelling storytelling, Deep Rising showcases the vital relationship between the deep ocean and sustaining life on Earth.</p>

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<p>The documentary follows the journey of The Metals Company, a mining startup, as it navigates the challenges of securing funding, gaining public favor, and obtaining permission from the International Seabed Authority to mine extensive areas of the Pacific Ocean floor. Deep Rising serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to protect our oceans and preserve the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/clashes-break-out-as-gal-gadot-organises-hamas-attack-film-screening-in-la-657131">Clashes break out as Gal Gadot organises screening of Hamas attack footage in LA</a></p>

<p>ALT EFF 2023 is proud to kick-start the festival with the India premiere of<em> Deep Rising, </em>offering audiences a unique opportunity to witness this thought-provoking documentary on the big screen. As the festival continues to grow in scale and impact, ALT EFF remains committed to promoting environmental consciousness and inspiring positive change through the art of filmmaking.</p>

<p>"We are honored to present the India premiere of Deep Rising at ALT EFF 2023," said Kunal Khanna, Festival Director of ALT EFF. "As the world economy is forging its way to electrification, this film provides compelling insights about its consequences. It exemplifies the festival's mission to raise awareness about pressing environmental issues and inform us about perspectives that are scarce in our current narratives. We invite film enthusiasts, environmentalists, and the general public to join us in this cinematic journey that not only educates but also empowers viewers to make a difference. This film much like the others we have lined up this year are imperative way to utilise a crucial medium of storytelling through films to bring awareness to real issues that stand before us. Deep Rising is one such imperative story that needs to be told and needs to be highlighted in the public domain”.</p>

<p>"India stands at a fork-in-the-road when it comes to regenerative energy solutions. Right now, the country has a choice to either continue being one of the driving forces pushing for DSM (Deep Seabed Mining), or it could leverage its resources and technological expertise to lead the world forwards and away from this paradigm that has brought us to the brink of environmental collapse. India has the opportunity to be a positive change in the world, which is why we are pleased to partner with ALTEFF 2023 for the India Premiere of Deep Rising." - Matthieu Rytz, Director, Deep Rising</p>


ALT EFF, India's largest environmental film festival focusing on themes of environment, sustainability, and climate change, is thrilled to announce the official India premiere of Jason Momoa's highly acclaimed film, Deep Rising.

ALT EFF, India's largest environmental film festival focusing on themes of environment, sustainability, and climate change, is thrilled to announce the official India premiere of Jason Momoa's highly acclaimed film, Deep Rising. The festival, now in its 4th edition, will take place from 1st to 10th December 2023 and will feature more than 60 films of various formats including international and Indian features, shorts, student films and animated films. This year, ALT EFF is set to captivate audiences with its hybrid festival model, featuring screenings across cities in India and a virtual leg accessible to global viewers. Jungkook surprises fans with Times Square performance, sings 'ARMY Please Don't Change' Deep Rising, narrated and produced by the iconic Aquaman famed actor, Jason Momoa, and directed by Matthieu Ritz, is a groundbreaking real-life documentary that delves into the fate of the planet's last untouched wilderness: the deep ocean. The film sheds light on the imminent threat faced by the deep ocean due to a secretive organization's plans to allow massive extraction of seabed metals to address the world's energy crisis. Through awe-inspiring visuals and compelling storytelling, Deep Rising showcases the vital relationship between the deep ocean and sustaining life on Earth. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deep Rising (@deeprisingmovie) × The documentary follows the journey of The Metals Company, a mining startup, as it navigates the challenges of securing funding, gaining public favor, and obtaining permission from the International Seabed Authority to mine extensive areas of the Pacific Ocean floor. Deep Rising serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to protect our oceans and preserve the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. Clashes break out as Gal Gadot organises screening of Hamas attack footage in LA ALT EFF 2023 is proud to kick-start the festival with the India premiere of Deep Rising, offering audiences a unique opportunity to witness this thought-provoking documentary on the big screen. As the festival continues to grow in scale and impact, ALT EFF remains committed to promoting environmental consciousness and inspiring positive change through the art of filmmaking. "We are honored to present the India premiere of Deep Rising at ALT EFF 2023," said Kunal Khanna, Festival Director of ALT EFF. "As the world economy is forging its way to electrification, this film provides compelling insights about its consequences. It exemplifies the festival's mission to raise awareness about pressing environmental issues and inform us about perspectives that are scarce in our current narratives. We invite film enthusiasts, environmentalists, and the general public to join us in this cinematic journey that not only educates but also empowers viewers to make a difference. This film much like the others we have lined up this year are imperative way to utilise a crucial medium of storytelling through films to bring awareness to real issues that stand before us. Deep Rising is one such imperative story that needs to be told and needs to be highlighted in the public domain”. "India stands at a fork-in-the-road when it comes to regenerative energy solutions. Right now, the country has a choice to either continue being one of the driving forces pushing for DSM (Deep Seabed Mining), or it could leverage its resources and technological expertise to lead the world forwards and away from this paradigm that has brought us to the brink of environmental collapse. India has the opportunity to be a positive change in the world, which is why we are pleased to partner with ALTEFF 2023 for the India Premiere of Deep Rising." - Matthieu Rytz, Director, Deep Rising

Jason Momoa's Deep Rising to premiere at All Living Things Environmental Film Festival 2023

<p>Oscar-winning filmmaker, Kartiki Gonsalves has been elected to be a part of the jury for India’s biggest environmental film festival, All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF)</p>

<p>The festival will take place in a hybrid, decentralised model between 1st to 10th December with 62 official selections. This will be the fourth edition of All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Renowned as the premier platform for films that champion environmental issues, ALT EFF has garnered widespread acclaim since its inception in 2020 when the festival launched amidst the pandemic and had two successful virtual runs of the festival with a hybrid format of on-ground events across India and online in 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This year will see a significant expansion of the decentralised festival model with on-ground screenings planned across all states in India, with over 40 screenings planned over the festival period. The overwhelming success of the decentralised format in 2022 prompted the festival to continue this approach for its fourth edition, strengthening its foothold in the hearts of cinephiles and environmental advocates alike.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A highlight of this year's festival is the presence of the distinguished Oscar-winning filmmaker, Kartiki Gonsalves. Kartiki, in collaboration with Guneet Monga, received the prestigious award for their outstanding documentary film,<em> The Elephant Whisperers</em> earlier in 2023 marking it as a historic win for India. Her valuable expertise and artistic vision as a filmmaker who made films with the environment and nature at the very heart of the film, make her the perfect new addition to the festival’s esteemed jury panel.<br />
<br />
This year's edition is designed to cater to a wider audience, offering both virtual screenings and in-person events in key cities across India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On joining the festival as the jury, Kartiki expressed, “People across the world should see these films. Every person should see these films. Students, as well as adults, should watch because then they can see how the world is deteriorating slowly, and I think that in itself is a powerful motive to inspire change. It was really interesting to see how different filmmakers across different places express themselves and their own voices through the stories they decide to tell. All of the films are so well made, such good storytelling”.&nbsp;</p>

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Oscar-winning filmmaker, Kartiki Gonsalves has been elected to be a part of the jury for India’s biggest environmental film festival, All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) The festival will take place in a hybrid, decentralised model between 1st to 10th December with 62 official selections.

Oscar-winning filmmaker, Kartiki Gonsalves has been elected to be a part of the jury for India’s biggest environmental film festival, All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) The festival will take place in a hybrid, decentralised model between 1st to 10th December with 62 official selections. This will be the fourth edition of All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF). Renowned as the premier platform for films that champion environmental issues, ALT EFF has garnered widespread acclaim since its inception in 2020 when the festival launched amidst the pandemic and had two successful virtual runs of the festival with a hybrid format of on-ground events across India and online in 2022. This year will see a significant expansion of the decentralised festival model with on-ground screenings planned across all states in India, with over 40 screenings planned over the festival period. The overwhelming success of the decentralised format in 2022 prompted the festival to continue this approach for its fourth edition, strengthening its foothold in the hearts of cinephiles and environmental advocates alike. A highlight of this year's festival is the presence of the distinguished Oscar-winning filmmaker, Kartiki Gonsalves. Kartiki, in collaboration with Guneet Monga, received the prestigious award for their outstanding documentary film, The Elephant Whisperers earlier in 2023 marking it as a historic win for India. Her valuable expertise and artistic vision as a filmmaker who made films with the environment and nature at the very heart of the film, make her the perfect new addition to the festival’s esteemed jury panel. This year's edition is designed to cater to a wider audience, offering both virtual screenings and in-person events in key cities across India. On joining the festival as the jury, Kartiki expressed, “People across the world should see these films. Every person should see these films. Students, as well as adults, should watch because then they can see how the world is deteriorating slowly, and I think that in itself is a powerful motive to inspire change. It was really interesting to see how different filmmakers across different places express themselves and their own voices through the stories they decide to tell. All of the films are so well made, such good storytelling”. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Oscar winner Kartiki Gonsalves joins as jury for India's biggest environmental film festival

<p>They say cinema has the ability to influence its audience. In the last few decades, cinema has been used not only to entertain but also to educate. This is why a film festival on the environment is important at a time when the world is grabbling with climate change.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
ALT EFF (All Living Things Environmental Film Festival) - India's first and only environment-themed film festival is currently underway across the country with on-ground as well as virtual screenings. The festival began on November 17 and will conclude on November 27.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
This year the festival boasts an impressive selection of 55 films from India and around the world spanning across from ada including feature films, short films and animated formats. This year, the festival has an illustrious jury including filmmaker Kiran Rao, the award-winning director of Vidya Balan starrer, Sherni and also Newton, Amit Masurkar, Anish Andheira - The chief president of Wildlife Conservation Trust, along with Pradip Kishen and Lindsay Crowder.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The festival is the brainchild of Kunal Khanna, who conceptualised ALT EFF and is a staunch promoter of environment conservation, nature and sustainability. Ahead of the festival, Khanna spoke to WION about this unique festival, its purpose and relevance in present day. Here are the excerpts from the interview.</p>

<p><strong>What can we expect from this year's edition of ALT EFF?</strong><br />
<br />
2022 is the most exciting year for ALT EFF yet. First and foremost, we are evolving from being a purely virtual festival to a hybrid event with both the virtual festival and in-person screenings that are set to take place at venues in Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bangalore, Delhi, Ooty, Kolkata and Panchgani. Next up the program itself, we have 55 films in the line-up and 33 of these are India Premieres.</p>

<p>The program comprises stories about the environment, conservation, activism, innovation, the human struggle, our critical relationship with the ecosystem, how we preserve it and live in sync with it. We are bringing Inspiring stories that provide unique insight into people and places around the globe, and creating a space for people to interact and talk about climate change and the many facets of the environmental emergency we are faced with.</p>

<p>This year, we are enabling better environmental storytelling through programs such as masterclasses for film-makers and last year we introduced the Student category with the aim to inspire more young film-makers to take up the environment as a key subject in their films and projects.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Finally, ALT EFF's mission is to be platform that inspires and mobilises communities to take action towards creating a sustainable future; and this year we have going one step further by offering the virtual edition of the festival in a non-ticketed, pay as you feel model, where the full program will be available for viewing not just to audiences in India, but globally. This is very exciting, as we look forward to a very large audience engaging with the films and conversations. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Are there enough films made that highlight climate change, and sustainability?</strong><br />
Absolutely, so much so that this year we have categorised the film program into 10 wide themes, these include Forests and Oceans, Conservation, Activism, Capitalism, Urbanisation, Sustainable Living, Indigenious Wisdom, Animals &amp; Insects, Food Politics and Climate Change. We received close to 200 film submissions this year, which is a significant jump from the previous years, all of which goes to say that these themes are increasingly being covered by film-makers and that's exactly what we at ALT EFF would like to see.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In fact, environmental cinema is quickly coming out of the niche and mainstream cinema is covering such subjects as well. One of our Jury members for 2022, Amit Masurkar, had recently released a film on human animal conflict called 'Shreni'. And one of the most widely viewed films on Netflix, 'Don't Look Up' with Leonardo Di Caprio is essentially a satire on the imminent climate crises we are faced with today.</p>

<p><strong>Which are the films that you are most looking forward to in this festival? Do you have any personal favourites?</strong></p>

<p>If there were 5 top films for me, apart from 'All that Breathes,' they would be. 'The Plastic Bag Store,' 'The roar of the Marañon,' 'Murmurs of the Jungle,' 'Planktonium' and 'How to Kill a Cloud.'</p>

<p><strong>Do you feel there is enough awareness about a festival like ALT EFF in India?</strong><br />
We are getting there, over the last two years we have had an audience of 10,000 come and attend the festival and the various discourses. This year with our decentralised nature and the Pay as you feel model, we are hoping to triple that. And with your support we are sure to get there quick smart!&nbsp;<br />
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They say cinema has the ability to influence its audience. In the last few decades, cinema has been used not only to entertain but also to educate. This is why a film festival on the environment is important at a time when the world is grabbling with climate change.

They say cinema has the ability to influence its audience. In the last few decades, cinema has been used not only to entertain but also to educate. This is why a film festival on the environment is important at a time when the world is grabbling with climate change. ALT EFF (All Living Things Environmental Film Festival) - India's first and only environment-themed film festival is currently underway across the country with on-ground as well as virtual screenings. The festival began on November 17 and will conclude on November 27. This year the festival boasts an impressive selection of 55 films from India and around the world spanning across from ada including feature films, short films and animated formats. This year, the festival has an illustrious jury including filmmaker Kiran Rao, the award-winning director of Vidya Balan starrer, Sherni and also Newton, Amit Masurkar, Anish Andheira - The chief president of Wildlife Conservation Trust, along with Pradip Kishen and Lindsay Crowder. The festival is the brainchild of Kunal Khanna, who conceptualised ALT EFF and is a staunch promoter of environment conservation, nature and sustainability. Ahead of the festival, Khanna spoke to WION about this unique festival, its purpose and relevance in present day. Here are the excerpts from the interview. What can we expect from this year's edition of ALT EFF? 2022 is the most exciting year for ALT EFF yet. First and foremost, we are evolving from being a purely virtual festival to a hybrid event with both the virtual festival and in-person screenings that are set to take place at venues in Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bangalore, Delhi, Ooty, Kolkata and Panchgani. Next up the program itself, we have 55 films in the line-up and 33 of these are India Premieres. The program comprises stories about the environment, conservation, activism, innovation, the human struggle, our critical relationship with the ecosystem, how we preserve it and live in sync with it. We are bringing Inspiring stories that provide unique insight into people and places around the globe, and creating a space for people to interact and talk about climate change and the many facets of the environmental emergency we are faced with. This year, we are enabling better environmental storytelling through programs such as masterclasses for film-makers and last year we introduced the Student category with the aim to inspire more young film-makers to take up the environment as a key subject in their films and projects. Finally, ALT EFF's mission is to be platform that inspires and mobilises communities to take action towards creating a sustainable future; and this year we have going one step further by offering the virtual edition of the festival in a non-ticketed, pay as you feel model, where the full program will be available for viewing not just to audiences in India, but globally. This is very exciting, as we look forward to a very large audience engaging with the films and conversations. Are there enough films made that highlight climate change, and sustainability? Absolutely, so much so that this year we have categorised the film program into 10 wide themes, these include Forests and Oceans, Conservation, Activism, Capitalism, Urbanisation, Sustainable Living, Indigenious Wisdom, Animals & Insects, Food Politics and Climate Change. We received close to 200 film submissions this year, which is a significant jump from the previous years, all of which goes to say that these themes are increasingly being covered by film-makers and that's exactly what we at ALT EFF would like to see. In fact, environmental cinema is quickly coming out of the niche and mainstream cinema is covering such subjects as well. One of our Jury members for 2022, Amit Masurkar, had recently released a film on human animal conflict called 'Shreni'. And one of the most widely viewed films on Netflix, 'Don't Look Up' with Leonardo Di Caprio is essentially a satire on the imminent climate crises we are faced with today. Which are the films that you are most looking forward to in this festival? Do you have any personal favourites? If there were 5 top films for me, apart from 'All that Breathes,' they would be. 'The Plastic Bag Store,' 'The roar of the Marañon,' 'Murmurs of the Jungle,' 'Planktonium' and 'How to Kill a Cloud.' Do you feel there is enough awareness about a festival like ALT EFF in India? We are getting there, over the last two years we have had an audience of 10,000 come and attend the festival and the various discourses. This year with our decentralised nature and the Pay as you feel model, we are hoping to triple that. And with your support we are sure to get there quick smart!

Exclusive: ALT-EFF,  India's only environmental film festival aims to start a dialogue about climate change