WINNERS XV CINEMAMBIENTE 2012 INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
The INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION jury (members: Yann Arthus-Bertrand [president], Luca Argentero, Neri Marcoré, Kathleen Mullen, and Andrew Nisker) awards the prize of € 5000 offered by Asja for the best international documentary to
THE BIG FIX
directors
Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell

The film draws attention to the as yet unresolved environmental disaster caused by the Gulf of Mexico oil rig spill due to BP negligence. The film underscores the ties between politics and big oil and the attempts to maintain consensus and profits through false claims of clean-up operations undertaken to protect public health. The film gives a true account of the damage in the spill’s aftermath and is a courageous enquiry by the film directors who risked their own safety.

The jury also awards a Special Mention prize to
CHASING ICE
director
Jeff Orlowski

There have been many films about climate change, but Chasing Ice shows through James Balog’s photography indisputable evidence of how critical the situation really is. Chasing Ice has the power to bring about change. James Balog’s vision and Jeff Orlowski’s direction reveal the drive of the human spirit to persevere in the face of physical, financial and personal risk and to create a film that will inspire others to do the same.

TURIN PROVINCE STUDENT COUNCIL AWARD
The jury (members: Sean Cappone,  Davide Cappitella, Matteo Passero, Caterina Lajolo, Fabio Nicola, and Sara Vellerani) awards the prize of € 1500 offered by CPS to
CHASING ICE
director
Jeff Orlowski

The Provincial Student Council is proud to award Chasing Ice for the strength the director and cast demonst rated in filming and documenting the far-reaching effects of global warming. Fighting against cold, hunger and extreme weather conditions, with considerable risk to themselves in collecting images that immortalize lost landscapes, they have created an unforgettable masterpiece of immense impact. Their project is the first survey on the link between global warming and glacial retreat. This prize is but a small reward to men we regard as green ambassadors of humanity.

GREEN CROSS ITALIA SPECIAL MENTION
The jury (members: Elio Pacilio, Marco Gisotti, and Maurizio Paffetti) awards the Green Cross Special Mention to
SURVIVING PROGRESS
directors
Mathieu Roy, Harold Crooks

Combining the wonder of cinema and the rigors of anthropology, the film depicts our future, setting an ecological analysis of development models of the industrialized world within a historical framework.

ITALIAN DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
The ITALIAN DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION jury (members: Andrea Deaglio, Beppe Gamba, and Luca Martinelli) awards the CIAL prize of € 3000 for the best Italian documentary film to
PICCOLA TERRA
director
Michele Trentini

The film tells the story of a hard-won area once again undergoing change with renewed prospects for a better future. We commend Trentini for his ability to unite time and space typical of various epochs by placing side by side archive material and diverse settings.

The jury also wards the Special Mention prize to
LAGUNEMINE
director
Nicola Piovesan

He is to be commended for his ability to portray a singular, seldom seen landscape with masterful cinematography.

LEGAMBIENTE SPECIAL MENTION
The LEGAMBIENTE jury (members: Fabio Dovana, Salvatore Venezia, and Cristina Maceroni) awards the Legambiente Special Mention to
THE WELL Voci d’acqua dall’Etiopia
directors
Paolo Barberi, Riccardo Russo
“He who finds water will never be the well owner”, “People in a well cannot fight”. These concepts of democracy and sacredness of water resources, as explained in this documentary, contain a lesson on the inestimable value of water. Through enchanting images of singing wells, the lesson is taught by the Borana shepherds of Southern Ethiopia where the scarcity of water, the only resource on which the survival of humans and animals depends, is fought against in an exemplary manner: through the equal and fair management of a sacred and social resource. Special recognition is also due to Ciar Cumè l’acqua del Lamber, a battle our association waged, and La Crociera delle Bucce di Banana, a fine example of civic initiative.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIUM-LENGTH FILM COMPETITION
The jury (members: Carlo Grande, Eleonora Isunza, and Umberto Mosca) awards the prize of € 2000 offered by SMAT for the best medium-length film to
ENTR 6E DU PERSONNEL
director
Manuela Frésil

Broad in perspective and deep in scope, the film combines a visual force with a strong philosophical and sociological slant, creating a work that is both documentary and narrative.

WWF SPECIAL MENTION
The WWF jury (members: Fabrizio Bulgarini, Riccardo Fortina, and Cristina Maceroni) awards the WWF Special Mention to
SOBRE RUEDAS: EL SUEÑO DEL AUTOMÓVIL
director
Óscar Clemente

A para doxical film about the automobile and the effects of invasive and persuasive communication told in an original style with often ironic overtones. The dream of personal mobility turns into a nightmare of personal immobility in cities clogged by chaos and pollution. A paradigm of compelling environmental problems such as urban sprawl, land consumption, solid waste production and the use of non-renewable energy sources. Both entertaining and thought-provoking, the film reflects on current lifestyles and suggests ways to reduce the impact of human activities on the planet.

LEROY MERLIN “LA CASA DI DOMANI” SPECIAL AWARD
The jury (members: Luca Pereno, Laura Bisi, Lucia Bucci, Flavio Ghilardi, and Simonetta Melon) awards the prize of € 5000 offered by Leroy Merlin to
LA CROCIERA DELLE BUCCE DI BANANA
director
Salvo Manzone

The film takes a realistic look at solid waste disposal, one the problems of modern society, not through sensationalism or dry enquiry but instead by underscoring the importance of personal initiative. Thanks to people like Aimée, the film’s main character, changes can be brought about and the foundation laid for “the home of tomorrow”.
The € 5000 prize will be awarded to the production company or the film’s copyright owners in exchange for the right to transmit the film via streaming free of charge in Italy through the website  HYPERLINK "http://www.cinemambiente.it" www.cinemambiente.it for 30 days.

RISTECO “EATING CITY" SP ECIAL PRIZE
The jury (members: Maurizio Mariani, Sylvie Puissant, and Pierre Vuarin) awards the Eating City prize offered by Risteco to
CAFETERIA MAN
director
Richard Chisolm

The € 5000 prize will be awarded to the production company or the film’s copyright owners in exchange for permission to show the film during conferences organized by Eating City, to show the film trailer on Eating City’s website, and to incorporate 5 minutes of the film in an Eating City institutional video.

The jury awards a Special Mention prize to

AGRICOLTORI DA SLEGARE
director
Raffaella Bullo