Get Environmentally Friendly at Encounters Festival 2009

Documentary films put the focus on the environment and ecology

The environment is getting its chance to speak at this years Encounters Documentary Film Festival and you’re going want to listen to what it has to say.

This year filmmakers are making sure that they keep the spotlight on the ecology and environmental problems facing our planet today. And with so many films focusing on the issue of the environment and ecology the message is clear – these issues are not just another news headline waiting to be forgotten.

Now in its 11th year, the popular South African documentary film festival continues to bring the best local and international documentary films to South African audiences.

The film festival showcases around 40 local and international films each year. With a 50/50 split of international and South African documentary films the festival is a good indication of the filmmaking talent both in South Africa and aboard.

The festival’s films fall into numerous categories – with films often presenting more than one theme and overlapping into more than one category.

Environmental concerns and ecological problems emerge as strong themes at the 2009 Encounters Festival.

The festival offers up many perspectives on the healing power of nature with films exploring man’s relationships with animals and our ability to assign spiritual significance to natural entities.

Deep Friends tells the tale of a bond between a dedicated animal lover and the friendship he forms with a troubled chimpanzee.

River of Ashes explores the importance placed upon the Ganges River and the many functions it serves from the spiritual to the everyday.

Appearing to pick up where An Inconvenient Truth left off, The Age of Stupid tells the tale of a world neglected by mankind. The film explores the warnings that we have been given about the state of the environment and sets about showing the audience what the world will be like in 2025 if we don’t take action now.

With so much greenery on this gourmet menu of films, there will definitely be plenty to remind you to be a green activist at the 2009 Encounters Documentary Film Festival.

Encounters South African International Documentary Festival 2009:

Date: 3 - 19 July 2009
Venue: Nu Metro Cinema
Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Price: R33 p/p*
Contact: +27(0)21 465 4686
Website: www.encounters.co.za

*Tickets can be purchased online on the Encounters website or at the V&A Waterfront box office

To not let this festival go by (again) make sure you have looked through the completed Encounters Festival Overview.

An absolute recommendation is our new events section for a look at the individual Encounter Festival Day.

For your monthly round up on what’s happening in and around Cape Town, be sure to subscribe to our popular Editor’s Picks Newsletter.