Symbiosis between Humans and Nature
Each year SunChild IEF highlights different environmental topics to raise awareness and become a platform for discussion. For the 13th edition of the festival, we chose Symbiosis in a Non-Anthropocentric World as a central theme. All of our events in some way or another aim to unveil the complex nature of symbiosis conservation challenges in Armenia, the South Caucasus Region, and beyond. The symbiotic relationship between humans and nature has a large footnote in human history. By highlighting a potential dying value, we can educate citizens on our micro-destruction/abandonment of habitats that once encouraged a non-anthropocentric civilization. To contrast the abandonment, solutions can be proposed by conserving stories that exemplify our current harmony with nature. With the help of showcasing the destruction, the harmony, and additional conceptual solutions/visions, we can raise awareness of a value that deserves to be recognized and upheld by future generations.
Official selection
Nomination Category: Feature-length Films/Documentaries about Symbiosis Between Humans & Nature
Film Name: Bring Them Home
Director: Ivan MacDonald, Ivy MacDonald, Daniel Glick
Country: USA
Runtime: 85 min
Nomination Category: Non-Competition Films for Environmental Educational
Film Name: Princess Mononoke 4k Restoration
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Country: Japan
Runtime: 133 min.
Nomination Category: Feature-length Films/Documentaries about Symbiosis Between Humans & Nature
Film Name: Yanuni
Director: Richard Ladkani
Country: Austria/Canada/Germany/United States
Runtime: 112 min.
Nomination Category: Short Length Films/Documentaries about Symbiosis Between Humans & Nature
Film Name: Inkwo For When The Starving Return
Director: Amanda Strong
Country: Canada
Runtime: 18 min.
JURY MEMBERS
Feature-length Films/Documentaries about Symbiosis Between Humans & Nature
Fred Keleman
Liana Smbatyan
Ruben Ghazaryan
Short Length Films/Documentaries about Symbiosis Between Humans & Nature
Lori Youmshajekian
Jan-Tage Kühling
Meri Poghosyan
John Burton Conservation Award: Films about Conservationists
Vahagn Tevosyan
Andy Orchard
Charlotte Beckham
AWARDS
The trophies of the SunChild International Environmental Festival are unique handmade artworks created from recycled metals. These unique art works are designed and created by a distinguished artist, founder of Baghdasar Studio Sargis Baghdasaryan.
Feature-length Films/Documentaries about Symbiosis Between Humans & Nature
Short Length Films/Documentaries about Symbiosis Between Humans & Nature
John Burton Conservation Award: Films about Conservationists
SunChild 13th International Environmental Festival has 4 nominations
Feature-length Films/Documentaries about Symbiosis Between Humans & Nature
Feature-length Documentaries and Fictional Films about Symbiosis between Humans and Nature through the lens of Abandoning Symbiosis and/or Symbiotic Harmony.
This program is dedicated to promoting public awareness of stories, issues, and challenges about symbiosis on Earth. Our responsibility is to protect habitats and relationships between humans and nature that are slowly losing contact. Showcasing films that focus on either the abandonment of symbiosis or the encouragement of symbiosis can emphasize the current problems and solutions we face in modern civilization. Films that may be submitted could be solely about symbiotic separation and symbiotic harmony, or include both thematic elements.
Short Length Films/Documentaries about Symbiosis Between Humans & Nature
Humans and Nature through the lens of Abandoning Symbiosis and/or Symbiotic Harmony.
This program is dedicated to promoting public awareness of stories, issues, and challenges about our symbiotic relationship with nature worldwide. By showcasing short films that focus on either the abandonment of our symbiotic relationship or the encouragement of symbiosis, it can emphasize the current problems and solutions we face in modern civilization. Films that may be submitted could focus solely on symbiotic separation and symbiotic harmony, or include both thematic elements.
Non-Competition Films for Environmental Educational
In this program we have included films, which are telling stories about variuos environmental issues around the globe. The program aims to raise awareness on the environmental challanges of the world.
John Burton Conservation Award: Films about Conservationists
Films about Conservationists from all around the world. Named after conservationist John Burton, this award will spotlight films about nature conservation with a strong directorial vision. With this award, SunChild IEF wants to honor the memory of John Burton, who passed away in May 2022. The award will be granted to the best conservation films about individuals, who strive to make a change in the world. John Burton was a revolutionary, visionary, and inspirational conservationist whose creative thinking saved over 300,000 hectares of threatened habitat from damaging development. He challenged the usual approaches to preserving wild creatures and their habitats. Sir David Attenborough described him as “a truly wonderful man, more altruistic, more energetic, braver and more original than almost anyone I have known.”