Ion LUNGU

Mayor of Suceava


We are honored to host the 7th edition of EcoFest – International Festival of Ecology Films – „For the health
of the Earth”. On this occasion, I invite you to discover „Suceava – Green City”. The modernization projects and the investments made in the last period prove the permanent concern of the Municipality for the preservation and protection of the environment.

In the implementation of ecological solutions, we can pride ourselves that we have implemented or are in the process of implementing green projects regarding green energy and zero pollution in Suceava.
We have the largest and the most efficient CHP plant (combined heat and power plant) in South Eastern Central Europe that uses biomass as a source of 86% heat production and provides centralized heating for over 50,000 people .

We also have a joint Swiss-Romanian cooperation project called „Modern and Effective Public Lighting Management in Suceava”, which is intended to replace the existing low efficiency luminaires with LED lighting devices , with low power consumption and a service life of at least 4 years.

Another project, on the same collaboration, concerns the creation of electric transport infrastructure in the city of Suceava and the purchase of electric cars and bikes under the name „Electromobility – Electric Vehicles for a Green Municipality”.

In the 2014-2020 Regional Operational Program (ROP), on Axis 4 – „Support for sustainable urban development”, according to the strategy approved by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration and European Funds (MDRAP), the „Integrated Strategy for Urban Development” and „Urban Mobility Plan”, we will acquire 40 new electric buses on European funds.

These projects aim both to reduce economic and social disparities within the European Union and to achieve
energy savings in response to climate change policy, as well. Of course, Suceava is a partner of this film festival and of ecological education, supplementing the actions undertaken by the municipality in an ecological spirit.

Thank you very much!


negoita

Robert Negoiță

President
Association of Municipalities of Romania (AMR)


The European Ecologist Initiative Association (IEE) from Romania has become a true landmark in promoting ecological values in our country and I can only congratulate them for this. In the last five years, ever since I became mayor, we have transformed Sector 3 of the Capital into the „Green Sector”.
As president of the Romanian Association of Municipalities (AMR), we encouraged and supported the other mayors to pay special attention to the extension of the green spaces, so much needed in the cities. So, I can only be glad that the International Festival of Ecology Films „Eco Fest” has reached its seventh edition and I wish them to organize as many editions as possible.

lavinia

Lavinia Sandru

President IEE
European Ecology Initiative Association


What a miracle that we met!
What an honor for hosting us!Since childhood, I’ve got the habit of viewing stories. Imagination gave me freedom. This habit became a cult, later, at the age when literature gave me wings, and further later became a duty of my profession. To view what I read, what I hear. When I read or when I hear „SUCEAVA”, I associate the word with a color: GREEN.

The largest forested area in Romania is represented by Suceava County. Here are 28 nature reserves, centuries-old woods and meadows. Five are monuments of nature. These miracles, given by God, cover nearly 5,000 hectares of the county’s surface.

Suceava is preparing to become „green city”, with electric cars and bicycles, LED lighting, biomass thermal heating and electric public transport. Not over 50 years, but only over 2!

And then, I wonder: would there be any more suitable place for the International Festival of Ecology Films
than my GREEN SUCEAVA? An event dedicated to the environment, from the belief that ecology films are sensitizing and educating tomorrow’s generations.

ECO FEST is unique in Romania. So is Suceava.
What a miracle that we met! What an honor for hosting us!


Gheorghe FLUTUR

President of Suceava County Council


Suceava County, the second largest in Romania, is occupied in proportion 60% by forest. Naturally, since
ancient times, the civilization of the area has been dependent on nature’s resources, whether we are talking about wood and stone constructions (from traditional architecture to the famous voivodal foundations), gastronomy (various varieties of mushrooms, forest fruits, tree buds and flowers,fishing, hunting, etc.) and domestic animal husbandry ( on lawns and meadows). Unfortunately, the excessive exploitation led to the disappearance of some species, such as the aurochs – Bos primigenius (present on the medieval coat of arms of the Moldavian princes), disappeared around 1460, or the wisent – the European bison (disappeared from Moldova in 1762).

In the last two centuries, has been raised the problem of protecting some habitats and species, stopping the destructive anthropic interventions. Suceava County has over 20 natural reserves, some unique in Europe or around the world, such as Călimani National Park and Codrii Seculari (centuries-old forest) from Slătioara – listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In the present time, the public policies of the county administration primarily aim at the sustainable preservation of the natural landscape and the proper management of anthropic development.
In the last 20 years, the economic development of Suceava County had two major development trends: agritourism and ecological products, both being sine qua non related to the protection of natural ecosystems.
In this context, we welcome the initiative to bring in the public space a new element of public awareness for the need to protect natural ecosystems and LIFE!


vladimir

Vladimir Marin

Artistic Director ECO FEST
and selector ECO FEST


Regarding the selection of films to the 6th. edition of ECO FEST, I believe that same is distinguished by several traits that mark the growth and evolution of this event over the years.
The number of films – 18 – presented to the public and the international jury is covering a vast geographical area, which stretches from Singapore and Madagascar to USA and Canada, including many European countries.
For the first time we joined short, medium and full-length documentaries with animation films, enabling the sometimes arid or technical-scientific encrypted messages, to be more accessible to a wider audience. Finally, the themes approached from various angles and perspectives, are showing to viewers information and innovative solutions, local or global, aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of humanity, deeply integrated in a respected and protected natural environment.

Vladimir Marin – Artistic Director ECO FEST and selector ECO FEST

 


SPONSORS and PARTNERS



INTERNATIONAL JURY


Asgrimur Sverrisson

Iceland – Director, Film critic


  Ásgrímur Sverrisson is a writer and director from Iceland. His first feature, Reykjavik, recently won the Critics Prize at The Varna International Film Festival – Love is Folly. For over thirty years he has made a number of films for television, documentaries and shorts. He is also a leading commentator on the cinema in Iceland and regularly appears as such on TV and in other media. Ásgrímur is the editor of the industry website Klapptre, delivering news, opinion and information on the Icelandic film and TV scene. He teaches film history at The Icelandic Film School and regularly moderates seminars and Q&A sessions at various film festivals.

ileana-pernes-danalache-foto-dinu-lazar

Ileana Perneș Dănălache

Romania – Film critic


  Theater and film critic. She graduated from The National University of Drama and Cinematography “I.L. Caragiale”, section – Filmology-Theatrology. She has 37 years in the field of cinematographic art. Works as an audiovisual expert in Brussels for a year. Between 1992 and 2000 is National Coordinator of the European intergovernmental Audiovisual Program “Eureka Audiovisual”.Member of the Filmmakers Union of Romania.Vice President and founding member of the Romanian Film Association “Document.Art.”Member of several juries of film (“Contemporania”, International Film Festival” Document.Art, “Dreamfest” Slatina, “Ecofest “ Oradea, “Ecofest “ Braila, etc).Receives The National Award for interviews and essays of the National Council of Journalists (1987).Plaque of honor for lifetime achievement offered by newspaper “Zaman” Romania. Author of “18 interviews” dedicated to Romanian filmmakers (2015). Member of Romanian Association of Public Relations (ARRP); member of the Honorable Jury since 2014.

Costel Safirman

Israel – Film critic and historian, documentary film director


   Studied literatura and literary criticism at the University of Bucharest and Theater Science and Filmology at the Theater and Film Institute in Bucharest. In Romania he worked as a book editor for the Meridiane Publishing House, as a researcher at the National Films Archive, as a television filmmaker, as a delegate producer of feature movies and as a film director at the “Alexandru Sahia” Documentary Film Studio.In 1987 he immigrated to Israel. He served as the Head of Research and Documentation department at the Jerusalem Film Center and a member of the Jerusalem International Film Festival staff. Since 1993, initiates and produces for the Jerusalem Cinematheque  the project “Cinematic Variations on Live Classical Music” dedicated to music and film lovers. Between 1993 and 2011, in cooperation with the late historian Leon Volovici, he has been organizing the Jerusalem Cultural Club, whose purpose is to facilitate the spiritual bridging between the Romanian and lsraeli cultures.

He has published articles, studies, scientific, theater and film reviews and is a co-author of cinema dictionaries and encyclopedias published in Romania, lsrael and the USA.

Among the documentary films he created: Directed by Liviu Ciulei, film TV, 1979 (Special Prize of the Jury granted by the Association of Romanian Film makers); Ars Longa, 1984; Tonight tears are falling for “La Dame aux Camelias”,1986. And They Went Away Like the Wind…” (in collaboration with Radu Gabrea), 2010.


 grozev

Alexander Grozev

Bulgaria – Film Critic, Festival President


   He is a very well-known film critic from Bulgaria. PhD in the Theory of Cinema, Professor of Film History at the South-West University, lecturer for film critic at the National Academy of Film. Jury member at many international film festivals. Member of the Bulgarian Filmmakers’ Association and member in the publishing board of Kino magazine, as well. Founder and Director of LOVE IS FOLLY – Film Festival in Varna, counting for 23 editions. Alexander Grozev was Manager of the National Film Center of Bulgaria, representing member of Bulgaria in the European Association for Media Programs. He published 16 books dedicated to film theory and history and wrote many reviews in publications from U.K., Germany, Russia.

Richard Blank

Germany – Writer, Director, PhD


“As we all know, Richard Blank is one of the most unique directors
in this country, in the best sense of the word.”
(Frankfurter Rundschau)After my dissertation in philosophy in 1969 (with a PhD-thesis on Language and Dramaturgy), I lived as a filmmaker for television and cinema and as freelance writer. Most of my films were shown at festivals, for example in Venice, Moscow and Varna. Friedliche Tage (Peaceful Days) and Prinzenbad (Royal Baths) are available on subtitled DVDs in the edition of German Filmmuseum.Important books: Film & Light: The History of Filmlighting (German and English, 2008), Art of Acting (2005), Hollywood Goodbye (2015).I live in Munich (Germany) and Vasia (Imperia, Italy).


SPECIAL GUESTS



dan-curean

Dan Curean

Romania – Journalist, Producer, TV organizer


  Since 1994 he is working at TVR Cluj (Romanian Television – Cluj branch), as cinematographer, producer, organizer (now senior journalist) and author of several shows, television programs and documentaries. Among them are distinguished the documentaries made about the wild horses in the Danube Delta and Nature and Adventure program, aired on TVR 2.
Specializing in the production of documentary film, he was selected for some of the most important documentary film training programs in Europe (Aristoteles Workshop 2006, Discovery Campus Masterschool 2008).
Member of the teaching staff at the Faculty of Theatre and Television of the UBB ( Cluj University) since its foundation. In 2012 he sustains his Ph.D. thesis with the title Text and image in the media.
Collaborates with major broadcasters in Europe and his credits include several author productions (script, directing, photography ) multi -awarded at festivals from Romania and Europe.
His film GONE WILD ( A story about the wild horses…) received the Special Award of the Jury at the 3rd. edition of ECOFEST – 2013 – Baile Felix

Nurdan Tümbek Tekeoğlu

Turkey – Producer, Academician in Marketing at Istanbul Commerce University


Born in İstanbul in 1964. She graduated from sociology of Bosphorus University and worked in different national and international companies at different management levels. She organized short film competitions for university students as social responsibility project for Metro AG in Turkey for 10 years. She felt in love with cinema and produced her husband’s first documentary İFAKAT with TRT award.
In 2013 Dr.Tekeoğlu produced I LOVED YOU SO MUCH, a feature with selection to Moscow and Kiev Molodist Film Festivals and with best international film award from Canada Film Festival.
In 2016 she produced  EXTRAORDİNARY PEOPLE with SUSY Award from 10.Terra Di Tutti Film Festival and RUDOLF NUREYEV: ISLAND OF HIS DREAMS with Evgenia Tirdatova, from Kinoglaz.
In 2017 she directed her first short film TORN LOVE about population exchange btw. Greece and Turkey and now at the pre-production stage of VARGİT ZAMANI, a documentary about 80 years old man on high mountains of Trebizond directed by  Orhan Tekeoglu.
She is member of EWA and Seyap, producer’s association Turkey. She is also a full time academician in marketing at Istanbul Commerce University. She was also accepted to EFA,European Film Academy with reference.

Pierre Fromentin

France – Director, Video artist


After working as a visual effects artist in London for 2 years, I directed my first documentary in 2014. Last year I worked as an assistant director and a visual effects supervisor on an animation documentary series for Arte TV channel .I worked on various topics like:
– History: Points de Repères – Arte
– Farming systems: Those who Sow – independent documentary selected at the Greenpeace Festival and the Festival Alimenterre
– Refugees: Germany’s Refugees and Migrants for UN TV
– Violence against women and social media activism for Latin America BureauI’m now based in Berlin looking for new projects.

Lucia Kasova

Slovakia – Director


Lucia Kasova ( born 1983, in Bratislava, Slovakia) traveled most of her life around the globe, until experiencing wasn’t enough, she started to look for a artistic form to mediate what she have seen and learned.
She found this form in Documentary Directing and started her studies in 2014 at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava which she continues until this day. CANOPY is her first finished documentary. She is currently working on new film projects …

Vessela Zareva

Bulgaria – Director, Filmmaker


Vessela Zareva is a well known Bulgarian film maker. She graduated from PSWFiT (Lodz, Poland) and from VGIK (Moscow, Russia) specializing in Film directing. Her filmography consists of more than 50 documentary films, some of which have been selected in numerous International and National Film Festivals, winning a number of prizes. Vessela Zareva is a member of the Bulgarian Union of Film Makers.

Mihai Stoica

Romania – Independent photo and video journalist


Mihai is a freelance photo and video journalist with a bachelor in Communication Sciences and master studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology. His media work involves investigating and documenting social and environmental issues for mass-media and NGOs in Romania and internationally. Since 2007, Mihai has featured stories about the socio-environmental effects of coal and gold mining in Romania, the impacts of palm oil expansion in Colombia and climate negotiations in Denmark, among others. In 2013, he also started working as an environmental campaigner and researcher on sustainable transport and bioenergy issues with 2Celsius – an environmental NGO that he helped co-found back in 2010 – which focuses on climate change related policies and media production

 

Awards of the International Jury of Professionals


Special Award of the Jury



Frontera Invisible

BELGIUM-ARGENTINA – 2016


Duration: 28 min.
Directors: Nicolas Richat, Nico Muzi
Screenplay: Nico Muzi, Mihai Stoica
Photography: Nicholas Richat
Editor: Daniel Truchi
Composers: Federico Mercuri, Matias Mercuri
Producers: Nicolas Richat, Nico Muzi
Executive Producer: Mihai Stoica

 


Best Direction Award


Avi Belkin

for the direction of Winding


Winding

ISRAEL – 2015


Duration: 60 min.
Director: Avi Belkin
Screenplay: Avi Belkin
Photography:Avi Belkin & Avi Levi
Editor:Assaf Lapid
Composer: Asher Goldschmidt
Producer: Avi Levi

 


Best Screenplay Award


Orhan Tekeoglu

for the screenplay of Extraordinary People


Extraordinary people

TURKEY – 2016


Duration: 45 min.
Director: ORHAN TEKEOĞLU
Screenplay: ORHAN TEKEOĞLU
Photography:GÖRKEM ÖZOK
Editor: NAİM KANAT
Producers: MEDYA TON & NURDAN TÜMBEK TEKEOĞLU & KİNOGLAZ


Best Photography Award


Ants Tammik

for the photography of A Fragile World


A fragile world

ESTONIA – 2016


Duration: 38 min.
Director: Ants Tammik
Screenplay: Ants Tammik
Photography: Ants Tamik
Editor: Ants Tamik
Composer: Aivar Surva
Producer: Riho Västrik – VESILIND


Special Mention of the Jury



Plastic China

CHINA – 2016


Duration: 80 min.
Director: Jiu-Liang Wang
Screenplay: Jiu-Liang Wang
Photography: Jiu-Liang Wang
Editor: Jean Tsien
Composer: Tyler Stricklang
Producers: Ruby Chen, CNEX Studio Corp.,Beijing TYC Media


Ecofest Grand Prix

Awarded the Children’s Jury


Those who saw

FRANCE – 2016


Duration: 55 min.
Directed by: Pierre Fromentin
Music: Erwan Billon, Titouan Billon
Produced and written by: Agro & Sac à Dos
Co-produced by: Agreenium


  Awards


The IEE Award ( The European Ecology Initiative Association)
– for Canopy – Slovacia 2014


The Duminicall TV show Award
– for The Wisent Operation – Romania 2017


 


IN COMPETITION