Press Release: 12 Award Winning Films Highlight Beauty & Importance of Forests at International Festival

PRESS INFORMATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

12 Award Winning Films Highlight Beauty & Importance of Forests at International Festival

Bangkok, February 15, 2012: Bangkok’s first International Forest Film Festival (BIFFF) from February 18-19, 2012, was ironically postponed for reasons that highlight the importance of forests and their role in climate change. Originally scheduled for December 2011 during the UN International Year of Forests, the festival was postponed when floods disrupted normal life in Bangkok.

Much more than just sources of timber and other forest products, forests protect our watersheds, biodiversity, and the air we breathe, and provide livelihoods to 450 million people living in and around forests in our region. This Festival showcases 12 powerful, award-winning films from Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia that featured in the International Forest Film Festival in New York last year. 

“We need to raise public awareness of the importance of forests for local communities and the welfare of all on this planet we share. These films inspire a sense of personal responsibility and stewardship for a greener, more equitable and sustainable future,” said RECOFTC’s Executive Director, Dr. Tint Lwin Thaung.

The Festival, which also marks 25 years of RECOFTC’s dedicated work for people and forests in Asia-Pacific, is jointly sponsored by Thailand Knowledge Park (TK Park), the Royal Forest Department, Thai PBS and RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests. An accompanying plants and forestry exhibition highlights some of the work done for approximately 9,000 forest communities in Thailand. Admission to the films and exhibition is free for all.

 A panel discussion anchored by Khun Chonlanat (Palm) Koaykul of Thai PBS, on “Influencing positive environmental changes through the role of media and arts,” will feature well-known personalities such as Miss Nicharat (Grace) Tungtisanon, Miss Earth, Thailand 2011; Mr. Suparb Rimtheparthip, Editor of Bioscope Magazine; and Mr. Amporn Phaetsart, President of the Conservation and Development Group, Pred Nai Community – which is the subject of an opening night film.

BIFFF is organized with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in association with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.

For more information on the film festival, show timings, and film synopsis, visit: www.recoftc.org/site/BIFFF

Press release also available in Thai.

Media Contact

Ms. Prabha Chandran                                                                                                       
Strategic Communications Manager                                                          
RECOFTC – The Center for People & Forests                                                                    
Tel: +66(0) 940 5700 Ext. 1236                                                                                         
email: prabha.chandran@recoftc.org

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