Jackie Shroff bats for environment

Tribune Web Desk

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Chandigarh, September 30

Actor Jackie Shroff has pledged his support to bring awareness about environment through the medium of cinema and its various formats. The actor has been roped in as a goodwill ambassador for a unique event, a film festival dedicated solely to films and cinema, stirring a conversation on environmental conservation, impacts of climate change amongst other such relevant topics.

All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) is India’s first and only such festival that is aims to marry the idea of conservation and cinema. Jackie Shroff has always been associated with different environmental initiatives and actively participates in plantation drives. He is the ambassador of the festival along with Mrunmayee Deshpande Rao.

Talking about his association, Jackie Shroff says, “ALT EFF is really exciting and I am waiting to see the type of films there are in the festival. Films are such a powerful medium to express your feelings towards the future, for the next generation. It is nice that so many people are thinking alike (about environmental restoration), I am very happy to be part of this team.”

The festival is distinguished by high-quality cinema, created and curated with dedication despite the challenges put forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally, ALT EFF was conceived as a physical festival, but this year, in order to ensure safety for all festival-goers, ALT EFF remains virtual.

Some of the films this year include:

• Moti Bagh
• Ophir
• Youth v Gov
• Sagarputra
• A Viral Spiral
• The Crab Season
• The Pangolin Man
  

Wildlife filmmaker Mike Pandey says festivals like ALT EFF play a crucial role in communicating and sensitizing people, helping them develop a sense of respect for the environment through films. It is what you respect, that you love and protect. He adds, “ALT EFF is a great way to bring environmental issues to the forefront and offer viable solutions. It will motivate and empower us to take the right step and attempt to make a difference to restore the beauty and sustainability of our only home, this planet we call Earth.”

 This year’s edition of ALT EFF also has a new film submission category, a ‘Youth Category’, along with International Feature Films, International Short Films, Indian Feature Films and Indian Short Films. The selections for each of these programs exemplify the tenacity, commitment and hope of the creative community, as the climate emergency looms over us.