MEIFF 2008 spearheads the start of several new environmental initiatives

Films have the power to rouse audiences to take action and make a difference in their communities. The Environmental Film section, added to this year's MEIFF, showcased films that focus on the environment and humanity's place in the world touching on subjects such as water, whales, Lyme disease and the UAE's own endangered Oryx.

During the ten days of the Festival, a number of initiatives were launched, one of the most important being the $100m partnership between Imagenation Abu Dhabi and National Geographic Entertainment to finance production of 10 to 15 films over the next five years that will deal with people's relationship to the world, their environment and encourage different cultures to come together.

One of the UAE's leading philanthropic organizations, the Emirates Foundation, is also creating new initiatives and has announced the launch of a new annual award scheme to encourage environmental filmmakers, writers and radio professionals. The Green Awareness in the Media Awards 2008' (GAMAs) will offer a prize fund for the best idea or ideas which raise awareness of the UAE's most pressing environmental challenges.

MEIFF 2008's section dedicated to environmental films was inspired by Abu Dhabi's dedication to preserving the environment and its wildlife. The section was built in conjunction with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), in order to highlight Abu Dhabi's aim at being at the forefront of environmental issues and development and held in conjunction with Wildscreen, a UK charity dedicated to promoting endangered species through film and still images.

MEIFF's ten action-packed days of cinema, with 152 movies and 186 screenings shown in five Abu Dhabi venues culminated with the Black Pearl Awards. A total of 76 feature films and 34 short films from over 35 countries competed for the MEIFF 2008 Black Pearl Awards with the environmental film, Saving Luna (Canada) directed by Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit, winning the Black Pearl Audience Choice Award.

MEIFF, held in Abu Dhabi, is an annual event and a project of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH). The Festival is a cultural event dedicated to bringing a diverse slate of international films and programs to the community and introducing filmmakers from around the world to the resources of the region.