Finalist Award for Best Documentary Announced at 2023 Student World Impact Film Festival

The Planetary Health Film Lab (PHFL) was nominated, and won, a Finalist Award (2nd place) for a documentary titled, “Planetary Health Film Lab – Ecuador Edition” at the Student World Impact Film Festival (SWIFF). SWIFF is an international film festival that received over 13,000 entries from 120 countries. The film comprised of a compilation of content from Ecuador and won in the Best Documentary Film category.

The 2022 edition of the Planetary Health Film Lab offered 16 Indigenous youth from Ecuador with a story to tell about climate change and health to tell it through film. Their films were produced in the Indigenous languages of Kichwa and Shúar.

Festival Director Mark Leschinsky shared some the judges comments on the film:

• “A triumph of visual storytelling, guided by the director’s visionary approach and creative vision.”

• “The visual composition is exquisite, with each frame thoughtfully crafted to create a visually captivating experience.”

• “A beautifully crafted film that pays homage to the art of storytelling, leaving viewers inspired and uplifted.”

Dahdaleh research fellow Mark Terry is the co-lead of the Planetary Health Film Lab. He commented: “I am very proud of our Planetary Health Film Lab participants for this recognition. Many of our young participants had never held a camera before yet their storytelling skills came shining through this new technology for them. I am pleased the jury was inspired by their films.”

Look out for more exciting new films from the PHFL Workshop taking place in Belize at the end of summer!

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