MIFF 2012 opens in Mumbai with a package of 101 best documentary and short films;
Environmental film maker Mike Pandey honoured with
V Shantaram Life time Achievement Award ;
Mumbai : February 3, 2012
India’s veteran environmental film maker Mike Pandey has been honoured with the prestigious V Shantaram Life Time Achievement Award of the Mumbai International Film Festival – MIFF 2012. The award carries a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs. (Rs 500,000)
Instituted in 1996 in memory of India’s foremost film maker V Shantaram, the Life Time Achievement Award aims to recognize the multi-faceted contributions of an Indian for the documentary film movement.
The Award was presented to Mr. Mike Pandey by the Governor of Maharashtra, Mr. K Sankaranarayanan in the presence of Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Mr. Chaudhury Mohan Jathua, veteran film historian Ms. Vijaya Mulay and popular Marathi actor Ms. Amrutha Khanvilkar.
MIFF 2012 – What is in store?
MIFF 2012, will showcase more than 101 documentary, short and animation films from 37 countries. 22 Awards including the Golden Conch Award for best films in International Competition, Indian Competition, best fiction, best animation films, will be given away.
World renowned film maker John Bradbury of Australia, Japanese animation director/producer Sayoko Kinoshita, Austrian cinematographer and Director Michael Glawogger, Bulgarian film maker Adela Peeva, Irish film maker Stefanie Dinkelbach, acclaimed film maker Kumar Shahni are attending the week long event taking place at NCPA, Nariman Point from February 3-9.
About Mike Pandey
Mike Pandey is one of India's foremost wildlife and environmental filmmakers with over 300 national and international awards. Several of his films, such as Shores of Silence, The Last Migration, Broken Wings and The Timeless Traveller, to name a few, have been directly instrumental in bringing about legislative changes to protect species such as whale sharks, elephants, vultures and horse-shoe crabs.
The Delhi based film maker Mike Pandey was born in Kenya and trained and educated in the UK and the USA.
In 1994, he became the first Asian producer / director to win a Wildscreen Panda Award, also known as the Green Oscar, for his film The Last Migration - Wild Elephant Capture in Sarguja.
In 2000, his film Shores of Silence - Whale Sharks in India, won a ‘Green Oscar' for the second time. The film also led to the ban on the killing of whale sharks on Indian shores. This film has also won a National Award for Best Film in the "Exploration & Adventure" Category, 2005.
On October 2004, he did India proud once again by winning a Panda Award for the Third time for his film Vanishing Giants - a story of his passion and involvement with elephants. This film also led to the ban of cruel and outdated techniques of elephant capture in India.
The prestigious United Nations International Award For Outstanding Achievement In Global Conservation, the Prthvi Ratna was awarded to Mike at the Vatavaran Film Festival in November 2003, for his outstanding contribution towards generating awareness, which led to the conservation of a global heritage - the Whale Shark.
Mike Pandey’s Riverbank Studios has produced some of India's most popular programmes like Earth Matters, aired on Doordarshan national network for 13 years, so far reaching over 800 million viewers .
With over three decades of filmmaking experience Mike Pandey has produced over 600 films. His powerful films are living proof of the difference a film can make in bringing about changes locally, nationally and globally.
In recognition of this fact, the Mumbai International Film Festival is proud to honour him with the prestigious V Shantaram Life Time Achievement Award.
V SHANTARAM LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
C I T A T I O N
Shri Mike Pandey, the iconic nature and wild life filmmaker is internationally renowned for his pioneering conservation work. With over 35 years of relentless contribution towards protecting our Earth, his single minded dedication led to the protection of several endangered species from extinction.
A three time Green Oscar winner, Shri Mike Pandey, through his powerful films, commitment and dedication has been able to create awareness both at the grass roots and impressed policy makers nationally and internationally, leading to legislative changes in many countries including India.
For his singular dedication and exceptional contribution to the conservation of wild life and environment through his path breaking documentaries, the Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2012 is conferred on Shri Make Pandey.
Bamboo Symphony – where there is a message in the music
Mumbai : February 3, 2012
Bamboo Symphony – ‘Mula Paadum Ravu’ the cultural attraction of the MIFF 2012 opening ceremony is a unique Indian Folklore Fusion, founded by Unnikrishna Pakkanar of Thrissur, Kerala. It is based on the principle that music has its origin in nature and hence there is a need to develop an art form that is eco-friendly.
Most of the modern day musical instruments are not bio-degradable. But the musical instruments used in Bamboo Symphony are all made of natural material like bamboo or reed.
The symphony derives its inspiration from the natural music produced by bamboo clusters singing and dancing in rain and wind.
Mula Puadam Ravu conveys the role and message of bamboo and motivates people to conserve forest and environment.
There is a message in the music.
