Nearly 250 films from more than 50 countries submitted to the 48th EKOFILM this year

This year's 48th EKOFILM international environmental film festival will offer a cardinal spectacle. A total of 243 documentaries from more than 50 countries have entered the competition. This year, the United States leads the way with 34 entries, followed closely by Germany with 27 films. The Czech Republic is putting forward 20 documentaries. The dramaturgy team will select the 25 most interesting films from all the entries next month to enter the final competition. The oldest environmental film festival in Europe will take place in Brno from 12th to 15th October this year. 

Every year we are delighted with the diversity of the countries represented. As in previous years, there has been a noticeable increase in themes oriented towards social activism, which are addressed by filmmakers across generations. Whether it is an appeal for sustainability,  reconstructions of local disasters caused by corporations, legal responsibility, or insight into the lives of activists, illuminating the motivations and causes that resound through society," Jitka Kotrlová, head of the dramaturgy team, describing this year's edition.

This year, EKOFILM will focus on environmental and climate issues that are topical across Europe. The films will reflect society's challenge to prepare cities and landscapes for changing natural conditions, whether it is about keeping water in the landscape, providing energy and food, or reducing the impact of human activity on the planet. 

From the total of 243 entries lasting 112 hours and 20 minutes, the dramaturgy team led by Jitka Kotrlová will select the 25 best films to compete in three categories - Nature's Beauty, Central European Films and Short Films. The Festival President's Prize and especially the Main Prize of the Festival of the Minister of the Environment will be awarded. Films not only from America but also from Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia will compete for the award. 

We have a very difficult decision to make this year, as there are many quality films submitted, all dealing with important matters, but only 25 can be selected for the main competition. The selection will therefore be determined by the representation of themes that should be related, complementary and offer our audience different perspectives on the issue of personal and social responsibility towards climate and environment," added Kotrlová on behalf of the dramaturgy team.

Filmmakers are also motivated to submit their films to the festival because the winning films will share a monetary prize of approximately USD 3 350 this year.

As every year, the films screened at the festival can also be shown through the EKOFILM Echoes. Interested parties need only send a list of the selected films they wish to screen at their non-commercial screening to ozveny@ekofilm.cz and promote the event under the name "Echoes of EKOFILM". Further conditions and information on Echoes are available on the festival website.

48th IFF EKOFILM is held under the auspices of the Minister of the Environment Anna Hubáčková, Minister for European Affairs Mikuláš Bek, Governor of the South Moravian Region Jan Grolich, Mayor of the Statutory City of Brno Markéta Vaňková, Mayor of the Brno-střed district Vojtěch Mencl, Rector of Masaryk University Martin Bareš and Rector of Mendel University Jan Mareš.