Permanent Mission of India
Geneva

Press Release

Screening of “Interactions, When Cinema Looks To Nature”
at Geneva Graduate Institute on Wednesday 22 March 2023

1. As part of the celebrations of 75 years of India’s independence, the Permanent Mission of India and the Consulate General of India collaborated with ‘ART for the World’ to organise a special screening at the Geneva Graduate Institute of Interactions, When Cinema Looks To Nature, an anthology of 12 original short films from India, Switzerland, US, Italy, France, Brazil, Greece, Mexico, Morocco and Burkina Faso, produced under the auspices of the UN Conference on Biodiversity and the World Academy of Art and Science.

2.The audience of over 200, including Permanent Representatives and delegates to the UN and other members of the diplomatic corps, students, and film aficionados, were deeply appreciative of the creativity, sensitivity and range of stories told by the 12 renowned international filmmakers, including Mr. Nila Madhab Panda from India, tied together by the exploration of connections between humans and nature through themes of biodiversity, conservation, deforestation, health, marine life, species extinction, water and more.

3.Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative of India to the UN in Geneva, welcomed the audience, along with Mr. Michael Moller, Honorary President, ART for the World, and Mr. Daniel Maselli, Senior Policy Advisor, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Ambassador Pandey spoke of the Indian cultural heritage and practices of preserving and protecting the environment, India’s civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or ‘the world is one family’ as also reflected in India’s G20 Presidency theme of ‘One Earth. One Family. One Future’ and Mission LiFE or ‘lifestyle for environment’. Recalling The Elephant Whisperers, an Indian short documentary that won the 2023 Academy Award, Ambassador Pandey spoke of the importance of cinema in India as an effective vehicle for social messaging.

4.The anthology’s Indian film, made by National Award-winning director and Padmashri awardee Mr. Nila Madhab Panda, told the true story of a village in Kerala that chose to give up its ancestral lands to make way for an elephant corridor, recognising and respecting the need for humans and animals to co-exist. Both the film’s theme and its execution were very well received, with the audience appreciating the generosity of spirit and emotions portrayed in it. Participating in a panel discussion with Ms. Adelina von Furstenberg, President a.i., ART for the World, and moderated by Mr. Bill Adams of the Centre for International Environment Studies, Geneva Graduate Institute, Mr. Panda highlighted the Indian cultural ethos of respect and care for nature and animals, also reflected in the traditions of worshipping nature and animals.

Geneva, 23rd March 2023