The Wetlands for LiFE Film Festival, launched on 02 February 2024 by Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, used visual storytelling via a multi-stakeholder platform to advocate for wetland conservation.
With chapters in Indore, Lucknow, and Shimla, the festival attracted filmmakers, political representatives, wetland experts, and audiences from schools, universities, and civil society. It featured film screenings, discussions, workshops, quizzes and painting contests. The festival culminated in New Delhi from 3-5 October 2024, inaugurated by MoEF&CC officials, and showcased six participatory short films, 100+ artworks, and panel discussions with journalists, filmmakers, and students.
The initiative reached over 3,000 participants, trained 168 in mobile journalism, and engaged 55,000 people digitally. Additionally, 400 Wetland Mitrās (Friends of Wetlands) were established to drive local conservation efforts, highlighting the role of communities in preserving biodiversity. Organised in cooperation with the Centre for Media Studies and MoEF&CC, this festival underscores the power of community involvement in ecosystem conservation, and how these spaces can be utilised for long-term citizen engagement and awareness.
Date
3-5 October
Location
New Delhi
Link to further materials
https://indo-germanbiodiversity.com/pdf/publication/publication21-10-2024-1729500051.pdf
Contact Person
Name: Kirtiman Awasthi
Email: kirtiman.awasthi@giz.de
Position: Senior Advisor and Team Leader
Project name: Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection
