Directory of Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers For copies and further information, please contact: CMS ENVIS Centre RESEARCH HOUSE Saket Community Centre, New Delhi 110 017 P: 91 11 2499 2597, 2686 4020, 2652 2244 F: 91 11 2696 8282 Published By: E: [email protected] CMS ENVIS Centre on Environment and Media www.cmsindia.org/cmsenvis Supported by: Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI PUBLICATION SERIES For copies contact CMS Environment RESEARCH HOUSE Saket Community Centre, New Delhi 110 017 P: 91-11-2499 2597, 2686 4020, 2652 2244 F: 91-11-2696 8282 E: [email protected] Disclamer Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this Directory, CMS assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, which arises from the information received from other sources. Neither is any liability for any damage resulting from the use of Information contained herein. Published by CMS ENVIS Centre on Environment and Media, New Delhi With support from Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India CMS ENVIS TEAM Dr. N. Bhaskara Rao, Chairman CMS (Honorary Advisor) Ms. Alka Tomar, ENVIS Co-ordinator Mr. Rohit Singh, Senior Programme Officer Mr. Dipendra Misra, Programme Officer (IT) Rahul Thakur, Programme Officer (Information Management) Mr. Sanjay Negi, Data Entry Operator Design: Ivy’Dsouza E. [email protected] Preface Over the years, media especially Satellite Television has seen unprecedented growth in the country. A whiff of fresh choices greeted Indian viewers in the early 90’s, with multi channel programming becoming a reality. The entry of foreign channels like Discovery, Nat Geo, and Animal planet have carved a new dedicated audience segment for nature and wildlife programming in India, which didn’t exist in the yore. Wildlife and nature programming channels are replete with high budget ‘blue chip’ films running into millions of dollars, mostly showing breathtaking and beautiful visuals of nature and wildlife. They focus only on the most appealing elements of nature and cultures to entice the ‘global’ audience. For a common viewer it is all hunky-dory. The technical razzmatazz and glossy films on nature though look awesome don’t reflect the ‘real’ problems, nor do they address pressing issues let alone match the Indian psyche and context. This is where Indian filmmakers have to make a mark. To raise the levels of awareness, express and bring out hard-hitting environmental programmes and documentaries that reflect the ecological destruction and concerns. It is a sad fact that Indian filmmakers don’t have lavish budgets and time to produce films unlike their western counterparts. India provides a vast mosaic of environmental issues that are challenging and have largely remained unexplored. Environment and wildlife filmmakers work under demanding and at times life threatening situations and terrains, where even basic medical help could be out of reach for many days together. Not just shoestring but ‘shameful’ budgets further exacerbate their plight and waters down the filmmaker’s enthusiasm. Thus the scope for ‘activist films’ needs to be widened further in the country among the Indian filmmakers, through proper institutional support and adequate funding. This Directory is one such effort to promote and encourage Indian filmmakers to produce quality environment, wildlife and conservation film. Indian environment and wildlife documentary filmmakers have made giant strides and have received international recognition in the recent years. There is a need to recognize and institutionalize such documentary films and ventures to promote environmental concern, to sensitize and address the public and policy makers at large. Directory of Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers 2009 First Edition Published By: Abhinandan Sekhri Add: Small Screen, 5/7 Basement, Sarva Priya Vihar New Delhi-110016 P: 91-11-26565305, 26865588 F: 91-11-26868235 M: 91-9811237306 E: [email protected] W: www.small-screen.com Abhinandan Sekhri has worked as a producer, director and correspondent. He has produced and directed several corporate films, public awareness spots (for the Indian Cancer Society), commercial, promos (for Discovery Channel) and programmes for TV News Channel. One of the films directed and scripted by him is “Temples of Water”, a 30-minute documentary film on the issue of water scarcity in Rajasthan for PSBT. He won the Best Travel Documentary award in Spring Fest 2000, eveo.com, San Francisco for his film …….? “Chadar”, a 30 minute English documentary for Doordarshan - I on a winter trade route in the Zanskar valley of Ladakh received a Special Jury Mention at the Okinawa Film Festival, Japan. n 6 Directory of Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers Amar Kanwar Add: A. K. Productions, N -14A, Saket New Delhi P: 91-11-26516088 F: 91-11-26513556 E: [email protected] Amar is an independent documentary filmmaker who has directed over forty documentaries and has consistently worked on issues of health, ecology, philosophy, labour, law, politics, art and education for the last fifteen years. He is a Postgraduate in Mass Communication, Film and Television from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. His documentaries have received several national and international awards and have been widely broadcast and screened. Some of his awarded films are The Many Faces of Madness, which won the Golden Tree Award in “Vatavaran 2002” -In,dia’s First Environment and Wildlife Film Festival. “A Season Outside” won the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco International Documentary Film Festival, 1999 and the Golden Conch (Best Film) Award at the Mumbai International Film Festival, 1998 Golden Orange at the Antalya International Documentary Film Festival-1999, the Pinnacle Award for Best Direction in 1997 and Jury’s Award at Film South Asia, Kathmandu 2001. “King of Dreams” has received the Jury’s award at Film South Asia-Kathmandu, 2002. His films have also been exhibited at the Earth Summit 2002 in South Africa and in DOCUMENTA 11 in Germany. The documentary film “Freedom” has received the Certificate of Merit, Golden Gate Awards at the San Franscisco International Film Festival, 2002, Grand Prix Award at the Enviro Film 2002, Slovak Republic and First Prize at Cinema Ambiente 2002 and Torino International Environment Film Festival, Italy. n Directory of Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers 7 Anand Parmar Add: Anand Films M/2, Vardhman Towers C/o Jabalpur Graphics Russel Crossing, Napier Town Jabalpur, MP P: 91-761-2627967, 5004026 M: 91-9827241188 E: [email protected] Anand Parmar hs been working as an independent filmmaker in the last 4 years. He has produced and directed various commercial films, documentaries on water management, wildlife and animations. He has also produced a film on Rain Water Harvesting in Urban Areas. His first directed film “Ek Aadmi Aur Ek Jungle” participated in Vatavaran 2003 Film Festival. He runs his design studio Jabalpur Graphics creating art works, short animation films, commercial films & advertising. He writes, directs, edits & adds effects to his films. n 8 Directory of Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers Anand Patwardhan Add: 2nd Floor, 27 Lokmanya Tilak Colony Marg -.2 Dadar (East), Mumbai 400014 P: 91-22-24143782, 24102727 F: 91-22-2414 2946 E: [email protected] Documentarist Anand Patwardhan has been making politically engaged documentaries for nearly three decades. He went to study at Brandeis University, Boston after an early involvement with rural education, where he made his first film, “Business as Usual”. He also made a film on J.P. movement in Bihar. During Emergency, Patwardhan secretly made “Prisoners of Conscience’, which was exhibited after democracy was restored. He continues to track urgent social and political transformations in the country, as in “Hamara Shahar”, 1985, on the move to evict Bombay pavement-dwellers; Ram Ke Naam”, 1992 on the Hindutva movement; Pitru, Putra aur Dharamyudh (1994), on the cultural contexts of masculine aggression in the subcontinent. His films, while winning national and international awards have been recurrently confronted with political opposition, such as War and Peace”, which was annulled by the high court and on subjects like the urban homeless “Bombay Our City”, 1985, religious fundamentalism “In the Name of God”, 1992, the connection between machismo and sectarian violence “Father, Son and Holy War”, 1995 and the plight of those displaced in the name of ‘development’ Directory of Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers 9 “A Narmada Diary”, 1995. “War and Peace” a documentary journey of peace activism filmed over three tumultuous years in India, Pakistan, Japan and the USA, has won the Grand Prize, Earth Vision Global Environment Festival -Tokyo, 2002; Best Film, Mumbai International Film Festival, 2002; International Jury Prize, Mumbai International Film Festival, 2002; International Critics Prize (FIPRESCI), Sydney Film Festival, 2002. “In the Name of God”, has also won five awards - two within India (Filmfare Award and the National Award) and three international awards, two from Switzerland and the Citizen’s Prize from Japan. “A Narmada Diary” participated in various film festivals like Earth Vision Global Environmental Film Festival, Tokyo, 1995; Amnesty International Film Fest., Amersterdam, 1996; National Video Fest, Kerala, 1995 and Film South Asia, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1997. This film has received The Golden Award, Earth Vision, Japan, 1995; The Filmfare Critic’s Award for best documentary, 1996 and Second Prize, National Video Fest. Kerala, 1995. n 10 Directory of Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers Anand Syal Add: Doordarshan Kendra Jhalana Institutional Area Jhalana Doongri Jaipur P: 91-11-23711491 Anand Syal, LLB, has done a course in Journalism as IIS Probationer from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi and a diploma in Television Production from Film & Television Institute of India, Pune. Has been working in Media (All India Radio, Information Service & Doordarshan) for last 27 years. Received 1st Prize in DD Awards 2000 –2001 for live coverage of Cultural Evening on Rajasthan Diwas under ‘Best Live Event’ category and for his documentary “Ab Nahin Roothenge Badal” under Environment & Wildlife category.