The Embassy of India for the first time, in coordination with Centre for media Studies, New Delhi, UAE Exchange and Amrita Television network, is organizing an exclusive award winning Indian Environment & Wildlife Film Festival from 28th –30th June 2006 at India Social & Cultural Centre – Cinema Hall in Abu Dhabi.

The festival will showcase quality Indian Environmental Films and provide fresh perspectives on environmental issues. 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.

The three days festival will open on June 28 with the screening of “Miles to go - English”, a film by Award winning director Nina Subramani and produced by Greenpeace India. This is the story of India's forgotten backyards, of people brushed under the carpet of indifference and apathy; a story of individuals fighting all odds for their basic rights - a story of a thousand revolutions in a thousand Bhopal.

The festival will close on June 30 with “The 18th Elephant - 3 Monologues – Malayalam with English subtitles” directed by Shri. P.Balan. ‘The 18th Elephant 3 - Monologues' is a powerful critique of Modern Man's mercenary attitudes towards Nature and his anthropocentric conception of development which has wreaked death & havoc on the life & habitat of other species. The sad plight of the elephant, in both its wild & domesticated states, is used as a powerful example to bring home this point.

To coincide with the festival our media coordinator Amrita TV is pleased to announce the following three awards:(i) Best of Abu Dhabi Vatavaran Environment & Wildlife film festival (ii) Best Public Service Message’ (iii) Best Director, chosen by the audience.

The Inaugural Function of the Festival will be held on the evening of 28th June 2006 at India Social & Cultural Centre at 7.30 pm.