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Films on eco issues at ME film festival

ABU DHABI — A number of films on environmental issues would be screened at the Middle East International Film Festival (MEIFF), as part of a special programme dedicated to protecting the environment.

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), the festival's main organiser, decided to give the big screen an extra role to create the much-needed awareness and initiate actions for the benefit of the environment.

According to Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Director-General of ADACH and vice-president of MEIFF, filmmakers and environmentalists from around the world would join forces during the festival in the ultimate bid of saving the planet. "The world is facing a difficult task in its quest to protect the environment and biological diversity from climate change and increased pollution," said Al Mazrouei recently.

"UN reports confirm that our planet is currently facing its most severe wave of plant and animal life extinction, with one species being totally extinct approximately every 20 minutes," he further stressed.

The MEIFF's competitions, with the deadline for applications for entry fixed on August 10, include all types of long and short films, with a special category for students. This year, the festival is extended to 10 days, from October 10 to October 19.

It will include several new features: a competition for advertising films; the "Festival of Festivals", a selection of movies screened at various festivals around the world; and Abu Dhabi's Emirates Film Competition which, from now on, will be incorporated into the MEIFF. The environmental films in the festival will not be part of the competition but presented as an adjacent programme.

• UAE