CHERISH THE EARTH
THE NATURE RESERVES PROTECTS YOU TOO
Italy - 3’27
SYNOPSIS
Every Species That Becomes Extincted Accelerates The Extinction Of All Other Species. Biodiversity is the "life insurance" of our planet and all of us. Therefore, protecting a small patch of territory such as the Alberoni Dunes or the Venice Lagoon does not only have a local value, but plays a part in preserving life on earth.
CREDITS
Director: Piero Fontana
Soundtrack: Maurizio Piccoli
Voice Off: Mariapia Colonnello
Scientific Consultant: Paolo Perlasca
United States - 12’12
SYNOPSIS
Florida coral rescue… an unprecedented expedition into the unknown… a disease called stony coral tissue loss was sweeping across florida’s coral reef. A team of scientists descended on the marquesas in the dry tortugas to rescue and create gene bank for future coral restoration efforts… were they too late? The inspiring story of risk…rescue and restoration.
CREDITS
Director: Michael Alexander Zimmer
Writer: Marina Angleton
Producers: Michael Alexander Zimmer, Marina Angleton
ABOUT
Michael Zimmer has produced numerous programs for Peacock Productions, NBC’s International production company, Fox Sports, the Today show and the Discovery Network.
He created the Oceans to Everglades program for Super Bowl LIV. His environmental efforts for NFL Green was one of the largest in Super Bowl history. He is most proud of the legacy project for Super Bowl 54 call the “100 yards of hope”. He teamed with Force Blue, the University of Miami, Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection and the Frost Museum to plant 100 Corals off of Key Biscayne Florida in honor of the NFL’s 100 year anniversary.
An avid outdoorsman, he served as Chairman of the Coral Restoration Foundation dedicating his passion for our coral reefs. He was born and raised in Miami and is a Florida State University graduate with a Bachelor degree with Communications.
Turkey - 5’
SYNOPSIS
Ada; She is a little girl living in a dry village where it has not rained for a long time. Ada's family is considering leaving the village if the thirst continues. Ada is very upset about this and wants to tell us about her village with her camera. She goes to a lake that used to be full of water and visits the island named after her. But she sees that the lake is completely dry, the soil is cracked and there is no water left in it.
CREDITS
Director, Writer and Producer: Mahmut TaÅŸ
Key Cast: Ada TaÅŸ
ABOUT
Mahmut TaÅŸ passion for cinema from a young age led him to write screenplays and shoot films.
In this context, he received various cinema trainings and film shooting techniques trainings from private courses between 2015-2018. He received training in screenwriting techniques between 2018-2019. He shot his first short film PAÄ°N in June 2018.
In 2019, he released his film e-HAPPINESS. It was included in the official selections of 15 festivals. In 2021, he shot and completed his short film THE RETURN, a joint production of Turkey and Uzbekistan, in Uzbekistan.
Again in 2021, he completed his film CRACKED. With this film about drought, he was officially selected in nearly 300 festivals worldwide and received awards from nearly 50 festivals. The festival process is ongoing. In 2022, he was an actor and assistant director in the Antalya Kaleiçi documentary, shot with the contributions of the Antalya Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate. In early 2024, he released the documentary THE ISLAND, which he wrote and directed. Since January 2024, he has participated in 90 festivals, won 16 awards, and the festival process is ongoing.
DIRECTOR STATEMENT
One of the biggest problems of our age is climate change and drought. I am a Father. I worry that my children and future generations will suffer from thirst. People need to be aware of this global drought. In this movie, my own daughter, 4-year-old ADA, played. We showed how a place that used to be a lake has now dried up and huge cracks have formed. Our goal is to raise awareness among people and we must start fighting drought before it is too late.
United States - 25’3
SYNOPSIS
Small Is Beautiful explores the challenges facing a small rural community waging a fierce battle against a massive development project threatening to engulf a wildlife sanctuary and a community’s way of life.
Set against the backdrop of California’s increasing wildfire risks, the documentary highlights the precarious balance between urban expansion and environmental preservation. As climate change intensifies fire seasons, this rural community finds itself not only fighting to protect its natural heritage but also grappling with the potential catastrophic consequences of introducing large-scale development into a fire-prone landscape.
CREDITS
Director, Writer and Producer: Carolyn M. Scott
Producer and Cinematographer: Gary D. Liess
Editor: Carly Miller
Music: Carly Miller
ABOUT
Carolyn M. Scott is an Emmy nominated, award-winning filmmaker, visual storyteller, creative director and environmental educator with more than 25 years in education, environmental and film endeavors. Ms. Scott won the prestigious Roy W. Dean Writer’s Grant; and wrote, directed and produced the Emmy nominated documentary film Texas Gold, screened at 30+ film festivals worldwide. Acquired by Sundance Channel, PBS Emmy winning Series Natural Heroes, FSTV and Link TV. The film has won Best Documentary and Best Of Fest awards at several renowned film festivals.
DIRECTOR STATEMENT
As a filmmaker, my journey has been one of intertwining passions: film, theater, environmental advocacy, and visual storytelling. With over 25 years dedicated to these endeavors, each project has been an opportunity to engage audiences, provoke thought, and inspire action.
My Emmy-nominated documentary, "TEXAS GOLD," was not merely a film but a call to arms, a testament to the power of storytelling to ignite change.
In addition to "TEXAS GOLD," my short film "ROUNDUP WINE" has also resonated with audiences, earning accolades such as the Audience Award at the Florida Animation Film Festival and selection at numerous prestigious festivals. Through these works, I've sought to shed light on pressing environmental issues, to spark conversations, and to empower individuals to be agents of change.
Beyond filmmaking, my involvement in initiatives like Cool Planet Labs reflects my belief in the power of collective action. As a founding partner, I am committed to leveraging technology and creativity to mobilize communities around climate solutions. This work is not just about raising awareness but about catalyzing tangible, meaningful change.
As a recipient of the National Women’s History Project's Women Taking the Lead To Save The Planet! award, I stand alongside esteemed environmentalists like Jane Goodall and Rachel Carson, driven by a shared determination to safeguard our planet for future generations. It is an honor and a responsibility that I carry with me in every project I undertake.
In each film, in each initiative, I strive to harness the power of storytelling to inform, to inspire, and to incite action. Through the lens of my camera, I aim to capture not just the beauty of our world but also the urgency of its challenges and the potential of collective action. It is my hope that each frame, each narrative, serves as a catalyst for change, igniting a spark that grows into a flame of transformation.
Belgium - 13’14
SYNOPSIS
Driven by a determination to combat desertification—a crisis predicted to claim 90% of the planet's land by 2050— landscape architect Louis De Jaeger embarks on a 7-year mission to transform a dune into a food forest.
The documentary captures the grit and ingenuity required to regenerate soil and create sustainable ecosystems. Through innovative techniques like nutrient recycling, composting, and using "weeds" as free fertilizers, Louis turns infertile sand into rich, organic soil, supporting a productive food forest.
CREDITS
Director and Writer: Liener Van Hauwaert
Key Cast: Louis De Jaeger
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ABOUT
Liener Van Hauwaert is a Belgian filmmaker and environmental innovator passionate about telling stories that inspire change and action.
Combining a background in visual storytelling with hands-on experience in sustainable practices, Liener’s work focuses on the intersection of humanity and the environment.
DIRECTOR STATEMENT
As a filmmaker and environmentalist, I believe in the power of storytelling to ignite change and inspire action. Dune Forest is more than just a film—it's a testament to the resilience of both nature and human determination.
This project taught me that regeneration is possible, even in the most unlikely places, and that hope often begins with a single step.
My goal with this film is to share that journey and encourage others to see challenges not as barriers but as opportunities to create something transformative.
Through Dune Forest, I want to remind audiences that the smallest actions can lead to profound impact when fueled by persistence and care for the planet.
YOUTH REVELATION FICTION
Portugal - 5’ 14’ - 15-17 -years-old
SYNOPSIS
A typical day for a 16-year-old Constance: school, scrolling on the phone, homework... What will the world be like when she wakes up 25 years later?
CREDITS
Director, Writer, Producer and Editor: Masha Gorkova
First-time Filmmaker
Key Cast: Darya Gorkova, Masha Gorkova
Cinematographer: Masha Gorkova
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ABOUT
Masha Gorkova was born in 2008 in Southern Ukraine. After the start of the war, she relocated to Portugal. Masha has participated as a jury member for the European Film Academy Young Audience Award 2024 and took part of the Junior Jury at the PLAY Film Festival 2025. Mudanças (Changes) is her debut short film
Portugal - 20’ - 12-14-years-old
SYNOPSIS
Four women on a "Real Housewives" show discover that it isn't real - it's actually a twisted simulation. They must escape before the season finale or the consequences could be fatal.
CREDITS
Director and Producer: Bianca Ohenewa Ashong
Writers: Bianca Ohenewa Ashong, Aria Kordai Ashong
Key Cast: Bianca Ohenewa Ashong, Aria Kordai Ashong, Bianca Ohenewa Ashong
ABOUT
14-year-old Bianca Ashong is a rising filmmaker and tennis player who has lived in the US, Mauritius, Dubai, and Lisbon with her parents and her little sister, Aria, now 12. They are avid film buffs with a penchant for heist movies, period pieces and sci-fi.