„A picture is worth a thousand words“, said Esther Yazzie-Lewis, director of the Diné Spiritual Land Recovery Project and spokesperson for the Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum (SIUF) after participating the International Uranium Film Festival (IUFF) in Window Rock Navajo Nation Museum December 2 to 4. It was the first time that the Brazilian born film festival came to the United States and to the Navajo nation. Between Nov 27 and Dec 4th the IUFF was held in Albuquerque Guild Cinema, in the Center For Contemporary Arts Cinemateque in Santa Fe and finally in Window Rock. About 40 films from 15 countries which explore not only this radioactive and toxic element called “uranium”, but nuclear practices as well were shown. Many of the festival´s important documentaries and movies were films about uranium mining an indigenous lands, about nuclear waste or about the Fukushima nuclear accident that people cannot see yet on public television.
„Thank you for all your work to bring these important films to the Southwest and the world! The films connect the nuclear power issues with nuclear weapons issues. They clearly demonstrate the extent governments around the world use humans and all of creation, military personnel, independent businesses, and our souls, to further the nuclear cycle. I was particularly moved by Abita, an animated short film about the children from Fukushima who can’t play outside anymore because their neighborhood and playing grounds are highly contaminated with radioactivity. Seeing the imagination of the young girl as she turned into a dragonfly and flew around the playing grounds was moving. But seeing how her imagination changed after Fukushima was tragic“, said Joni Arends, Executive Director Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (CCNS)
„What a great event“, said Gary Bodman for the New Mexico Science Teachers Association
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„Thank you all on behalf of Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, for the honor of supporting this important work. Yes there is so much more to do, and we will continue to work together in solidarity and respect. We look forward to further advancing this collective work for the well being of our Peoples, homelands, cultures and generations to come“, said Tia Oros Peters, the Executive Director Seventh Generation Fund.
„The Santa Fe Art Institute is proud to support The International Uranium Film Festival. The festival aims to raise awareness about everything from Nuclear power to the health effects of radiation.“ Santa Fe Art Institute, http://sfaiblog.org/2013/11/29/the-international-uranium-film-festival/
The IUFF-Team thanks all its supporters in the USA and Brazil, especially Heinrich Böll Foundation North-America, the Seventh Generation Fund, the Santa Fe Art Institute and the Foundation for science and education of the State of Rio de Janeiro FAETEC.
The IUFF is an independent film festival and need your support to continue its important work. Help to bring independent uranium & nuclear films to the wide screen throughout the world.
Next International Uranium Film Festivals are planned in Washington DC, Goethe-Institute (February 10 to February 12) and in New York City in the Pavilion Theater Brooklyn (February 14 to 18).
More Information: info@uraniumfilmfestival.org
Festival website: www.uraniumfilmfestival.org
Information for filmmakers and producers: The film entry for the next, the 4th International Uranium Film Festival of Rio de Janeiro in the Cinemateque of Rio de Janeiro´s Modern Art Museum scheduled for May 2014 is still open until January 31, 2014. Filmmakers can submit a DVD with your film and compete for the Festival´s „Yellow Oscar“. Good luck!
Film Entry Address
Uranium Film Festival
Rua Monte Alegre , 356/301
Santa Teresa Rio de Janeiro / RJ
CEP 20240-190
Brazil
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International Uranium film festival was in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Window Rock: Next stops Washington DC and NYCBrooklyn February 10 to 18 – http://www.paviliontheater.com/index.cfm?p=content&id=Uranium+Film+Festival+2014+Feb+14+to+Feb+18+