TV festival jump on environmental bandwagon

Environmental themes will be incorporated into the ongoing 16th Shanghai Television Festival and the coming 13th Shanghai International Film Festival, officials said yesterday at a press conference to mark the World Oceans Day.

 

June 8 is a time to remember the life-giving role of oceans and encourage people to protect and celebrate seas.

 

For the first time, the organizing committee of the TV and film festivals will collaborate with Prince Albert II of the Monaco Foundation to present a special exhibition of environmental themed TV programs, documentary series and films.

 

During the Shanghai International Film Festival (June 12-20), a few acclaimed documentary films will be shown at local theaters.

 

All of the movies will be screened for the first time in China, such as veteran French director Jacques Perrin\'s latest sea-life documentary, "Oceans" and "Antarctica 2009: A Continent in a State of Alert," which is directed by Prince Albert II of Monaco.

 

In an effort to better understand the issues concerning global warming, the prince visited 26 scientific outposts that are studying climate change on his 17-day trip to Antarctica.

 

Jacques Cluzaud, co-director of "Oceans," will also attend the film\'s special screening at Shanghai Film Art Center on Sunday (June 13).

 

"More Chinese TV and film industry insiders are aware of their responsibility to promote environmental protection concepts on screen," said Tang Lijun, managing director of the Shanghai TV Festival and Shanghai International Film festival.

 

Later this year, Shanghai Media Group\'s International Channel Shanghai (ICS) plans to make an eight-episode program titled "Green City, Green Life." It will focus on the low-carbon economy efforts of cities in China.