Mediterranean Eco Guardian Award - 4th edition an official event of COP15 - Barcelona Convention 15-18 January 2023 Valletta, MALTA

This Festival celebrates the environment, the sea, the protection of cultural and natural resources and speaks all languages in the world, primarily the emotional and innovative language of cinema.

The past three editions of Mediterranean Eco Guardian Award took place as part of COP 13 which was held in Syracuse, Italy, in 2003; COP 14 in Koper, Slovenia, along with the celebrations for the 30th Anniversary of UNEP/MAP, in 2005; the launch of ECOday - GREENweek in Izmir, Turkey, in conjunction with celebrations for the 30th Anniversary of the Adriatic Agreement in 2006.

This fourth edition, which was held in Valletta (Malta) as an official event of COP 15, featured more than 800 films. Following the selection around 400 works coming from 60 different countries were chosen.

An International Jury chaired by

Marko NOVAK (UNDP Project Manager)

and including

Luca BIANCHI

(WWF Mediterranean)

Emir DURAN

(film producer)

Giulia ROSSI

(RAI Educational)

Carlo FERRARI

(FOTOCult publisher and journalist)

declared the short film section's winners of this fourth edition.

1st prize ex aequo

Vita Aqua

by Marco Bianchi - ITALY

Motivation - The director's ability to be concise, in addition to his clever humor by which he highlighted the impact of our daily actions on the environment.

Synopsis - A careless use of water leads to an unexpected and dramatic outcome.

1st prize ex aequo

Marina Dreams

by Lucia Moretti - ITALY

Motivation - The director's skill in capturing the pure and hopeful words of two children, portraying their vision for a sustainable future.

Synopsis - In the Marina district of Naples, children navigate between dreams and the harsh reality, weaving threads of hope in a struggling community.

2nd place

Metal and Fire

by David Thompson - UK

Motivation - For addressing an essential yet under-discussed human and environmental topic with a minimalist and impactful style.

Synopsis - An immersive look into the life of workers in the shipbreaking yards of Mumbai, India, highlighting the stark contrast between human endeavor and the might of industrial relics.

3rd place

Aqua

by Jasper De Vries - Belgium

Motivation - For creating a visually stunning and emotionally powerful short film that acts as a warning for the future.

Synopsis - A quest for the last drop of water, symbolizing a return to genuine emotions in a world overwhelmed by technology, with humanity losing its connection to nature.

A Special Mention goes to:

Oliver Smith and the Arctic Wanderer

by Emily Johnson - Australia

Motivation - For the inventive and creative approach in addressing a critical issue of our times, urging us to think more sustainably.

Synopsis - Oliver Smith, an ingenious inventor from the Australian outback, finds a penguin in his yard, leading him and his grandson on an adventure to Antarctica, confronting the harsh realities of climate change.

Mediterranean Eco Guardian Award - 4th edition an official event of COP15 - Barcelona Convention 15-18 January 2023 Valletta, MALTA

An International Jury chaired by

and including

declared the short film section's winners of this fourth edition.

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