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Celebrating its 12th year, the opening night of the Sustainable Living Film Festival 2019 was held on November 20 at Salt Galata and well attended by supporters, relevant institutions, NGO representatives and researchers, professionals and artists who work on sustainability.
After an introduction of the SLFF2019 selection of films, co-founder Tuna Özçuhadar gave an opening speech and stated that the festival has been constantly evolving and came to offer a more impact-oriented approach today. He added that the festival crew created a selection that aims to create change in society, to inspire and mobilize individuals so that they can make a difference.
Kristian Brakel, the Turkey representative of Henrich Böll Stiftung, which has been supporting the festival for the last 8 years, gave a short speech stating that they are very happy to support a festival that focuses on solutions and gives hope. He commented that the films in the selection offer inspiration with smart solutions and he hopes that we will have found solutions to many problems when we meet again for next year’s festival.
Sukhrob Khojimatov, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Turkey, which is among the supporters of the festival, stated that Sustainable Living Film Festival actively supports Sustainable Development Goals. He commented that the attention and participation that the festival receives is very pleasing, and that the selection of films point towards how to overcome big problems and give inspiration. He reminded that we do not have another planet Earth and therefore no Plan B and we have to work together to make Plan A work.
The event included the screening of The Man of The Trees by Andrea Trivero, a 19 minute long hope-filled story about Daniel Balima from Burkina Faso who gave life to more than a million trees in the last 50 years of his life and wishes to plant another million.
For more details on the festival and its program: www.surdurulebiliryasam.org