Archived press release

Green ninja or eco-femme fatale? Public asked to vote for best green film

19 September 2007

The public are being called on to choose between polar bears debating climate change and a radical green ninja to decide the winner of Friends of the Earth's One Minute Green Film competition [1]. There's a diverse array of entries- all just 60-seconds long - with potential winners of the "People's Choice Award" also including a sexy green femme fatale and a quirky film about a chair made from recycled human hair. The public voting comes as a high profile professional jury panel, including British film greats Lord David Puttnam and Andrew Macdonald, deliberate the 23 short-listed entries as part of Friends of the Earth's Green Film Festival month.

Andrew Macdonald, whose credits include Trainspotting and 28 Days Later, said:

"There's a really high calibre of entries and the films in Friends of the Earth's competition are incredibly imaginative. The two that stand out for me are Road Trip, about two kids playing the roles of nature and people who are fighting in the back of a car, which is very amusing, along with a British film called cHair which is about a man who thinks fibreglass can be replaced with human hair."

The public voting will close 11.59 pm GMT 30th September 2007.

Vote now >

Professional and amateur film-makers were eligible to enter the one-minute green film competition organised by Friends of the Earth, in participation with Filminute [2] - the international one-minute film festival and competition.

Tony Juniper, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth:

"One-minute green films are a fantastic way to channel some of UK's creative talent into communicating environmental issues. I'm looking forward to seeing which film captures the public imagination."

David Sproxton, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Aardman Animation said:

"Getting a message across succinctly and swiftly is crucial in these fast moving times. Being clear and simple is the way to go especially with important ideas like helping humanity preserve living conditions across the planet."

The panel of expert judges includes:

• Lord Puttnam: Oscar-winning producer and long standing ambassador of commercial British film.

• Andrew Macdonald: Film Producer. Credits include Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, Sunshine and 28 Days Later.

• David Sproxton: Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Aardman Animation, renown for a number of animated films including Chicken Run.

• Dilly Gent: best known for her work as Radiohead's Creative Director. Neil Goodlad: Managing Director of leading advertising agency CHI & Partners James Mullighan: Creative Director of Shooting People - the world's leading community of independent filmmakers

Tony Juniper, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth

The prizes for winning films include:

• Avid Xpress Pro software

• 5 hours free post production* at Smoke and Mirrors (www.smoke-mirrors.com) New or extension of membership with Shooting People (a membership community of over 30,000 independent filmmakers, sharing resources, skills and experience) for all short listed entries.

• An opportunity to shadow the production process*

• 6 month Prince Charles Cinema pass*

• One years subscription to Showreel Magazine - The independent magazine for TV and Film Production

* These prizes are based in London, UK. Any travelling expenses incurred are excluded.

Notes

[1] Friends of the Earth's One Minute Green Film competition

[2] Filminute is the international one-minute film festival that showcases, awards and promotes the best one-minute films from around the world. Each September, shortlisted films compete for the jury-awarded BEST FILMINUTE and the audience-awarded PEOPLE'S CHOICE. Last year's festival generated submissions from 25 countries, and attracted audiences and voters from over 50 countries. Filminute invites all filmmakers, animators, writers, artists, designers, creative directors and producers to visit the Filminute 2007 site.
www.filminute.com

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust