Jackie Shroff, the Indian actor who has appeared in films in 13 different languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali, has been roped in as a goodwill ambassador for the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF).
The second edition of the film festival will take place from October 9 to October 17 in Maharashtra’s Panchgani, but will be streamed virtually.
Aiming to create marry the idea of conservation and cinema, ALT EFF is India’s first and only such festival that is dedicated solely to cinema creating and stirring a conversation on environmental conservation, impacts of climate change, and other such relevant topics, as per a press statement. It was established to bring people together through art and raise awareness about issues related to the climate justice movement, the statement added.
In this year’s edition, the festival features 44 films, representing a total of 31 countries, out of which 33 films will have their Indian premieres at ALT EFF.
Besides Shroff, who has pledged to bring awareness to the cause through the medium of cinema and its various formats, Hindi and Marathi actor Mrunmayee Deshpande Rao is also associated with the festival.
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In a statement, Shroff said, “ALT EFF is really exciting and I am waiting to see what type of films are at the festival. Films are such a powerful medium to express your feelings for the future, for the next generation. It is nice that so many people are thinking alike (about environmental restoration). I am very happy to be part of this team. Good luck to the team at ALT EFF and the filmmakers that will be able to showcase their feelings through their art.”
Regarding the films that are part of the festival, one of the co-founders Marie Luise Schega said, “Many of the stories told in the films we’ve chosen seem complex, some polarising, which is reflective of the environmental crises at large. Yet, as the credits roll and the screen turns black, we wish for viewers to simply look up, explore their own environments and ask themselves: Where can I make a difference in my community?”