Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – October 10, 2024: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi is excited to announce the fourth edition of, in collaboration with The Arts Center at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). Set to take place from October 25 to 27, 2024, this year’s festival will be centered around the theme “All Living Beings.”
Held at The Arts Center at NYUAD, this year’s festival will explore the intricate interconnectedness of all living beings, emphasising the vital relationships between humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. Through a carefully curated selection of films, discussions, and interactive events, the festival aims to foster environmental consciousness and inspire community engagement.
“Human well-being is deeply intertwined with the environment, climate, and other species on our planet. This year, the theme of the festival “All Living Beings” highlights the crucial interdependence among all of Earth’s inhabitants. It underscores our responsibility as the more advanced species to safeguard these creatures and their habitats. The Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival is set to bring these global environmental issues into focus, making them more tangible and immediate for our audience in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE. We hope the films we will screen will connect with our audiences and appeal to their sense of empathy and responsibility.” said Dr Nezar Andary, the festival’s artistic director.
The festival will showcase exceptional environmental cinema and artistic achievements and act as a platform for engaging the Abu Dhabi community on local environmental challenges. Attendees can look forward to thought-provoking documentaries, narrative films, and panel discussions featuring experts in environmental science and filmmaking.
“Through the power of film and engaging activities, we strive to inspire audiences to connect with and address environmental challenges in new and meaningful ways.” Andary concluded.
Expanded Outreach and Engaging Activities
In addition to the main festival, Al Sidr will embark on a special road trip, bringing films to schools across Abu Dhabi to engage and inspire students directly. This initiative is part of a broader outreach effort to foster environmental awareness among the UAE youths.
Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of the Environmental Information, Science and Awareness Department at EAD, said: “The festival aligns closely with the UAE’s national agenda, particularly as the Year of Sustainability continues in 2024. It highlights the UAE’s ongoing commitment to environmental preservation and its role as a leader in sustainable initiatives. By highlighting local and global environmental challenges through the art of cinema, the Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival reinforces the importance of sustainability as a national priority and helps to amplify the UAE’s dedication to building a greener future for generations to come.”
This year’s selection of films features a wider range of genres, from animation to fiction films, tailor-picked to appeal to UAE’s younger generation and the future protectors of Earth and its fragile ecosystems.
The festival has embarked on a new collaboration with UAE-based collective Climate Tribe. Lead by Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Climate Tribe is a social enterprise inspiring climate action through dynamic storytelling of Emirati and UAE residents.
The festival’s fourth edition is also collaborating with Lebanon’s Reef Film Festival (REEF), an association that brings environmentalists, artists and filmmakers. Both Climate Tribe and Reef have donated films to the Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival.
In addition to the main festival, Baharoon highlighted that a select number of the festival’s films will be showcased in several schools across Abu Dhabi to engage and inspire students and the country’s youth to promote environmental awareness.
The festival will feature a range of enriching activities, from Kayaking for Conservation in collaboration with Emirates Wildlife – EWWF, to a Public Panel with the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi at The Arts Center at NYUAD. The panel will include Dr. Peter C. Kjærgaard, Director, Prof. Phil Manning, Director of Science, Ms. Sara Almarzooqi, Assistant Curator, Dr. Mark Beech, Curatorial and Scientific Lead, and Dr. Brigitte Howarth, Curator of Entomology, discussing key environmental issues tied to the museum’s work and the festival’s conservation themes.
A second panel will delve into the UAE’s marine biodiversity featuring influential speakers and experts who have been working for over 15 years on marine biodiversity conservation and protecting endangered species. Speakers include Dr Himansu Das, Unit Head, Marine Endangered Species and Habitats and Dr Hind Al Ameri, Marine Conservation Scientist.
A special exhibition, created in collaboration with Camilla Singh and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, will also be held at The Arts Center at NYUAD. Titled “The Conservatory for Plant Kingdom Obesity, the exhibition provides an immersive environmental installation that invites the audience to walk through a garden pathway that symbolises the interconnectedness between humans and nature, and the mutual effects of their actions.
The Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival is made possible through the support of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Zayed University, The Arts Center at New York University Abu Dhabi, and other dedicated partners and sponsors.
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About Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) was established in 1996 and is committed to protecting and enhancing air quality, groundwater as well as biodiversity throughout the desert and marine ecosystem. By partnering with other government entities, the private sector, NGOs and global environmental agencies, they embrace international best practice, innovation and hard work to institute effective policy measures. EAD’s aim is to raise environmental awareness, facilitate sustainable development and ensure environmental issues remain one of the top priorities of national agenda.
About NYU Abu Dhabi
NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and research campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective program with majors in the sciences, engineering, social sciences, arts, and humanities with a world center for advanced research. Its campus enables students to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world, and to advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from some 125 countries and speak over 100 languages. Together, NYU’s campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.
About The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
http://www.nyuad-artscenter.org
Presenting music, theater, dance, film and interdisciplinary performances that defy definition, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi is a performing arts center that presents distinguished professional artists from around the world alongside student, faculty, and community productions. The Arts Center draws on the resources of NYUAD to create a dynamic space for research, investigation, and the active pursuit of knowledge and wisdom for audiences as well as visiting artists. The Arts Center is proudly supported by Mubadala.
