A daylong film festival by environmental research and advocacy group Toxics Link and Ranchi-based NGO Lok Swar with support from The Swedish Society ForNature Conservation was held in Ranchi on Thursday. The festival aimed to sensitise people towards the critical environmental issues plaguing the world through the power of films.

The transition of a village from hunters of Amur Falcons to becoming their most fervent preservationists, a film on the world of rag pickers and waste dealers in Delhi, a documentary on why underground fires are raging for so many years in and around the township of Jharia in Dhanbad district-all such ecological concerns and challenges were part of the film fiesta.

About a dozen thought-provoking films by renowned Indian environmental filmmakers like S. Nallamuthu, Gautam Pandey, Doel Trivedy, Shri Prakash and Paranjoy Guha Thakurta were screened.

“We have got to play a more proactive role in saving our environment. This film festival is an excellent opportunity for the citizens of Ranchi to be sensitized towards the ecological issues affecting us through the medium of films,” said Satish Sinha, Associate Director of Toxics Link.

The festival was attended by people from all walks of life including students, film lovers, environment enthusiasts and citizens. The carefully handpicked films by and large covered five broad themes-Biodiversity, Sustainability, Livelihood, Survival and Waste and focused upon different issues, regions and struggles to give the audience a better chance to understand and engage with the stark environmental challenges.

"It was considered to be 'fashionable' to talk about environment in the 80s and today, environmental issues are the prime concern. I have witnessed this change, lush green Jharkhand transforming into a concrete jungle. I feel films specially environment-centric documentaries have had an impact.I hope this film festival will raise awareness and take the audience to much deeper understanding of the issues”, stated National-award winning filmmaker Shri Prakash whose film 'Nabikei' (Footprint) was one of the films screened during the festival.