Press Release  

7th International Wildlife Film Festival GREEN SCREEN                                         from September 5th to 9th in Eckernfoerde
Meeting Point for Nature Lovers and International Professional Filmmakers  

Eckernförde, August 13, 2013. The International Wildlife Film Festival Green Screen will take place for the seventh time in Eckernförde this year. We are again expecting more than 12000 enthusiastic nature-loving visitors, among them also 3000 school children from Schleswig-Holstein, all ready to become inspired by nature and wildlife films from all over the world. Green Screen has confirmed its position as the largest wildlife film festival in Germany and is the most well-attended by the non-professional public in Europe. At the opening ceremony on September 5th, Schleswig-Holstein's minister for cultural affairs, Anke Spoorendonk, will welcome the guests.  
Green Screen has made Schleswig-Holstein a meeting point for filmmakers from all over the world. During the days of the festival, Eckernfoerde takes on an international flair, attracting more filmmakers each year, for example from Japan, the United States, India and also from numerous European countries. For the professionals, the direct exchange with the audience is a valuable experience. Often, the discussion with the viewers lasts longer than the film itself. 
For filmmakers, producers and TV-station representatives in charge of scheduling, Green Screen has gained the reputation of a first-choice location and plat- form for sharing expertise. For these guests, the festival offers several high-profile workshops, including seminars with internationally recognised filmmakers.  
The GREEN SCREEN trophies are coveted prizes. At the gala evening on September 7th, several hundred guests are expected to attend the awards ceremony at Gut Altenhof near Eckernfoerde. Among the prestigious prizes: the Heinz Sielmann Award endowed with 5000 Euros and donated by Inge Sielmann. 
More than 200 nature and wildlife films from 35 countries were submitted to the 7th festival, among them entries from Burma, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka. Three wildlife film productions were submitted by the renowned BBC. The large number of entries underlines the significance which Green Screen has gained in the international field of wildlife film.
A programme jury composed of filmmakers, scientists and journalists has selected approximately 100 superb productions to be screened in Eckernfoerde from September 5th to 9th, including worldwide and national premieres. The Green Screen awards will be presented in 14 categories, spanning from the best film to the best cinematography and the best ecological film. Furthermore, there will be two audience awards.
On a yearly basis, GREEN SCREEN holds film camps for adolescents at Schleswig-Holstein's Eekholt wilderness park. Earlier this year, many youths participated in a camp during Easter vacation. Three additional one-week film seminars took place during the summer holidays. Here, they learned all about the basics of filmmaking, from writing the story to shooting footage until finally editing the material. The workshops are accompanied by environmental educators and headed by Dieter Hoese, who was the long-time cinematographer for wildlife film pioneer Heinz Sielmann. According to Hoese: ”Children and adolescents are tomorrow's conservationists”.
Even before the festival begins, Green Screen is active in Schleswig-Holstein and in the Danish towns of Sonderburg and Tingleff in August. The newspaper publisher “Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag”, the publishing company A. Beig from Pinneberg and the “Nordschleswiger” daily newspaper from southern Denmark will be showing three selected films in 17 cities in cooperation with Green Screen. Here, the viewers vote on the best film to receive the sh:z Audience Award endowed with 1000 Euros. Stephan Richter, spokesman of the editors-in-chief at sh:z, will announce the winning film at the awards ceremony on September 7th on Gut Altenhof near Eckernfoerde.
Green Screen not only offers fascinating insights into nature, it also takes an environmental stand by hosting the "Eckernfoerde Talks". Here, GREEN SCREEN aims to raise the specific awareness for conservation of natural habitats and biodiversity on earth. On Wednesday September 4th, the eve of the festival, a panel discussion will publicly debate on “The Over-fertilisation of the Baltic Sea – A Challenge for Politics, Economy and Consumers”. Among the participants: Robert Habeck, Schleswig-Holstein's minister for the environment. The “Eckernfoerde Talks” are open to the public and admission is free. 
Anyone wanting to watch wildlife films at the Green Screen festival from September 5th to 9th can get more information about the repertoire on the internet or in the comprehensive programme catalogue and should make use of advance booking. Almost all screenings will be sold out. For more information: www.greenscreen-festival.de.

GREEN SCREEN e.V., Michael van Bürk                                                                              Press officer – public relations – cooperation                                                  	   Tel. 0174 – 15 17 485   /   04331 – 593 197  /  Green Screen office:  04351 - 47 00 43 michael.van.buerk@greenscreen-festival.de  /  www.greenscreen-festival.de