SOME IMPRESSIONS
We are excited to host a screening of the renowned film Guardians of the Earth, a documentary about the Paris Climate Agreement by the Polish/Austrian filmmaker Filip Antoni Malinowski, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker. Heather Coleman, Climate and Energy Director at Oxfam, and Stephanie Hanson Damassa, Independent Consultant, former Washington Director of Climate Nexus, will join him for a Salongespräch/panel discussion after the screening, which will be moderated by Maryanne Culpepper, Executive Director of the DC Environmental Film Festival.
About "Guardians of the Earth"
After 21 years of endless UN climate change negotiations, in December 2015 195 nations – 20.000 negotiators from all over the world – met at a private airport shielded by the military in the north of Paris for a last attempt to save our planet. After two weeks of intense negotiations at the Paris climate conference (COP21) an agreement could be reached at the last minute and thus on December 12 finally a universal global climate deal was adopted.
The documentary "Guardians of the Earth" gives insight into the process behind closed doors and reveals the conflict of a globalized society: the dilemma between solidarity versus national self-interest – a fight between economic growth and massive loss of lives. As sea levels keep rising, glaciers are melting, heat-waves, droughts and Super-Typhoons become more frequent – time is running out to act – climate change is our reality.
While showing the complex progress to the final success of the agreement, the film also exposes the crucial question for the viewer: Can mankind unite to challenge the biggest threat of our times?
When: Thursday, June 21, 2018 | 7.00 pm
Where: Austrian Cultural Forum Washington/Embassy of Austria | 3524 International Court, NW | Washington, DC. 20008
Heather Coleman |
Climate and Energy Director, Oxfam
(c) Heather Coleman/Oxfam
Heather Coleman manages Oxfam America’s climate policy work, leading efforts to push for climate action globally and to address the impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable communities. She previously served as climate policy analyst at Environment Northeast and NESCAUM where she worked on regional and state climate-related initiatives such as the development of The Climate Registry, and the design and implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Maryanne Culpepper |
Executive Director, DC Environmental Film Festivals
(c) Maryanne Culpepper/DCEFF
Maryanne Culpepper is the Executive Director of the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. She is an award-winning writer/filmmaker with extensive experience in developing, writing and producing documentaries and nonfiction series. As the former President of National Geographic Studios, she previously oversaw development and production of 100+ hours of factual programming annually. She specializes in writing for broadcast, digital and museum platforms through her company Graffiti Works. Current projects include films based in Mozambique and the Baltic Sea, and an internationally touring exhibition for science museums. She is an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs and an instructor at the Maine Media Workshops.
Stephanie Hanson Damassa |
Independent Consultant, former Washington Director of Climate Nexus
(c) Stephanie Hanson Damassa/Climate Nexus
Stephanie Hanson Damassa is an Independent Consultant and former Washington Director of Climate Nexus. Prior to joining Climate Nexus, she worked for the World Resources Institute, most recently as the communications manager for WRI's climate and energy program. Before WRI, she managed an urban environmental program at a community action agency in Lowell, Massachusetts. She holds a degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Filip Antoni Malinowski |
Director, "Guardians of the Earth"
(c) Filip Malinowski
Filip Antoni Malinowski was born in Poland. In 2001, he started to study film-science at the University in Vienna, in 2004 entered the film class of Harun Farocki at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He co-founded Soleil Film, a film studio in Vienna. The director and producer works between Vienna and Berlin. His feature documentary debut film “Resettlement” was screened at over 30 festivals and awarded six times.