40th International Festival of Sustainable Development Films

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Organization

About

Unique event focused on sustainable development with high international standard, having high moral and professional credit worldwide
Forum of latest and best films covering a wide range of our economical, industrial and humane activities stressing the need for sustainable development
Unique fusion of scientific and technical development with Planet Earth conservation
Oldest festival of its kind in the world, new generation of people has grown up parallels with the festival
Festival message is the only chance for humankind if we want to survive

History (1974 – 2010):

2000 – 2010

Year 37

Held in October 11-15.2010 at Palace Cinemas at Aupark, Bratislava
Festival visitors saw 122 films from 24 countries
Grand Prix Ekotopfilm 2010, Prize of the Slovak Government, won by a French film "Sous le feu des ondes", submitted by Jean Christophe Ribot
Honor of Ekotopfilm was awarded to Mr. Ingvar Kamprad, Swedish entrepreneur and founder of IKEA, furniture stores. .
After the film premier "Mongolia – In the Shadow of Genghis Khan" discussion with Mr. Pavol Barabáš, filmmaker of numerous mountain and adventure movies under extreme conditions.
Amazing exhibition of photographer Filip Kulišev and his project Amazing Planet (since 2001).
ekotopfilm-TOUR SLOVENSKO – third year of festival previews of award-winning films from the 36th festival held in district towns of Košice, Trenčín, Žilina and Trnava. Collection of award-winning films was also shown in Czech Republic, in Prague and Plzeň.
National Environmental Contest with 10 categories: Deed of the Year, Idea of the Year, Product of the Year, Car of the Year, Firm of the Year, Technology of the Year, Municipality of the Year, Town of the Year, Personality of the Year and Building of the Year.

Year 36

Held in October 19 – 22, 2009 at Palace Cinemas at Aupark, Bratislava
Festival visitors saw 119 films from 24 countries.
36th festival was opened with Michael Jackson’s Earth Song, declared by the organizers as the official anthem of the sustainable development
Grand Prix Ekotopfilm 2010, Prize of the Slovak Government, won by a German film "Eco Crime: Tibet Connection", submitted by Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Honor of Ekotopfilm was awarded to Mr. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, world famous photographer, ecologist and founder of NGO GoodPlanet. He received the award oin person on 19th October at Primaciálny Palace, Bratislava.
Festival presented his feature film Home – a celebration of beauty and fragile harmony of our Planet Earth.
First time in festival history- special Honor Award - In memoriam for life work, attitude and life philosophy to the late Michael Jackson.
ekotopfilm-TOUR SLOVENSKO – third year of festival previews of award-winning films from the 35th festival held in district towns of Košice, Trenčín, Žilina and Trnava. Collection of award-winning films was also shown in Prague, Czech Republic.
To support and promote the idea of sustainable development the festival launched a new tradition of National Environmental Contest, this year in following categories: Car of the Year, Deed of the Year, Technology of the Year, Firm of the Year, Product of the Year and Building of the Year.

Year 35

was held in October 20. – 24. 2008 at new the Festival Center premises of the Palace Cinemas, Aupark in Bratislava.
the visitors could see a collection of 97 films from 23 countries
for the first time we have shown “TOP Collection” covering the years 2004-2007
Grand Prix Ekotopfilm 2008, the Prize of the Slovak Government was awarded to a German film "Polar Bears - Living on Thin Ice"
Mrs. MUDr. Eva Siracká, CSc., president of the League against Cancer in Slovak Republic, has become the 11th laureate of the Honor of Ekotopfilm
for this year we have prepared a new festival activity called “ekotopfilm-TOUR SLOVAKIA" – for the first time there were festival previews of awarded films from the 34. festival year held in county towns such as Trencin, Zilina and Trnava
the conference carrying a common name EnviroClub was on program of these previews. The theme focused on environmental, economic and energetic issues of the regional development.

Year 34

Held in October 22. to 26. 2007 at the premises of the festival center and in Mladosť cinema in the city of Bratislava
The visitors could see a collection of 121 films form 26 countries
Mrs. Olga Fikot-Connoly, Czechoslovak Olympic gold medal winner in throwing the discus (Melbourne) living in the USA, engaged in environmental education had a speech within the program of the Teacher’s Conference.
The 10th award “Honor of Ekotopfilm“ was warded to a marathon swimmer Martin Strel from Slovenia to be a renowned and respected person in his homeland. Today the 52-year-old man did not go only beyond his own limits but he beat also the nature. He has swum along the largest rivers of the world – the Danube, the Jang-c´-Tiang and the Amazon. The main objective of his arduous endeavor was get evidence on the endangered conditions of the Amazon basin – rainforest to be the foundation of water management of our Planet Earth.

Year 33

Held in October 23. - 27. 2006 at time-tested festival venue in Bratislava city centre
Thousands of viewers of all age brackets saw a collection of 121 films from 30 countries
At the suggestion of the International Jury the prize Grand Prix of Ekotopfilm 2006,at the same time Prize of the Slovak Government, was awarded to the US film The Dolphin Defender applied by Thirteen, WNET, New York
One late afternoon the festival center was moved to the Main Square were the Happening of Ekotopfilm 2006 was held
Two interesting events took place: meeting with famous Czech photographer and documentarist Richard Jaroněk, who studies great white and tiger sharks; discussion forum Under the Magnifier with the theme – Town Planning Vision of Bratislava – Plan or Chaos
The Prince of Monaco Albert II. was awarded as the ninth laureate of Honor of EKOTOPFILM“, receiving the award in person in Bratislava during the festival. He also met leading political figures and took part at a discussion forum focused on his last year expedition to the North Pole

Year 32

The festival opening jingle was herd on 24. October 2005 and finished on 28. October 2005. For the first time in new festival center at Tatra Hotel
The visitors were shown nearly 120 films from 24 countries,
The award Honor of EKOTOPFILM was received in person by Nicole and Serge Roethelli from Switzerland for their 40 000 kilometer run across five continents with the aim to help sick children, fight for their rights and rise the awareness among the people about the situation of our Planet Earth
Number of accompanying events focused on such topics like Safety on our Roads, Renewal of Residential Property, Construction of Highways, Kids Injuries, Alzheimer Disease, Antioxidants to Combat Free Radicals and others

Year 31

Started on 25. October 2004 and finished on 29. October 2004, held at Forum Hotel in Bratislava
New theme of the festival and accompanying program was the entry of Slovak Republic into the European Union
Main theme of the festival was the motto: “It is better I want than I have to”
The Selection Commission selected a top set of 200 films,
In accord with the festival tradition – the admission was free for anybody regardless of profession, age or interests
The award Honor of EKOTOPFILM was given into the hands of Slovak scientist, pedagogue and socially active man Mr. Juraj Hraško, academic of SAV (Slovak Academy of Science), former chairman of the International Jury and first president of the Festival Committee of EKOTOPFILM

Year 30

Opened its doors on 13. October and finished on 17. October 2003 at Forum Hotel in Bratislava
117 films from 26 countries were in the contest
Among other filmmakers, Slovak documentary director Pavol Barabáš appeared with his latest title The Tatras a Mystery awarded the Prize of the President of the Slovak Republic
Screenings were held from early morning to late evening with free admission
There were numerous interesting accompanying events dedicated not only to environmental issues but also popular and current scientific topics
The climax of the Czech professional audio-visual work was the awarding ceremony of Honor of EKOTOPFILM received by Václav Havel, former president of the Czechoslovak Federation Republic and the Czech Republic
Within the after-festival activities previews of awarded films were held in Košice, Prague and Vienna

Year 29

Held from 14 to 18 October 2002 at Forum Hotel in Bratislava
Held under the auspices of the Slovak president Rudolf Schuster, to enhance its international credit (ever since it has become the tradition)
99 competing films from 22 countries were shown, 25 Slovak titles
Representative preview of German audiovisual work
Laureate of Honor of EKOTOPFILM became Günter Verheugen, commissioner of European Commission for EU enlargement for building bridges between the East and West
Festival Newsletter published as part of the paper Hospodárske noviny (Economy paper)
Preview of the work of film director Dušan Hanák
2 year of Junior Festival – EKOTOPFILM for Children and Youth
Eco-party hosted by popular kid’s host Master N
Seminar on Slovak Integration into Euro-Atlantic structures:
- Meeting on Johannesburg Summit Earth 2
- Discussion on Slovakia readiness to join EU and its competitiveness within the open market
- Big discussion forum on Slovak integration into EU
Within the after-festival activities previews of awarded films were held in Košice, Prague and Vienna

Year 28

Held in October 2001 from 22 to 26 at Carlton Hotel and cinema Mladosť in Bratislava
Held under the auspices of the Slovak president Mr. Rudolf Schuster
116 competing films from 28 countries were shown
Slovak titles accounted for 31 films
Honor of EKOTOPFILM was awarded to Al Gore – former US vice president, an outstanding representative of American environmentalists
Our traditional focus oriented also on children and youth resulted in new independent event Junior Festival - EKOTOPFILM for Children and Youth:
- Children and youth of primary and secondary schools could watch specially designed collections of films at eighth places within the city of Bratislava and Bratislava region
The climax of Junior Festival was Eco-party hosted by popular kid’s host Master N, held under the auspices of Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic
We continued with our tradition of International Conference on Environmental and Ethical Education – Environmental Health
Panel discussion Ethics – Ecumena- Ecology
Seminar on New Trade Act in practice
Workshop on Sustainable Buildings and our Place inside them
Seminar - Kids Help Phone Line prepared together with UNICEF and other accompanying festival events

TOP: According present-day press EKOTOPFILM has been “ for 28 years a guilty conscious of those who bottle up their common sense and respect to nature, and of those who do not care about their future, as well as the future of their closest people…“.

Year 27

The Capital City of Bratislava became the festival city and coorganizer represented by the Municipal Government in the Festival Committee
The festival was held in October 2000 in the resort of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic (SÚZA)
Held under the auspices of the Slovak president Mr. Rudolf Schuster
The Selection Commission selected 102 out of 224 applied films into the contest
Honor of EKOTOPFILM was awarded Svend Auken, Minister of Environment and Energy of Denmark, leading figure of UNEP
Screening on large screen at Main Square in the city center
Workshop Regions – Slovak Mirror
Seminar on International Experience in Industrial Parks and Slovak Plans
Grand Prix of Ekotopfilm 2000 – Prize of the Slovak Government awarded to Slovak film Secret Mamberamo, directed by Pavol Barabáš
First time awarded prestigious Prize of the Capital City Mayor

TOP: In the course of the last 27 years 3 766 films from 74 countries were shown.

1990 – 1999

Year 26

Held during the last October week in the town of Zilina at the Trade Union Center in 1999
Last time held in Zilina
195 films applied from 21 countries, 74 made it to join the contest
Honor of EKOTOPFILM was received by the first Slovak astronaut col. Ing. Ivan Bella for his outstanding achievement – flight to the space and his experiments carried out there

Year 25

Held in October 26. -30. 1998 in the town of Zilina at Trade Union Center
Visitors saw 98 films out of 166 applied titles
Organizers prepared professional program divided into four sections:
Environment and People
Impact of Industrial Activities on Environment
Environment of our Settlements
Ecology is warning!
For the first time presentation of single country film collection
New award Honor of EKOTOPFILM awarded to J. Y. Cousteau for his life work in favor of nature conservation
His philosophy - To love means to protect! - became main motto of the festival

Year 24

· In Zilina, 171 films from 28 countries
· Panel discussion on Ethics – Ecumena – Ecology, panel discussion on Highway Construction in Slovakia and Trends of Housing Construction on the Brink of the third Millennium
· Interesting talk club on You have nowhere to stay? How to solve it
· Seminars on dangerous waste

Year 23

Held from 4 to 8 November 1996 in Zilina at the Trade Union Center, at the time one of the best and most modern venues within the whole Czechoslovakia.
Panel discussions and talk clubs were part of the festival accompanying events focusing e.g. on Trends in Energy Policy for the Third Millennium or Taxes

Year 20, 21, 22

After the declaration of independent Slovakia in 1993, the festival moved from the town of Trnava - to have optimal geographical position within the whole Czechoslovakia- to the town of Zilina to be:
- the center of north Slovakia
- town with favorable geographical position and beautiful natural surroundings
- town with rich culture
- on the crossroads of North with South and East and West not only within Slovakia but also within European context
Since 1995 the festival is called EKOTOPFILM

TOP: The name Festival of Professional Films was too long, not expressive enough and sustainable development was somehow lost in it. And hence it is called since 1995 Ekotopfilm. TOP- means best quality, EKO – standing not only for ecology but it is an acronym for efficiency, creativeness and professionalism. These qualities have in common both festival groups – environmentalists and technicians.

Years 17, 18 and 19

The festival moved to the Center of Political Education in Trnava for its better equipment and bigger and more suitable premises than the cinema Hviezda and it stayed there until 1992
All these three years were very positive due to a favorable political and social situation in Czechoslovakia
The feeling of freedom and free expression of ideas and beliefs was overwhelming
In 1990 the festival changed into a film contest with the Grand Prix Award
The accompanying program started to be more attractive because it was focused on current problems which had stopped being public taboos
Respective ministries showed interest and became professional guarantors in respective areas. They appointed their own representatives into the Festival Committee

TOP: In 1990 an independent agency was established to organize the festival and its related events. It was aimed to coordinate and manage all activities of its relevant partners. Respective ministries showed interest and became professional guarantors in respective areas. They appointed their own representatives into the Festival Committee. Apart from the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry other newly established organization were involved into the festival activities.

1980 - 1989

Year 16

Held traditionally during a November week in 1989
238 films and TV programs applied into the competition
The festival offered space for regime critique, showed its machinery camouflaged by the idea of developing socialism at the expense of basic life condition conservation on Earth
Ecologists and other experts learnt about number of classified facts and information
In less than two weeks the Velvet Revolution broke out...

Years 12,13,14,15

These years (1985 – 1988) became awaited and welcomed events in every day routine not only within the expert community but also ordinary people. All those who realized information are essential for success at work and better life style. The festival orientation offered enough space to accomplish these objectives, and at the same time learn about the latest films, TV and video programs. The festival was a big opportunity both for home and foreign filmmakers to present their latest films, sometimes premiere films. All these festival years were in the spirit of “perestrojka“ and gradually the space for regime critique was getting bigger and bigger.

TOP: “Trnava festival entered into the second decade of its existence. It has done a big deal of thorough, ambitious and trail-blazing job. A professional film mediates in minimum time frame a huge file of information and knowledge with a maximum efficiency. Each preview of professional films hides behind the “glamour” a giant and efficient aggregate to promote scientific and technical information.”

”It is a professional preview of films which are meant to inform, educate and inspire. Massively, demonstratively and fast.“

”The festival is a reach source for young people who get ready for a career in the era of technical development, it is their open window to see the future.“

(media quotations )

Year 11

5 - 8 November 1984 in Trnava
We have screened 83 films from 13 countries, total screening time 1 327 minutes
Nationwide seminar on metrology at the occasion of 150 anniversary of birth of D. I. Mendelejev
Discussion with the filmmakers of the film Water, Water…We Do Not Want it?
The section focused on agriculture, forest and water management and food industry was replaced by an independent section:
- Environment conservation

Year 10

31 October – 3 November 1983 in Trnava
The main objective of the festival was the promotion of current information of science and technology in compliance with reached goals set by the nationwide economic plans
The main slogan of those time said – With faster application of scientific and technical development reach high efficiency of our economy
For the first time a discussion with filmmakers of selected film, with the director and main expert advisor

TOP: The festival of professional films started gradually focus on children and youth, especially environmental education. It was promoting a positive attitude towards nature among children. Here lie the roots of today’s traditional international conference “Environmental and Ethical Education at Schools and Educational Facilities”

Year 9

1 - 4 November 1982 in Trnava
The festival presented a collection of 71 films from 13 countries
Major focus rested upon nuclear energy and the environment
First live broadcasting of the program Radio Lighthouse of the Czechoslovak Radio on the last festival day, which was a live discussion from Trnava for festival guests and radio listeners, being a very risky thing back then
Main theme of the festival- Development of Nuclear Energy and Environment Conservation

Year 7 and 8

Held as traditionally at the end of October and beginning of November 1980 and 1981
The audience could see in 1980 - 90 films from 14 countries, total screening time of 26 hours and in 1981 – 98 films from 20 countries
Students of elementary and secondary schools took part in especially designed screenings
Total number of visitors reached 3 600
The number of screening days increased in 5 days and projections were held also in the lobby for those who would not fit in the cinema
Accompanying events – Application of Professional Film in the Process of Scientific and Technical Development
Apart from the Hviezda cinema projections were held also at Sloboda cinema, Usmev cinema in the town of Hlohovec, culture center Dudváh and in Drahovce

1974 - 1979

Year 6

Held at the end of October and beginning of November 1979
89 films from 15 countries were shown, whereas 30 % focused on environment conservation
3 100 participants
Cooperation with respective professional partners enhanced
Organizers arranged a festival trip for the journalists

Year 5

From 31 October to 3 November 1978
80 films from 16 countries were shown
The festival philosophy was the merger of technical themes with nature conservation
Foreign films were shown in original language with simultaneous translation into Slovak
In festival collection were both black and white and color films
The new festival poster was designed by the academic painter Otto Bachorík
First accompanying events – seminar of Food Section of Czechoslovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Slovak Technical University in Bratislava prepared the exhibition of patent and corporate literature
Apart from the Hviezda cinema in Trnava selected collection of films was shown e.g. at the Ministry of Construction and Technology of the Slovak Socialist Republic, at Slovnaft (refinery company) in Bratislava, technical school Voderady, former collective farm of Czechoslovak- Soviet Friendship in Voderady and collective farm in Hrnčiarovce
Czechoslovak Television prepared special program on the festival with three festival films
Czechoslovak Radio broadcasted a special program, too.

Year 4

Part of the festival was a nationwide preview of Soviet professional films with 17 films
Total number of professional visitors 2 097 and 286 guests
Held from 14 to 18 November 1977
73 films from 13 countries were shown
Higher quality of film watching thanks to simultaneous translation into Slovak
Massive publicity in all mass media

Year 3

The spring date changed into autumn date, and thus held in November 1976
Among shown films were films focusing on nature conservation
More screening days
1 513 participants saw 57 films from 16 countries

TOP: Since the third year the festival has its own newsletter to inform on festival activities from previous day, visitor’s comments, information on coming events addressed not only for the participants but also for official guests and journalists.

Year 2

Held from 2 to 5 March 1976 in Trnava
Welcomed about 1 000 visitors
52 films from 12 countries were shown
Each visitor got a Slovak commentary to a foreign film, which was also simultaneously translated
Fourth section was added: Chemical Industry

TOP: Several films appeared criticizing Soviet Union and the so called socialist camp ... some people, therefore, claimed it is “politically incorrect”. It would, of course, mean its death. A way how to prevent this must have been found. The organizers were blessed with the great idea to make a separate nationwide collection of Soviet films within the festival.

Year 1

The name was changed into the Festival of Professional Films
Held from 4 to 6 March 1975 in Trnava, at Hviezda cinema (that time the most modern panorama theatre in the whole Czechoslovakia)
326 expert visitors

1974

It was the Socialist Academy in Trnava who put under its umbrella the effort of project authors to organize a preview of latest technical, scientific and educational and other professional films in November 1974.

The event was held in Trnava and became a nationwide event (since 2 year engaged in the whole Czechoslovakia)
Under the name Festival of Technical Films held in Trnava at Hviezda cinema
45 films were selected divided by theme into three sections:
- Agriculture and food industry
- Machinery, car industry, wrapping technologies
- Construction industry

TOP: At the beginning of the sixties of the 20Century the tradition of film festival started to develop. First was the Pardubice Techfilm, Ostrava Environmental Film Festival the Ekofilm came second and third was the Slovak Festival of Technical Films, later Festival of Professional Films. The Ostrava and Trnava festivals started together, however the Ostrava festival finished in 1991 and was later transformed into an event in Česky Krumlov keeping the same name.

Festival of Professional Films

Main slogan “Go to Trnava for new information“
The event provided thorough information on worldwide society development
Main idea: effort to join any human activity on the field of technology and economy in order to meet ecological balance in favor of sustainable development

While organizing the second festival year the mayor of Trnava Mr. Jozef Hagara, brought up the idea to join two different groups of people – technicians and ecologists – and confront their information. Make them not only watch what is going on in the field of the others but cooperate.