FFC Global Filmmaker Fund

Dear all,

FFC is happy to announce the recipients of the first FFC Global Filmmaker Fund: Christian Gonzales of Chile and Nanang Sujana of Indonesia! The winners were announced last month at the International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, Montana. Prize money includes more than $5,000 in cash and over $10,000 of in kind support - generously donated by Emil Gallina of Spirit Creative for post production services and design support. The fund also includes full marketing and distribution support from Wildlogic LLC and Katya Shirokov. We thank Emil and Katya and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and all of our individual donors deeply for their contributions.

The fund was established in 2004 to support filmmakers worldwide by providing finishing monies to films already in progress about highly endangered species or ecosystems. This year we chose to award the FFC Fund to one filmmaker from Latin America or Asia, but as the fund grows we hope to eventually award one filmmaker from each continent every year.

Instead of selecting one winner, this year's panel of nine judges unanimously agreed that both Christian and Nanang's films merited funding and recognition. Christian Gonzales' film, Back to the Andes, showcases the efforts of two countries: Chile and Argentina, who have united to help save the Andean Condor. The film follows the release of eight condors born in captivity in 2001 and as Christian states in his proposal "Never before in this country has such a large operation related to wildlife been developed, and the following years have proved that there is a strong need to have this documentary finished, broadcast on TV and used as an educational tool in schools."

Nanang Sujana's film, The Blue Treasure, showcases the urgent need for protection of Indonesia's marine ecosystems. Indonesia accounts for more than 70% of the world's annual live coral trade. End consumers - Mostly Americans and Europeans - rarely know that the products that decorate their houses are generated from destructive practices such as cyanide fishing, reef harvesting and coral blasting. The film captures these practices on camera and shows how poverty, unjust trade, weak law enforcement and increasing pressures from international markets can destroy a unique and valuable ecosystem that takes hundreds of years to form - in just a flash. The film provides tangible solutions and examples of environmentally friendly fishing practices implemented by one neighboring village in Les, Bali.

Portions of the fund will be divided and allocated to both Christian and Nanang and hopefully will serve to complete their projects and further their cause in protecting our natural world.

Congratulations Christian and Nanang!

The FFC Board and FFC Fund jury