Global climate change is happening now. Developing countries and particularly the world's poorest people are affected first and worst by changes of climate and extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, heat waves, and rising sea levels. The Social Development Department of the World Bank is taking the lead to build a greater understanding of how climate change affects people's lives and communities around the world, especially in developing countries, and of what can be done to reduce their vulnerability and build climate resilience.

Transcript of the Call for Submission Video: English; Chinese; Español; Français

Vulnerability Exposed: Social Dimensions of Climate Change is a competition of 2-5 minute documentaries that highlight the social aspects of climate change as experienced and/or observed by the film-makers. This short-documentary contest is a follow-up to our landmark March 2008 International Workshop on the Social Dimensions of Climate Change (read the story about the Workshop). We hope to receive submissions which creatively showcase the implications of climate change for conflict, migration, urban space, rural institutions, drylands, social policy, indigenous peoples, gender, governance, forests and/or human rights.

There are two award categories:
1) Social Dimensions of Climate Change Award (general category) and
2) Young Voices of Climate Change Award (youth category).
The general category is open to everyone; the youth category is open to entries submitted by filmmakers who are under 24 years old. Award winners will be chosen through a combination of public voting and a judging panel. The film with the most public votes in each theme category will receive honorable mention.

The Award Winners will receive an all expenses paid trip to Washington, DC for a screening of their film and will have the opportunity to attend a series of networking and learning events organized by the Social Development Department of the World Bank in December, 2008. Get more details about the contest! = > Click here to read the contest details.

Read the Press Release: English; العربية,; 中文; Español; Français

THE SUBMISSION PERIOD ENDS 11:59PM (US ET) ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008

SUBMIT YOUR FILM TODAY! = > CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR FILM

The Indigenous People of Knasaimos
* Director: Ritzki Sigit/ Nanang Sujana
* Duration: 32m
* Country: Indonesia
* Languages: BI,Eng
* Official Website: www.gekkovoices.com
* Film link: http://blog.gekkovoices.com/indigenous-people-of-knasaimos.html

At present Indonesian forests are in a very dangerous situation due to massive exploitation that has happened in the past couple of years. Every year, areas as big as three times the island of Bali are being destroyed. On the other hand there is still hope, especially in the ancestral forests that are being managed by the indigenous people. Forests for them mean not only the number of standing stock, but it is related to their religion, wisdoms and many other kinds of socio-cultural aspects.


Voices From The Forest (2007)
* Director: Gekko Studio/Dusty Foot Production
* Country: India
* Official Website: www.gekkovoices.com
* Film link: http://blog.gekkovoices.com/voices-from-forest-in-india.html

Non-timber forest produce (NTFP) spell a critical source of income for indigeneus people and forest-dwelling communities, who are among the poorest of the poor. Not only do the NTFPs play a crucial role in the livelihood of these people, but from a key incentive to conserving the forest of India. Moreover NTFPs are woven in with the social and cultural fabric of the communities.

Communities are working hand in hand with grassroot non-government groups, traders, and government to address the challenges posed by low productivity, lack of tecnology, irrational NTFP law, and wide-scale contract based extraction. Over the years of hard work, inroads are being made. Community-based conservation, management, value addition, and marketing of NTFPs are being successfuly practiced. Honey, mahua, resin, amla, sal leaf, and the thousands of other NTFP species will continue to flourish and play its role in the lives of communities today and in the future.

See more on:
http://freedomfilmfest.komas.org/about/screenings/