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Festival 2010



Tallinna mnt 25
90303 Lihula, Estonia

Phone +372 551 0910
+372 477 5141

Matsalu International Nature Film Festival

8th Matsalu International Nature Film Festival


The Festival Has Begun – 15th of September 2010
Today Lihula was full of schoolchildren - it was a nature education day. After watching the film "Lost Years – a Sea Turtle Odyssey" children could meet zoologist Aleksei Turovski and draw pictures of sea turtles. The artworks form now an exhibition in Lihula artschool house. Also nature photography workshop was held for young photographers.
The first films were screened during the day and at 5 pm the opening ceremony of nature photography exhibitions was held in Lihula manorhouse. There are many exhibitions waiting for public this year - in Lihula manor, barnhouse, culture house, library and also in local grocery shop and Haapsaly culture centre.
At 6 pm the grand opening ceremony of the festival was held in Lihula culture house. Estonian Minister of Environment Jaanus Tamkivi, Lääne County Governor Neeme Suur, the head of Lihula parish council Tiina Lobja and filmmaker Mark Soosaar gave festive speeches. Director of the festival Tiit Mesila introduced the jury and the opening film "Mount St. Helens" was screened.

Thursday – 16th of September 2010
Valeri Cherbatõh, an Estonian nature photographer opened his first-ever personal exhibition on Thursday, 16th of September. The event took place in the gallery of Haapsalu's Culture Centre. The exhibition, held thanks to Matsalu Nature Film Festival and RMK is called 'Who live in our forests?' and shows most of the mammals and some birds of the Estonian nature. Although we all are familiar with bears, wolves, lynxes and other, only a few of us really have had the chance to meet them in person. Valeri has been fortunate enough to meet those graceful animals in the forest near his home in West Estonia and has had the eye and the skill to take high-class nature photographs of them.
The screening that took place after the opening of the exhibition was specially for schoolchildren. The film 'Lost Years: a Sea Turtle Odyssey' tells a secret that has puzzled scientists for long - where do the sea turles disappear for several years after they hatch? The screening was followed by a lecture from a legendary Estonian biologist Aleksei Turovski, who later guided the kids on how to draw sea turtles and other animals. There was also a workshop on nature photography for the students.
In Lihula Culture House whole day was full of good nature films. Festival guests visited Puhtu forest and were asked to the reception of six local municipalities. Lihula, Hanila, Varbla, Koonga, Ridala and Martna municipalities have organised a network under title Terra Maritima and festival guests had a chance to see how this kind of cooperation works.

The Festival goes on - 17th of September 2010
The jury has finished its hard work and is ready for grand ceremony on Saturday. Authors of the film "The Ice Sculptor" arrived after long jouney straight to the screening of their film in Haapsalu.
Festival guests went to the excursion to Noarootsi and Haapsalu old town. In the evening Haapsalu mayor gave also reception to guests. In Lihula art house KuMa started the screenings of films of sea life.
In the evening Lihula manorhouse transformed to a "Ranger" lounge: good music and art together with travel stories from Mexico, good local pastry and drum playing.

The day of prizes – 18th of September 2010
Estonian films were shown in the Culture House. The screenings of several films including grand old master Rein Maran's latest 'Keepers of Seven Points' and Liina Trichkinas “Siim, Samuli & Dolce Vita'” took place. It was also the world premiere of Vassili Saranas 'A Journey to the Source of Lena'.
The award ceremony started at 6 PM. Musical performances were given by Peeter Rebane and the host for the evening was Riho Västrik. The Grand Prix of Matsalu Nature Film Festival was awarded to Petteri Saarios 'Frontier Life. Ep. 1. Oil on the Waves'.

RESULTS


Festival jury consisting of:
Derek Peter Kilkenny-Blake (Chairman)
Kalinka Stoinovska
Margus Lattik
Joosep Matjus
Hendrik Relve
decided to present the festival awards as follows:

The Grand Prix


Frontier Life, Episode 1: Oil on the Waves
director Petteri Saario, Finland

I prize


Category “Nature”
Bohemia – A Year in the Wetland
directors Michael Schlamberger, Jiri Petr, Austria

Category “Man and Nature”
The Ice Sculptor
director Alberto Meroni, Switzerland

Special Prize of the Jury


Lost Years – The Sea Turtle Odyssey
director Jeremy Hogarth, Australia

Whale Ahoy! Deep Sea Diving with Moby Dick
director Volker Barth, Germany

Conservation Refugees – Expelled from Paradise
director Steffen Keulig, Germany

Best Director


Category “Nature”
Intelligent Plants
director Volker Arzt, Germany

Category “Man and Nature”
Crane Migration of the Hortobagy
director Zsolt Cseke, Hungary

Best Photography


Category “Nature”
Poppy’s Promise – Secret Life in a Cornfield
photographers Jan Haft, Kay Ziesenhenne, Felix Pustal, Germany

Category “Man and Nature”
Life in Harmony with Nature – Finland: Secrets of the Forest
photographers Koichi Nagura, Shinichiro Kawaguchi, Masanori Sawahata, Japan

Special Prizes


Estonian Ministery of Environment
Conservation Refugees – Expelled from Paradise
director Steffen Keulig (Germany)

West-Estonian County
Fjord
director Skule Eriksen (Norway)

Eestimaa Rohelised
Frontier Life – Ep.1. Oil on the Waves
director Petteri Saario (Finland)

Kamchatka: The Salmon Country
director Daniel Levin (Russia/USA)

Haapsalu Town
Frontier Life – Ep.1. Oil on the Waves
director Petteri Saario (Finland)

Environmental Board, Matsalu National Park
Crane Migration of the Hortobagy
director Zsolt Cseke (Hungary)

The State Forest Management Centre
Old Man Peter
director Ivan Golovnev (Russia)

Tallinn Zoo
Bama and the Lost Gorillas
directors Ernst Sasse and Nicky Lankester (Germany)

Looduse Omnibuss
Heron`s Days
director Madis Veskimägi (Estonia)

Lihula Gümnaasiumi ökoklass
The Great Grey Shrike
director Chintis Lundgren (Estonia)

A Journey to the Source of the Lena
director Vassili Sarana (Estonia)

Estonian Fund for Nature
Frontier Life – Ep.1. Oil on the Waves
director Petteri Saario (Finland)