Matsalu International Nature Film Festival

7th Matsalu International Nature Film Festival


Monday, 14th September
The festival week has begun! Only two days to go until the first festival day. Already two exhibitions are opened in Lihula Culture House: 1) Nature paintings of film artist Hilja Klaar; and 2) Dinosaur sculptures of Haapsalu Sanatorial School students. Most of the nature photography exhibitions are already on the walls and awaiting for the opening ceremony.

Tuesday, 15th September
The jury has arrived to Lihula: Irjaleena Eriksson, Derek Kilkenny-Blake, Rein Kuresoo, Alo Põldmäe and Peeter Simm are here. They have had their first meeting and voted Irjaleena Eriksson to be the chairman of the jury.
Matsalu National Park workers monitored today the migration of cranes. In some days the Matsalu ringing centre will let us know how many of the film festival logo animals are flying over us.

Wednesday, 16th September
The Nature Education Day. Traditionally the first day of the festival was dedicated to nature education. Children of local schools watched films and draw pictures of birds. There was also a nature photography workshop for children and small exhibition of the results is exposed in Lihula Art House KuMa.
In the afternoon the opening ceremony of the nature photography exhibitions took place in front of the Lihula manor house. One hour later the festival itself was opened with a concert and speeches. The opening film "Wild Russia - The Adventure" was presented by film director Oliver Goetzl.

Thursday, 17th September
Today was a full-time festival day: films were shown in Lihula culture house and also in Art House KuMa. First films were also shown in Haapsalu.
The festival guests visited Matsalu National Park and enjoyed picturesque views. In evening Lihula parish had a reception in Matsalu National Park visitor centre.
Today Matsalu ringing center announced the results of Tuesdays counting: that evening 15 000 cranes spent a night in the national park!

Friday, 18th September
A Day in Haapsalu. Today a youth jury sat together in Haapsalu. Students from Haapsalu gymnasiums will choose their own favorite film and the winner will be announced on the festival closing ceremony. The major of Haapsalu Ingrid Danilov recieved festival guests in the evening.
In Lihula the only Estonian film of festival was shown - "Old Man and a Moose". The audience could also meet Harri Põldsam, the main caracter of the film.

Saturday, 19th September
The main topic of the day was nature photography. The workshops for photo fans were very popular. Very interesting discussion about forest and nature conservation was also held in Lihula. In evening the festival guests were recieved by local MP Aleksei Lotman.


RESULTS


Festival jury consisting of:
Irjaleena Eriksson (Chairwoman)
Derek Peter Kilkenny-Blake
Rein Kuresoo
Alo Põldmäe
Peeter Simm
decided to present the festival awards as follows: