The 9th Matsalu Nature Film Festival has now become history

This year a total 206 films were submitted from 54 participating countries. In addition to competition program there were various theme programs held such as Wonderful World, Information, Estonian nature films, and short form films.
Our agenda included also workshops on nature conservation issues and problems associated with wolves, complete with screenings of wolf films from many countries.
Traditionally many nature photo exhibitions and workshops were held. Bob Gibbons (UK) supervised a workshop on how to photograph autumn nature.
We would like to thank you for your participation! It’s your commitment what made the festival such a success.

We hope to meet you again on the 10th Matsalu Nature Film Festival in September 2012!

Awards of the Festival

This year the Grand Prix goes to film “Wild Scandinavia – Finland”, director Oliver Götzl (Germany). This film is a unique work of art that combines magical images of Finland with talented editing, skilful directing and magnificent nature sounds, which make watching this film an emotional experience that touches our hearts.

First special prize of festival goes to Jouni Hiltunen

Estonian Ministry of Environment has awarded a special prize to Jouni Hiltunen, the author of the film "The Unknown Bothnian Sea". Baltic Sea protection is everybody's consern. Hiltunen's film shows the most unknown areas of the sea and also Finland's newest nature conservation area. The Secretary General Rita Annus awarded the filmmaker a sheepskin from Sireli farm. All the main prizes of the festival will be announced on Saturday evening!

Matsalu Nature Film Festival 2011 Greets Guests
With More Than 200 Films and Exiting Workshops

As autumn is approaching, Matsalu Nature Film Festival is getting ready for lift-off. This year filmmakers from 54 countries will be shown – that is 206 wonderful nature films from all over the world! The films will be shown in Lihula culture house and in KuMa, which is situated just a few hundred meters down the street from the culture house. In Haapsalu, some films will also be shown on Saturday evening.

As usually, the competition will be in two different categories: ‘Nature’ (which has 17 films this year) and ‘Man in Nature’ (12 films). Additionally to the competition, there will be three other film programs: the info-program and two programs called ‘Wonderful world’ and ‘Vanishing peoples’. ‘Vanishing peoples’ is put together of films about human cultures that are in danger of disappearing – it should be a must-see program to viewers with an interest towards anthropology or ethnology.

Two workshops will also take place. One of them is dedicated to the problems that may come along with nature conservation. The filmmakers who are taking part of Matsalu Nature Film Festival will also attend this workshop. On Sunday, the subject will be wolves. Both of the workshops consist of discussions and film screenings and are open to everyone.

Besides the nature films, nature photography also has an important role to play during the festival. There will be 7 different exhibitions held as well as photography workshops. One of the highlights of the photography program is the talk given by the British photographer Bob Gibbons.