Festival Data:

• Established: 1974
• Genre: Television, Documentary
• Attendance: 72000
• Media Attendance: 25
• Total Number of Films Submitted: 234
• Total Number of Films Screened: 98
• Total Screenings: 211

• Competitive
• Students Section
• Has Panels
• Workshops

Festival Website:

Festival Description:

First organized in 1974 ekotopfilm is an international festival of films and video programs devoted to ecological concerns. Known as the International Festival of Sustainable Development Films, ekotopfilm provides a forum in which specialists in new technology, science, research, and ecology come together and share their views. During its history the festival has screened more than 5,500 films in the following program sections:

A. Popular - Scientific – Science, Technology and Eco Solutions: Films about new trends, technologies, materials, new progressive problem solutions.

B. Nature and Natural Science: Films about natural events and human activities, and how they impact the people, wildlife, and vegetation in the environment.

C. People and Earth: Films about individuals (or groups) who have had significant impact on environment protection.

D. Current Affairs: Burning ecological issues and their impact on the environment and culture.

E. Ecological Success Stories: Films that describe projects that have improved local environments and have global applicability.

F. New Media: Ecology issues presented in video clips short features, podcasts and streaming video for online delivery.

G. Children and Youth (ekotopfilm for children and youth): Films for school age children that focus on environmental education.

Films are judged by an International Jury of professionals consisting of representatives from all continents. A Junior Jury consisting of students from 14 to 18 evaluates films in the category for children and youth.

Festival week in Bratislava, capital city of the Slovak Republic, also features open-air events held in the city center with musical artists and bands. Then ekotopfilm takes a select program to Prague, Koice and other cities in the region.

Since 1998 ekotopfilm has awarded the “HONOR OF EKOTOPFILM” to an outstanding domestic or foreign personality for his or her efforts to achieve sustainable development, scientific inventions, humane and cultural activities or a lifework in favor of the development of humankind. Honorees have included: Com. Jacques Yves Cousteau, Al Gore and Václav Havel. In 2008 ekotopfilm presented its first ENVIRO AWARD recognizing competitions organized as accompanying events to the Festival. An International Jury, composed of renowned motor journalists, awarded a premium prize for ENVIRO CAR OF THE YEAR 2008.

The motivation behind ekotopfilm is the need for a balanced and integrated approach to questions of environment and development. The Festival proclaims the need for a new global partnership that will involve the widest possible participation of the public in taking responsibility for the fate of the earth.

ekotopfilm is held under the auspices of the President of the Slovak Republic, and co-sponsored by Bratislava - capital city of the Slovak Republic. Entries may be submitted by directors, producers, writers, film and TV companies, TV academies, international and national organizations, institutions and individuals.

Film Submissions:

• Accepts direct submissions
• Submission formats: DVD