CinemAmbiente returns – definitely something not to be taken for granted. Now in its 16th year, loved and awaited by festival audiences, CinemAmbiente appears like a fixed star on the international environmental film festival firmament. The Festival will run from 31 May to 5 June with a lineup of film screenings, debates, meetings and events featuring filmmakers and personalities from around the world. The opening night film, which will be presented in a national preview, is Yung Chan’s The Fruit Hunters. With an ironic touch of lightness, the film portrays the variegated world of fruit hunters: people who travel the world in search of rare and lost fruit – a hymn to biodiversity. The main actor is Bill Pullman, Hollywood star who appeared in Spaceballs, Lost Highway, and Independence Day, who will be on hand to present the film and speak with the audience. As in past festivals, the program will include several competition categories. Among the 10 films running in the international documentary competition is the national preview of Fuck for Forest, which has garnered international attention for its frank description of the activities of a group of porno-activists, and Blackfish, which won critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival for its handling of the dramatic story of Tilikum, a killer whale. The films competing in the Italian documentary category narrate the continuing stories of resistance and activism in Italy. New editions to this year’s program are the One Hour category with films running under 60 minutes and the La casa di domani (Tomorrow’s Home) category with 5 films presenting scenarios of development, economy and demographics. Rounding up the documentary film program is a selection of short films and a series of special events, including the preview of Markus Imhoof’s fascinating film, More Than Honey, about the world of bees. Ecotalk at the Circolo dei Lettori is a series of meetings and debates with international environmental activists and invited guests, including Pierre Rabhi, guru of sustainable agriculture, Luca Mercalli, Rossano Ercolini, Daniele Incalcaterra, Helena Norberg-Hodge, and Chris Paine. CinemAmbiente is a zero-impact event: daily mobility is provided by bike sharing and meals are prepared from zero-kilometer food products. To promote smart practices, advance tickets for screenings can be purchased online at special prices, making online purchases even more attractive. This year’s CinemAmbiente falls within the 2013 Torino Smart City Days during which events will be held throughout the city.
