The fourth annual SA Eco Film Festival returns to Cape Town from 23 to 30 March and this year, the theme is “Change is here”. We at the Two Oceans Aquarium can certainly get on board with that kind of message, so our Curator Maryke Musson and our Environmental Campaigner Hayley McLellan will be adding their voices and attending the festival as guest speakers. Maryke and Hayley are set to speak after the screening of Sea of Life on Saturday 25 March at 2:15pm.
In Sea of Life, Julia Barnes embarks on a journey around the world to figure out how we're going to save the most important ecosystem for our survival: the ocean. As acidity rises and fish populations decline, the award-winning documentary seeks to inspire change by exposing the truth, bringing audiences on an eye-opening adventure from the beautiful world of coral reefs into the heart of the environmental movement, and introducing passionate scientists, activists, and explorers who reveal an enormous opportunity in the face of this challenge – to rise up and become the heroes the world needs.
“Sea of Life was produced by a young woman, Julia Barnes, and I like that our younger generations are just so aware – aware enough to care enough to actually take action,” says Maryke. “Never before have we been more aware of how we impact the earth and each other. Never before have we been able to actually measure, monitor and analyse our impacts and predict the outcomes as we can now. Never before have we had the level of awareness to actually activate sustainable solutions as we have now.
“Will that be enough to save the planet, and thus ourselves and all living animals and environments? My usual outlook on most things is that there is hope. I think it depends on how quickly we can inspire people to make those little daily behavioural shifts to firstly reduce our negative impact on the planet, then aim at neutralising this, and have a clear target of actually contributing to making a positive impact globally and collectively, as humans. We have the ability to change.”
Hayley McLellan, who is the founder of the Aquarium’s Rethink the Bag campaign, is also a firm believer in the possibilities of change. “I will comment on the difference individuals can make by shifting their everyday choices and behaviour,” she says. “Focusing on the little things they can achieve and reminding all that we are all accountable for the quality of our environment. I also want to inspire people to realise that when we do good for the world, we feel amazing, and this is what keeps us trusting in a bright, healthy future for the oceans."
You can look forward to an inspiring, thought-provoking lineup for the entirety of the SA Eco Film Festival, which is supported by leading Western Cape eco-friendly businesses Sustainable.co.za, Ballo, Reliance and Hemporium.
“We are excited to be showcasing challenging, intriguing and creative film content from SA and the world, highlighting issues that affect us all, while introducing participants, filmmakers and audience members alike to sustainable living choices and life style changes that can be made today,” says SA Eco Film Festival Director Dougie Dudgeon.
Details
- The SA Eco Film Festival is running from 23 to 30 March 2017 at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town
- Come see Maryke and Hayley’s talks on Saturday 25 March after the 2:15pm screening of Sea of Life.
- There are several exciting Q&A sessions and guest speakers lined up for the festival
- Click here to view the festival lineup and visit www.saecofilmfestival.com for information and bookings.
