The UK Environment Film Fellowship Project (UKEFF) has been designed and managed jointly by British Council and British High Commission and supported by Department of Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA, UK.

The UKEFF project brought together young environmental filmmakers and scientists to make well-researched films on environment issues.

Under the UKEFF 2005, four films on Climate Change and its Impact were made and premiered on the World Environment Day, 5 June 2007 at the British Council and simultaneously on Discovery Channel. Under UKEFF 2006, seven films on Wildlife Crime involving rare Indian species of animals were commissioned, and a special preview of these seven Wildlife Crime films in the form of a capsule ‘Preserving the Future - Conserving India’s Wild Heritage’ will be held on World Environment Day, 5 June 2007, at 6:30 pm at the British Council.

The synopsis of these seven films are:

The Last Dance - by Ashima Narain

Under the law, the Indian sloth bear is entitled to the same protection as the tiger. Yet crimes against it are committed openly across India as bears are made to dance. The film seeks to show how this crime can be brought to an end.

The Hunted - by Jay Mazoomdaar

India is the tiger’s best chance for survival but even here its future looks more uncertain than ever. Beyond the economics of global demand and supply, The Hunted throws up solutions for effectively curbing the tiger trade by offering tribal hunters a new way of life.

Turtles in a Soup - by Kalpana Subramanian

The diversity of freshwater turtle species in India is one of the richest in the world. However, most of them are heading towards extinction today. This is the untold story of one of the largest wildlife crimes in the country, the illegal trade of freshwater turtles.

The Silenced Witness - by P. Balan and Radha R

India is home to most of the wild Asian elephants, yet the survival of the elephant is under threat today for a variety of reasons. The Silenced Witness by the Wildscreen Award winning directorial team attempts to bring out why.

Diminishing Resources - by Himanshu Malhotra

Coral reefs are under major threat today. Souvenir collections, aquariums, coral constructions, specimen collection… there is an endless list of reasons. A motivational film, Diminishing Resources seeks to sensitise the audience to these invisible crimes.

Once There was a Purple Butterfly - by Sonya. V. Kapoor

The film focuses on the crimes against butterflies which are slowly becoming extinct. The disappearance of these pollinators could affect all life forms on earth, including man. Time has come to give them due attention.

Leopards in the Lurch - by Gurmeet Sapal

This film captures the beauty and vulnerability of leopards   their threatening, as well as threatened existence in the hills of the Himalayas.

For more information, call 41497288 or write to Apurva.chaturvedi@in.britishcouncil.org