The UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) launched the International Forest Film Festival in collaboration with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival to celebrate the International Year of Forests 2011. The festival has now gained international recognition as it was awarded the AICA prize in the category “Communicating with citizens improves the environment”. Ms. Jan McAlpine, Director of UNFF was present at CinemAmbiente, Europe’s leading environmental film festival, to receive the prize yesterday.

“The International Forest Film Festival offers a unique opportunity to bring the issues and objectives of Forests 2011 to a global audience,” said Ms. McAlpine when the festival was launched earlier this year. “The power of cinematic art is universal. It connects with people all over the world on a personal level. The International Forest Film Festival will spread the message of Forests 2011 in that same powerful manner.”

The festival received 167 films from over 30 countries and winners were selected across six categories. The winning films were first screened during the ninth session of the UN Forum on Forests, which took place in New York from 24 January to 4 February, and they are now being presented around the world throughout 2011 as a part of the continuing festival.

The International Year of Forests 2011 is celebrated under the theme “Forests for People” with activities arranged worldwide to raise awareness and to strengthen sustainable forest management of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

The International Association for Environmental Communication (AICA) presents three annual prizes in recognition of environmental communication. Previous AICA winners include the European Commission for the campaign “Change” and the Participant Production for Al Gore’s documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”.