NEW YORK, April 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The World Bank’s Connect4Climate initiative (http://www.facebook.com/connect4climate) is partnering with Sony Picture Television’s (http://www.sonypictures.com/green) multi-platform entertainment network Crackle (http://bit.ly/1lK4dRM) and Fluminense Federal University (UFF) (http://www.uff.br) in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, to launch the Cinema Green Project, a series of five short films airing exclusively on Crackle’s platforms in Brazil. With the aim to nurture the talent of Brazilian cinema students and raise awareness about environmental sustainability, Crackle funded five short films presented by UFF film students. This is a first step towards a global initiative.
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A committee composed of Crackle’s programming team and recognized international figures in the film industry, featuring filmmaker Fernando Meirelles, and actors Alessandra Negrini and Rodrigo Santoro, selected the scripts for the short films. According to Academy Award nominee Fernando Meirelles, “The Cinema Green Project is an exciting opportunity for young filmmakers to engage in environmental defense and help change the usual production practices of the film industry.”
Crackle’s seed initiative, Cinema Green Project, strives to motivate the public to take a more conscious attitude towards the environment. There are three documentaries and two fiction works that address issues such as responsible consumer practices, environmental preservation, and sustainable transport.
“Crackle sits at the intersection of media, entertainment, and premium, original content. We are elated to partner with Fluminense Federal University, the World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate initiative and Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Sustainability Department in the launch of an environmental awareness initiative that converges film, education and technology for the greater good,” says Jose Rivera Font, GM & VP, Digital Networks Latin America at Sony Pictures Television. “Crackle serves as the perfect medium to convey a powerful message through more than fifteen different platforms to the Brazilian audience, inviting them to partake in our efforts and together make a difference.”
“In the words of our President Jim Yong Kim, ‘We will never end poverty if we don’t tackle climate change’ – says Lucia Grenna, Connect4Climate Program Manager. “Connect4Climate aims to ignite a discussion that calls for strong action on climate change, and for a global climate change movement. With over 200 partners across the world working together to reach the most diverse audiences and to achieve tangible outcomes Connect4Climate fits perfectly into this exciting initiative, and we look forward to giving maximum exposure to the films and bring local voices to a global audience.”
Crackle’s ubiquitous presence and free applications facilitate access to the Brazilian audience across mobile devices, connected televisions, and web via http://www.crackle.com.br. The platforms include Google Chrome, Google TV, Sony Bravia TV, Samsung TV, LG TV and their Blu-Ray Streamers, Apple TV, PS3, PS4, XBOX 360, XBOX One, Windows 8, Blackberry, iOS, Android and Kindle Fire.
Below is a summary of the five short films that comprise Crackle’s Cinema Green Project:
“Operação Chorume” by Amanda Kadobayashi and Leonardo Khuriyeh
Carlos Eduardo (ECO-92) exhibits anti-sustainable behavior throughout his daily life. One day he is approached by the BOPA (Battalion for Environmental Operations) and taken to a training center where he is subjected to an arduous learning process and starts to act in a sustainable way.
“Adenor” by Ricardo Soares
Adenor is a senior citizen of 72 years who worked in the farm and eventually became rich. He started smoking early and had always seen the cigarette as something that would keep him company. In the monotony of the rural area, time passes very slowly. Life is inert. By intuition, he knew his time was running out and that the finish line would soon come. Since that epiphany, Adenor transformed cigarettes into organic fertilizer and began planting. Also, as a ritual, he prepares his cross and his grave alongside his wife.
“My vehicle, the Bike” by Guilherme Farkas
The documentary presents the bicycle as an important mean of urban transportation. The film follows the life of three characters who roam the streets of Niterói city: a university professor, a drugstore delivery guy and a mechanic.
“Staying and Resisting” by Daniel Soares
This documentary aims to address the issue of traditional communities and their role on preserving the environment in which they live. Through interviews and images of everyday life at the Itaipu traditional fishermen “caiçara” community and the descendants of former slaves, the film traces a parallel between the creation of the Park of Serra da Tiririca and the endurance of traditional inhabitants, as well as the speculation in the region that deprive fishermen of their activity.
“Sitiê” by Filipe Tomassini and Rafael Andreoni
In the Alto Vidigal’s favela region is the Sitiê Ecological Park, a conservation area created by locals. With the testimony of the founders, the film demonstrates how the park can be a sustainable model for urban space, and an alternate path to the “civilizing” process that accompanies the pacification of the favelas.
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of The World Bank.
About Crackle, Inc.
Crackle, Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, is a multi-platform next-generation video entertainment network that distributes digital content including original short form series and full-length traditional television programming and feature films from Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Screen Gems and others. Crackle is one of the fastest growing entertainment destinations on the Internet today, offering audiences quality programming in a variety of genres, including comedy, action, sci-fi, horror, music and reality.Crackle reaches an impressive audience through its diverse online and mobile distribution network. Crackle is available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Latin America and Brazil. Visit Crackle at crackle.com.
About Connect4Climate
Connect4Climate (http://www.connect4climate.org) is a campaign, a coalition and a community dedicated to driving global action on climate change, connecting and amplifying climate initiatives and activities, and creating social currency and political capital for climate action. It works with more than 180 partner organizations around the world, and is funded by the World Bank, the Italian Ministry of the Environment. http://www.connect4climate.org – http://facebook.com/connect4climate – http://twitter.com/connect4climate
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