Ocean Film Festival presented to the People of Samoa by the United Nations
(Apia, Samoa) 26 August 2014 – As a special gift to the people of Samoa for hosting the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, the United Nations is sponsoring a four-day film festival in partnership with the United States-based BLUE Ocean Film Festival and the National University of Samoa.
“We are pleased to support this unique initiative between BLUE and the National University of Samoa,” said Christian Clark, United Nations Spokesperson for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States. “Media has the power to catalyze important discussions. We hope this festival will help inspire dialogue between the Samoan people and arriving delegations, media and others attending this important meeting.”
The Conference will focus the world’s attention on a group of countries that remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities. The meeting seeks a renewed political commitment to address the special needs and vulnerabilities of small islands and aims to identify opportunities for sustainable development of those states, particularly through the strengthening of partnerships between small islands and the international community.
“We are honored to support the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, and to partner with the United Nations for our films,” said Deborah Kinder, Co-founder and CEO of BLUE. “This supports our mission to provide global educational outreach that inspires people everywhere to connect with ocean conservation, and to serve as a catalyst for discussion.”
The United Nations has selected a number of different films for BLUE On Tour to engage a broad range of people, from experts to governments, on the issues surrounding ocean and climate change. This is the first time that the UN has partnered with BLUE, which was chosen for its wide range of ocean films.
The four-day BLUE On Tour film festival will be held at the National University of Samoa in Apia, Samoa on 26-29 August at lunchtime in Room D-210.
Film Schedule: UPDATE: Films will also be shown Friday afternoon
Tuesday, 26 August – Planet Ocean – Part I, Hope Productions
Wednesday, 27 August – Planet Ocean – Part II, Hope Productions
Thursday, 28 August – World’s Largest Marine Park, Khalid bin Sultan Living Oceans, Foundation: Mapping the Blue; Selected Shorts, UNEP, The Krill is Gone
Friday, 29 August – Saving Our Tuna, UNDP; Swains Island, Jean Michel Cousteau, Ocean Futures Society
For more information regarding this event, please visit: http://www.blueoceanfilmfestival.org/blue_on_tou_samoa.htm
Media Contacts:
Samoa
BLUE On Tour
Charlotte Vick, charlotte.vick@gmail.com
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Diane Loughran, loughran@un.org
New York
UN Department of Public Information
Wynne Boelt, boelt@un.org
BLUE On Tour Samoa media inquiries (USA)
Martha Shaw mailto:Martha@earthadvertising.com?