Accra, April 4, GNA - An environmental film festival, aimed at creating awareness about the environment, is to be held from Monday April 18 to Saturday April 23 at various locations in Accra. Dubbed the "Environmental Film Festival of Accra (EFFA)," it would showcase 35 short and feature length films from 21 different countries, many of which are African.

The films, to be screened free of charge at Alliance Fran=E7aise, G=F6ethe Institute, Busy Internet Caf=E9 and the NAFTI Hostel Theatre, would also involve discussions and presentations by filmmakers, environmentalists and policy makers.

Dr Claudia D'Andrea, Festival Coordinator, briefing the media on Monday at a preview, said the film genres would range from animation, drama and documentary, which would be suitable for all ages. She said the festival, the first of its kind in Ghana, was aimed at augmenting the growing attention to environmental issues by employing the medium of film to learn more about environmental problems and solutions that could be found in other parts of the world. "These films also emphasize the human stories, both positive and negative, that surround environmental issues.

"By utilizing films that draw on humour, passion and innovative storytelling methods, the messages from these films have an enormous capacity to make a long-lasting impact on viewers."

According to Dr D'Andrea, the award-winning films come from other prestigious festivals including the Washington DC Environmental Film Festival, USA 2004; Berlin Film Festival, Germany 2003 and African Film Festival of Milan, Italy 2004.

EFFA seeks to bring films to Ghana that would raise awareness about social and environmental problems both locally and around the world while pointing the way to a new paradigm for living happily, healthily and sustainably.

The Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Accra and Nestl=E9 Ghana Limited are supporting the EFFA programme.