Short films to debate environmental crises

Animate Projects and RSA Arts & Ecology, in partnership with Arts Council England and Channel 4, have commissioned seven artists to make short films for the internet exploring ecological themes.

The artists’ diverse approaches aim to challenge common perceptions and clichés surrounding current debates about environmental crises and their human impact.  The artists represent countries across the globe, including the UK, US, Switzerland, Sweden and Korea.

The films will premiere on the Arts and Ecology website in June 2008 on. Titles include D is for Dodo, by Jordan Baseman, an account of the last Dodo in captivity, narrated against images of rural gasoline stations at night, and Make it Snow! Make it Snow! Make it Snow! by Manu Luksch (pictured), which considers the use of snow cannons in winter tourism. Animate Projects develops initiatives that explore the relationship between art and animation. Since 1990, it has offered more than 90 artists and animators a space to create and present new work, to a wide audience – nationally and internationally – through broadcast, screenings, festivals and exhibitions.

Gemma Lloyd, project co-ordinator, said: "We want to support young artists and a project such as this is a brilliant opportunity for film-makers to make their name known."