IMEL’s First Student Environmental Law Film Festival

15 Oct 2012
15 Oct 2012

IMEL’s first Student Environmental Law Film Festival was held on 21 September 2012 in the Kramer Law Building, Faculty of Law. The films that were screened were produced by students in two masters in law courses, Pollution Law and Natural Resources Law as part of a project that forms the practical component of these courses. The students were tasked (in groups) with taking on a theme of their choice and producing a film. The aim of the project is to allow students to get practical exposure (through the making of the film) to some of the real-world issues that we face in the environment and how they connect to the law. A secondary aim is that of awareness raising – through the film festival, but also by hosting the film on the website of the Institute of Marine and Environmental Law. We screened 7 films: 4 produced by students in the Natural Resources Law course and 3 produced by students in the Pollution Law course.
Tankiso, Sabine and Damien receiving their “living awards”
  • Alien Mussel (produced by Tammy Robinson, Damien Weldon, Sabine Zajderman and Tankiso Mohobo) looks at the successful utilisation of an alien species, normally considered a threat to indigenous species in the quest for BEE. You can view the film here.
  • Cape Leopard (produced by David Bishop, Deon Jeannes and Eishe Heitmann) is somewhat of an investigative piece and looks at the continued culling of leopards by farmers. You can view the film here.
  • Search for Light (produced by Ian Smorfitt, Xenia Zwanziger and Sarika Chetty) highlights the controversies around possible prospecting and mining in areas currently under productive agricultural use and focuses specifically on the Verlorenvlei area around Piketberg. You can view the film here.
  • Biodiversity and Fynbos (produced by Yvette Allan, Charles Norman, Duncan Smorfitt, and Dominique Kloek) explores the value of fynbos as well as threats to import vegetation type and specifically raises the issue of whether the law adequately protects it. You can view the film here.
  • The Honeymoon is Over (produced by Grant Walter, Deidre Herbst, Nicole Limberis and Tankiso Mohobo) showcases the dire consequences for directors of companies who transgresses pollution law. You can view the film here.
  • Where there is Smoke there is Fire (produced by Susan Campbell, Damian Weldon, Robin Hugo and Nceba Ncaphayi) investigates who is behind the illegal burning of a landfill site. You can view the film here.
  • Pins and Needles (produced by Leon Breytenbach, David Bishop, Ian Brumfit and Eishe Heitmann (tackles the complex issue of medical waste and the challenges in regulating it). You can view the film here.

Our awards were generously sponsored by Norton Rose Attorneys, Webber Wentzel Attorneys, Cliffe Decker Hofmeyer Attorneys and LexisNexis South Africa. We created four categories, named after each of our sponsors. The actual awards were, in the true spirit of the environment and sustainable development, a living award that supports community development, namely an indoor herb garden, made with locally produced herbs and packaged in recyclable materials. The results from the awards ceremony were as follows:

  • Norton Rose Award (Best Translation of Law into Art) - Where there is Smoke there is Fire
  • Webber Wentzel Award (Best Cinematography) - Pins and Needles
  • Cliffe Decker Hofmeyer Award (Best Sound and Score) - Alien Mussel
  • LexisNexis Award (Best Picture) - Pins and Needles