African Enviromental Film Foundation

Programs: African environmental film foundationaccomplishments 1st october 2016 30th september 2017the annual board meeting was held in new york city on 27th september 2017. Aeff continues to produce and distribute educational films about environmental issues in africa. Film projects, continued from the prior year:1. Filming on aeffs marine film (kuruwitu), is now in its third year of production and was the primary focus for this year. The filming was not completed as planned and is now estimated for january 2018. Upon completion, the film will be shown to thousands of fishermen and their wives and children along the full length of the kenyan coast, as well as in many countries across africa. 2. The standard gauge railway. This film, which records the largest development project ever undertaken in kenya, was begun in 2014. It has recorded the construction and followed the daily problems that such a venture faces without losing sight of the importance of the environment. The release of the film has been delayed. Two critical factors causing the delay:a. The elephants are continuing to cross the railway lines and are not using the underpasses as originally expected. Two attempts to build a suitable fence have failed; the elephants have pushed over the fences and the electrification was not adequate. B. A station within the tsavo national park, which was constructed for tourist use, was not functioning. 3. Ntv wild. Aeff continued its partnership with ntv wild (nation tv) to make aeff films available to the kenyan population. Numerous comments received after the aeff screenings confirmed that aeff had met its mandate to educate the audience on the senseless abuse of flora and fauna as well as the need for focused, intentional conservation. New film projects, started this year:1. Aeff partnered with the wildlife direct outreach and education in the dvds for schools program. Although, having a presence on local television gave aeff a boost in visibility, it is important to not overlook the need to make the aeff films available to remote areas that do not have access to television. Aeff provided 175 dvds for screening in the remote amboseli area schools program. These reached children in more than 50 schools that rarely have an opportunity to see films, but are living in areas susceptible to human-wildlife conflict. 2. Tsavo history films aeff is creating the first documentary series on kenyas largest national park entitled the tsavo history films. This series of films will give kenyans their first comprehensive history of one of their greatest assets tsavo national park. The films will explore how tsavo, a microcosm of issues facing the world and an area of global importance, has survived and what it represents for its people, and the world, as kenya moves into the age of industrialization. The films will record the earliest references to ivory trading through the tumultuous times of kenyas history, up to the present, using ancient and modern photographs, art and personal accounts to illustrate the impact the various periods and events had on tsavo and its wildlife. Logistical arrangements are being made to prepare for the filming. It will be necessary to employ a team of editors for this project. Aeff is upgrading its tsavo headquarters to provide accommodation and editing facilities. A great deal of primary and secondary sources research has been undertaken this year. This research will be carried out throughout the production and editing period of the series. Estimated completion is projected for the middle of 2019.