| Marshland Dreams (7 min) Iraq/US |
] |
Saturday 10/18, 1:00 PM (Session 5)
Director/Producer: John Antonelli
Description:
Once the largest ecosystem in the Middle East, and the rich homeland of Sumerians for millennia, the Mesopotamian marshes were destroyed systematically by Saddam Hussein so that they couldn’t shelter rebel forces. Drained and burned, the vital wetland habitat seemed lost forever. Iraqi exile Azzam Alwash, never accepted that this magical place of his childhood could simply cease to exist. For the past ten years, he has wheedled, cajoled, encouraged and coerced his countrymen to help restore the marshes sustainably.
Biography:
John Antonelli has been producing award-winning documentary and educational projects theatrical distribution, cable TV, PBS, syndication, and for an impressive list of corporate clients. Antonelli’s Sam Cooke: Crossing Over series garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Nonfiction Series. The New Environmentalists, narrated by Robert Redford, features stories of grassroots activists from around the world. The program airs on PBS and The Sundance Channel and has screened at film festivals from Barcelona to New Zealand. The program has won three regional Emmy Awards. Angle of Inspiration: Santiago Calatrava’s Sundial Bridge is a half hour documentary that explores the symbiosis between a world class architect and a small Northern California city when the visionary artist introduces the residents to one of his futuristic designs. This program aired on PBS stations across the country and was also honored at several international film festivals. Antonelli produced and directed. The film is available on Netflix. His feature length film Kerouac: King of the Beats has played theatrically in every major city in the U.S. and Canada and was distributed theatrically by October Films. It was recently re-released on HD Blu Ray by Kultur International Films. It was broadcast to critical acclaim on the Arts & Entertainment Network, PBS, The Learning Channel and in a number of major European markets.
Contact Information:
Mill Valley Film Group
e: mvfg@aol.com
w: www.mvfg.com
©2014 United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF)
