Tura, Nov 22: Highlighting the importance of climate change and environmental protection awareness, for the very first time the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) and the Fungi Foundation successfully hosted a special screening event at the District Auditorium, Tura.
The Fungi Foundation is a global NGO dedicated to advancing our understanding of fungi through research, innovative solutions, education, and public policy recommendations for their conservation.
The event featured four compelling short films exploring diverse environmental themes, celebrating the deep connections between nature, culture, and conservation.
The highlight of the screening was The Mushroom Keepers, a Fungi Foundation production directed by filmmaker Naveed Mulki, a powerful film that delves into the intricate connections between fungi and the Garo and Khasi communities. It beautifully captured the cultural traditions, ecological wisdom, and profound relationship between local communities and these remarkable organisms. The film also served as an important reminder to work towards the preservation of biodiversity and cultural traditions together.
The screening also included three other acclaimed films:
• The Legend of Goldhorn (Slovenia)
• Krem Umladaw: The Descent into Darkness (India)
• Phool Dei (India)
This event was especially significant as it honored and celebrated the communities featured in The Mushroom Keepers, who had graciously shared their stories and welcomed the filmmakers into their worlds. These Elders are the respected custodians of profound ecological wisdom and traditional knowledge of mycology, passed down through generations. Not only does the film capture the significance of fungi, but it also serves as a vital tool to preserve and document the knowledge of these Elders, ensuring that their traditions, so critical to our understanding of the natural world, are safeguarded for future generations.
The screening was free and open to the public, drawing an engaged audience including school children and sparking meaningful conversations around environmental stewardship and cultural preservation. These films will be screened in Shillong at the Living Roof Cafe at 4pm on the 24th of November as well.
