145 films that aim to take our planet’s pulse

It’s the longest-standing film in its genre and, after 23 years, is still in fine fettle. FICMA, the Barcelona International Environmental Film Festival, is set to screen 145 films from 3 to 11 November, selected from the almost 2,300 that took part in the competition. These films will be screened at the usual venues: Cinemes Girona (Official Section), Universitat de Barcelona, Pompeu Fabra and Blanquerna (UniFICMA route), and CosmoCaixa (Petit FICMA, with films for kids, workshops and other activities). The programme is packed with productions that aim to take our planet’s pulse, as well as taking a critical look at the critical humanitarian conditions of refugees. The festival director, Jaume Gil, believes that FICMA "isn’t just a film festival, but also a meeting place for ideas, activities and stories that can give us hope, since despite the terrible situations that we are living through, the answer is in our own hands".

The opening day, on 3 November, will take place at the French Institute in Barcelona, with the screening of Terra, a film by Yann Arthus Bertrand, while the closing day, at CaixaForum on November 10, sees the screening of the documentary Chasing Asylum, by the Oscar-winning director Eva Orner. The closing ceremony and award-giving will be led by the actress Silvia Segovia, and will feature a performance by singer-songwriter Meïa.

This year the festival will give a special Sol d'Or Award to the NGO Proactiva Open Arms and the documentary Astral by Jordi Évole, as well as paying tribute to Berta Cáceres, who was murdered in 2016 for defending the environment.