Greed in Africa
We filmed in a recently DDT sprayed village in Northern Uganda. The interviews given by the responsable authorities in the ministry in Kampala proved to consist of merely lies. They had been paid by the chemical industry. It was not the care for their people that had forced the spraying, but it was just their turn to eat, an African expression for this extreme corruption. But sometimes justice prevails: during our stay he and some colleagues had been arrested and put in jail. Photo: Viraj Singh
Read more > >It's our turn to Eat - by Jan van den Berg
It’s our turn to eat, is a well known expression in East Africa and used especially when regime change give new leaders the possibility to fill their pockets through crime and corruption...
Read more > >An Indian struggle against pollution
The ferry over the beautiful Periyar river near Eloor, an island with 160 chemical factories. One of these factories produces DDT, a dangerous pesticide still widely used in India. In case of an accident people are trapped on the island, because the ferry closes at 9 PM. Jose, appointed by Greenpeace as first river keeper in Asia, fights against the pollution of his river. But it doesn’t make him popular amongst his fellow islanders, because many are dependent on these factories. Photo: Pipaluk Knudsen-Ostermann
Read more > >Surviving and painting in India - by Pipaluk Knudsen-Ostermann
After a nine hour flight I arrived at Mumbai airport, where Jan and Subrato (local producer) picked me up. The next morning we met up with the rest of the crew and first went shopping for my tropical travel outfit. Cameraman Viraj understood exactly what I needed, and his friend directed us to the right shops through her mobile. Traffic in Mumbai (25 million inhabitants) is pretty busy and intense so we spent much time in the car.
Read more > >Premiere feature length Silent Snow planned for fall 2010
After 9 awards on International Film Festivals for the short film in which two girls examine the slow poisoning of their environment we’re already working on the long film. We follow Pipaluk Knudsen-Ostermann who’s traveling all over the world to the sources of this pollution. “That we, especially young women, can’t eat our food anymore. The mere thought of it made me crazy.” In different continents she faces heart breaking dilemma’s. The premiere of the feature length film is planned for the fall 2010. Photo Bertrand Lozay
Read more > >Silent Snow in Africa
In Tanzania Pipaluk Knudsen-Ostermann (picture) meets film maker Glory Mollel and discovers how difficult it is to get rid of DDT in an East African village. People can't afford the more expensive alternatives and need something against malaria mosquitoes and flees. The governments of neighboring countries Uganda and Mozambique start indoor spraying of DDT again, leaving the farmers - who just started to grow ecological cotton - with a harvest they can't sell anymore. A solution seems far away. Photo Viraj Singh
Read more > >Two awards for Silent Snow in Japan
The short Silent Snow film won two awards at the Short Shorts Film Festival in Japan with screenings in Tokyo and Yokohama. The prestigious Stop Global Warming Award and J-Wave Audience Award, given by the Japanese minister of environment. The festival is the most important short film festival in Asia.
Read more > >First prize at Planet in Focus 2008
Silent Snow was awarded Best International Short Film at Planet in Focus: International Environmental Film & Video Festival.
The Jury: “a beautiful thoughtful film”
Silent Snow presented at Documentary in Europe
As part of their Succesful Pitch section, Documentary in Europe presented Silent Snow and a Q&A with the producer, during the 12th edition of their workshop (9-12th July 2008).
Read more > >First prize Green Film Festival in Seoul
Silent Snow was awarded Best Short at the Green Film Festival in Seoul including a €3000,- price.
Read more > >