More good news for Tasmanian filmmaker Heidi Douglas this week as she found out her film about Tasmania’s forests has been nominated for “Best Short Documentary” at the Forest Film Festival in Portland, Oregon, USA.
The film, “Tasmania’s forests: A Global Treasure, A National Responsibility”, has already won the Katherine Knight Award at the EarthVision International Environmental Film Festival in California in 2005.
Continued recognition of Heidi’s works comes in sharp contrast to the ongoing court case brought against her by Gunns Ltd, Tasmania’s major logging company. Gunns Ltd is claiming almost half a million dollars from Heidi for her alleged involvement with the Tasmanian forest campaign, including the taking of footage for her documentaries.
Heidi is one of 17 individuals and three organisations being sued for almost 7 million dollars by Gunns for their alleged involvement with the campaign to protect Tasmania’s forests.
“One of the consequences of the court case has been a wave of fear within the community, effectively silencing people and discouraging protest. The inclusion of my film in the Forest Film Festival demonstrates the widespread interest in the destruction of Tasmania’s forests within the global community”, said Heidi today.
Oregon’s annual short film and video festival provides a public forum for student and independent filmmakers to showcase their imagination and spirit.
The festival incorporates a diverse, entertaining, selection of animation, documentaries, experimental, and fiction films from various locations around the world that range in length from thirty minutes to 90 seconds.
“The “Forest” in this case is a metaphor for creativity and inspiration”, writes the Portland Tribune.
Watch the film: Here
