Fourth Annual ENVISION Conference to Focus on ‘Stories for a Sustainable Future’

A two-day conference to be held in New York City later this month, “Envision 2012:  Stories for a Sustainable Future”, will focus on developing a better global future with opportunity for all, building on three key issues:  just and sustainable cities; clean water; and green energy.  The conference, a unique partnership between the Creative Community Outreach Initiative of the United Nations Department of Public Information, the Independent Filmmaker Project and the Ford Foundation, was founded on the shared belief that storytelling and documentary film can be powerful tools in building a better future for all people.

Now in its fourth year, the gathering on 16 and 17 April connects United Nations experts and non-governmental organizations with some of the most creative minds in filmmaking and new media, and enables them to work together to find new and compelling ways to create momentum for social change.  Anchored by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and held at the Ford Foundation's New York headquarters, the event will help build momentum for the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development being held in Brazil from 20 to 22 June.

Highlights of the event, which will be hosted by Scott Tong, sustainability correspondent for the popular National Public Radio programme Marketplace, include an opening address by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro; a keynote address by Don Cheadle, Academy Award-nominated actor and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme; a conversation with Alexandra Cousteau, founder of Blue Legacy; and an opening-night screening of Last Call at the Oasis, with its Academy Award-winning director, Jessica Yu, in attendance.

Mr. Cheadle heads a stellar cast of keynote speakers and performers that also includes Jason Clay of the World Wide Fund for Nature, and singer and social activist Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock.

"The future we want can only be sustainable if our children have the same opportunities that we and previous generations have enjoyed,” said Maher Nasser, acting head of the United Nations Department of Public Information.  “As the Rio+20 Conference approaches, let us ensure that this message and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's critical emphasis on sustainability is communicated successfully.  Envision 2012 is an excellent opportunity to realize this by engaging filmmakers in the challenge of bringing these issues to life in a compelling way.”

“We are honoured to present this year’s Envision with the Ford Foundation and the United Nations,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of the Independent Filmmaker Project.  “Our global community faces ever-present challenges in addressing the issue of sustainability, and our organization is in the unique position of being able to deliver very impactful storytellers who inspire creative solutions and tools with the real potential for change.”

“Storytelling, in documentaries and all forms of visualization, is a powerful tool in winning hearts and minds and driving change,” said Orlando Bagwell, director of the Ford Foundation’s JustFilms initiative.  “We see this gathering as a wonderful opportunity for filmmakers and producers to forge new creative partnerships with the people who have knowledge and information, and who know where the real stories are.”

On Tuesday, 17 April, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Envision will be streamed live at www.envisionfilm.org.  The webcast will be available on demand after the event at www.un.org/webcast.  Full details of the programme are now available online.

For further information, please contact Jon Herbertsson, Creative Community Outreach Initiative, United Nations Department of Public Information, at tel.:  +1 212 963 7346; e-mail:  herbertsson@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record