January 2013: The Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) has announced film and photo competitions focused on forests. It also plans to honor “Forest Heroes.”

The film competition, organized in collaboration with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, invites the submission of short films of up to five minutes on the theme “Forests for People.” The films should demonstrate how forests are important to or inspire the filmmaker. The UNFF photo competition, which is global in scope, is meant to capture images of individual’s relationships to forests.

The UNFF will also recognize the contributions of everyday people who implement innovative and inspirational approaches to forest management through the Forest Heroes Awards. The contests will run until 22 February 2013 following which, semi-finalists and finalists will be chosen by an international panel of judges.

The selected films will be shown at the tenth meeting of the UNFF (UNFF 10) to be held from 8 to 19 April 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey, and at the 2013 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival to be held from the 23-27 September 2013. Winners of the photo and Forest Heroes competitions will also be recognized at UNFF 10. [UNFF Press Release] [UNFF Short Film Contest] [UNFF Photo Contest] [UNFF Forest Heroes Award]