See you in Copenhagen

Short films kick off the climate change summit.

by Jennie Kermode

Can film make a difference? According to officials at the United Nations Foundation, it can be a vital tool with which to explain and discuss the issues that will concern world leaders at this week's Copenhagen climate change summit. That's why the summit is kicking off with a series of short films made specially for it.

"These film vividly demonstrate that the world and our future are gravely at risk from climate change," says UNF vice president Reid Detchon. "The UN talks in Copenhagen mark a special moment in time, an opportunity to move forward toward a new climate agreement and a new round of economic growth based on the transition to clean energy. These films can help build the political will to make that happen."

Focused on real life stories each of which constitutes a piece of the summit's 'policy puzzle', the films have been made with the support of Hugh Jackman and other leading figures in the industry. The event kicked off with a separately commissioned science fiction short called Please Help The World, in which a young girl has a nightmare about a devastated future Earth and pleads with her audience to stop it coming true.

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