IAFFF 2023 Guangzhou | Video Symposium - Ecological Balance·More than Symbiosis

On November 4, 2023, the International Animal Future Film Festival (IAFFF) held an online symposium with the theme of "Ecological Balance·More than Symbiosis". This symposium is an important event of IAFFF and aims to invite people from different field experts, to share their knowledge and experience, as well as their views and suggestions on ecological balance and sustainable development. 

Three experts from different fields are Zhu Xi, a natural education lecturer, outdoor first aid instructor, and founder of a natural ecological brand; Celina, a sustainable travel advocate, wildlife protector, and business unit leader; and an ecological animal documentary director, BBC Alicia Hayden, natural history unit illustrator and junior researcher. 

At the "Ecological Balance·More than Symbiosis" symposium, IAFFF played 7 selected films, allowing the audience to appreciate natural images from all over the world and feel the beauty and diversity of nature, as well as the charm and power of natural images. 

These videos were submitted through FilmFreeway and created by nature and ecological photographers from 32 countries, covering different themes and styles, such as wildlife, eco-travel, nature education, ecological protection, natural art, etc. These films not only showcase the photographers’ skills and creativity but also their emotions and ideas, as well as their concern and respect for nature and ecology. 

After introducing ourselves, we invite three guests for answers and discussions. Topics include how to create and disseminate wildlife conservation content, nature education and ecological protection, and ecological balance and sustainable development. The three guests shared their insights and suggestions from different perspectives and experiences, demonstrating their professionalism and enthusiasm. They also interacted and communicated with the audience and answered some questions and opinions raised by the audience, making the symposium more lively and interesting. 

They shared their experiences and insights in wildlife protection and nature education with the audience, discussed how to balance the relationship between the attraction of eco-tourism and the protection of the natural environment, and how to convey the concept of ecological protection through images and art, information and value. 

After watching the movie, the three guests introduced themselves. Zhu Xi first shared her motivation and process for engaging in nature education and ecological photography. She has had a strong interest and hobby in nature and animals since she was a child. She hopes that through her work, more people will understand and care about China's native species and ecology, as well as global biodiversity and ecological crises. She also displayed some of her work from the National Geographic National Photography Competition, including images of giant pandas and crested ibises, which aroused admiration and curiosity from the audience. 

Celina told the story of why she chose to travel across industries to Kenya to promote sustainable travel and wildlife conservation. She was originally a financial practitioner, but she has deep emotions and respect for nature and animals. She believes that humans and nature are inseparable and should live in harmony instead of exploitation and destruction. She met a group of like-minded people in Kenya, and together they created a sustainable travel platform that aims to educate and inspire people through travel, making them aware of the importance and crisis of wildlife and what they can do to save it. Protect them. 

Alicia Hayden introduced how she entered the field of wildlife documentary production, as well as some of her works and experiences. She said that she has been full of curiosity and awe of nature and animals since she was a child, and she likes to use paintbrushes and cameras to record and express her observations and feelings about nature. She was lucky enough to work for the BBC's Natural History Unit on some notable documentary projects. Her dream is to use her own perspective and language to tell natural stories, so she also produced some documentaries independently in her spare time, such as "The Watchman (Zimbabwe's Watchman)". She said the documentary tells the story of a local artist named Tich she met in Africa, who used wood carvings and paintings to express his love and respect for elephants, and how he lived in harmony with local animals and communities. s story. She said she hopes that through this documentary, people can see another side of Africa and the combination of animal protection and art, so as to arouse people's resonance and action.