Video Productions

ACACIA Productions is currently producing (in association with Prof. L Harris of the Centre for International Financial Studies at SOAS, London University) a series of training films about macro-economic theory and practice for the IMF Institute in Washington.

Several of our productions have won international awards and created considerable interest in the issues concerned: in particular VIETNAM: AFTER THE FIRE, “FUTURE FOR FORESTS”, AMAZON INDIANS and NO EASY WALK. These are highlighted in the list below.

Previous productions

1. PARTNERSHIPS IN SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY (2000) (14 mins) A short film for SKY TV Community Channel (for Tx in early 2001) about the need for sustainable forestry methods to be promoted and the work of the Scottish charity Just World Partners.

2. THE LONDON CYCLE NETWORK (2000): A short documentary film about recent developments for cyclists in London for the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.

3. LAST PLANT STANDING (1999) (4 x 50 mins) in association with IPGRI, Rome and TVE, London) a major series for NHK (Japan), about plant genetic resources in a rapidly changing world. The series explores the global conservation and use of plant genetic resources and was filmed in 32 countries. Individual prorammes stand alone as well as working as a series: the second programme - The Vavilov File - has just been broadcast on the French channel ARTE/La Sept, and the series is being narrowcast to educational establishments throughout North America.

4. A FARM IN UGANDA (1998): 10 minutes video for Kulika Trust about a successful organic farm in Ugandarun by former Kulika trainees.

5. MONTSERRAT: UNDER THE VOLCANO (1997): A 10 minute film about life on Montserrat since the first volcanic eruption in August 1995. Produced for ODA.

6. BIODIVERSITY: WEALTH OR WILDERNESS? (1996): A 6-minute news feature for BBC WorldService series "Earth Report" previewing the forthcoming Leipzig conference about the state of the world’s plant genetic resources.

7. SEEDS OF HOPE FOR RWANDA (1995): A 16-minute documentary about the international collaboration to restore seed for Rwanda’s agriculture. For 50^th Anniversary of FAO.

8. BAD HARVEST (1995): Publicity video for WWF(UK) to coincide with publication of the book “Bad Harvest” by Nigel Dudley about forestry and biodiversity.

9. SOMALILAND REPORT (1993): A video news report (4.20 min) on the political and economic situation in Somaliland in late 1993 (in collaboration with ACTIONAID) for BBC World Service News.

10. A FUTURE FOR FORESTS (1993): A 25 minute video for WWF to coincide with the launch of the international FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL and their world-wide timber-labelling scheme. Winner of special award by US National Environmental Education Association (1994).

11. THE WOKABOUT SOMIL (1993): A 25-minute video for the charity UKFSP about portable "wokabout somils" as a new community-based technique for sustainable tropical forestry.

12. WOKABOUT SOMIL REPORT (1993): A news report (7 min) for Channel Four News about a new technique for moving towards sustainable harvesting of tropical forests.

13. SOCOTRA: ISLAND OF DRAGON’S BLOOD (1993): A 25 minute documentary about the unique trees and other plants of Socatra (Republic of Yemen) and the need for conservation.

14. SPIRIT OF TREES (1992): A series of 8 x 30 minute programmes for Channel Four TV and RTE presented by Dick Warner about "the complexities of our relationship with these enormous plants".

15. DROUGHT IN TIGRAY (1991): A 7 minute News report for ITN/Channel Four News about the drought in Tigray, and the relief programme being run by the Relief Society of Tigray in the province under rebel administration (TPLF).

16. AMAZON INDIANS (1990): An eleven-minute report for ITN/Channel Four News about the granting of land rights to Indians in the Colombian Amazon. One half of the Channel Four entry which won the BEST ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS Award at Wildscreen, Bristol 1990, and Best Environmental News at Media Natura Awards.

17. THE GREENING OF THAILAND (1990): A one hour documentary (for Channel Four’s FRAGILE EARTH series) about the process of deforestation in Thailand and the growth of the environmental movement in that country.

18. CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS: WHAT FUTURE? (1990): A 25 minute video about human rights in CHT (Bangladesh) for the Norwegian Government, IWGIA (Copenhagen), and the Committee for Humanitarian Aid to the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

19. VIETNAM: AFTER THE FIRE (1988): A two hour documentary film (for Channel Four’s TRUE STORIES series) about the environmental after-effects of the Vietnam War. This film was awarded SPECIAL JURY PRIZE at the BANFF International Film Festival 1989 (Canada), and BEST FILM MADE FOR TELEVISION at the 1990 International Documentary Festival of New York; Honourable Mention: Golden Gate Awards, San Francisco.

20. SHARING THE BURDEN (1989): A 20 minute video for UNICEF Kenya, about the development problems for women and children in Kenya, and some of the UNICEF initiatives to support women and children in rural areas.

21. FARMING FOR THE FUTURE (1989): A 30-minute documentary film about a long-term agriculture and conservation project sponsored by one of Britain’s largest Insurance Companies. The film was on continuous show at the 1990 UK Festival of Food and Farming in Hyde Park and has been distributed to all the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Groups in UK.

22. YOUNG VIETNAM (1988): A 30-minute documentary film for the BBC Schools "SCENE" and Youth Programmes "DEF II" about young people in Vietnam today.

23. STORM ON THE MOUNTAIN (1988): A one hour documentary film for Grampian TV and Channel Four’s Fragile Earth series, about the environmental conflicts over the future of the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland.

24. NO EASY WALK (1987): Three one hour documentary films for Channel Four TV about the struggle for Independence in Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Winner of Silver and Bronze Apple Awards at the US National Educational Film and Video Festival, 1989.