Introducing: Why Invest In Nature? A Short Film Competition
4th March 2019
Young filmmakers with a passion for nature are being sought for our new competition that aims to encourage businesses to see the benefits of the natural world. We have joined forces with the Scottish Forum on Natural Capital (SFNC) to help promote why businesses should care for and invest in nature. Rebecka Bergh, who is helping to organise the competition, explains all.
Businesses depend on nature for resources like timber or water supplies. They also benefit from a range of services provided by nature, such as pollination of crops and nutrient cycling in soils, or healthy environments for people to live in or visit. By making the connections between businesses and nature visible, we hope that decision-makers in all sectors will see the benefits of protecting Scotland's nature and make certain that it prospers. We need to move towards a society where we live within the resource boundaries of the planet and don't damage our natural environment or the species that live within it. Businesses need to be part of that transition. Caring for, and investing in, nature is vital for long-term business operations and will provide benefits for the whole of society, such as improving public health and well being.
We want to give businesses and policymakers a better understanding of how they both rely and impact on nature, to make sure that Scotland's environment can thrive. Therefore, we're looking for short films to communicate this message to businesses, and we're looking for help from young people. This is a part of our work to continue the legacy of Scotland's Year of Young People and to give young people an opportunity to influence businesses and the future of their natural environment.
This competition is an opportunity for those aged 16-30 to demonstrate their creative skills and present a convincing case for business investment in nature that will benefit all of us. Plus, there are some great prizes up for grabs!
There are six different categories on offer, each representing key business sectors in Scotland with an interest in nature. These include food, drink and agriculture, forestry and land management, energy, the built environment, tourism and finance. The winner of each of our six categories will receive £500 and one overall winner will be chosen to receive an additional £500. We are backed by businesses from each sector that will sponsor the category prizes and also be a part of the judging panel. These include Scottish Woodlands, Scottish Land & Estates, Baillie Gifford, Scottish Power, Robertson Tayside - part of Robertson group and Speyside Wildlife. For some of the categories there are also additional prizes from the sponsors, aiming to encourage the young person’s learning and development.
In addition, we’re also collaborating with Creative Scotland and YoungScot to reach a broad range of young people. We’d like to see participants who have an interest in environmental issues but also those with a passion for storytelling and film-making. With the competition running from early spring into early summer, it allows for some beautiful landscape footage, but we also encourage a range of video entries such as animations or stop motion. We are excited to bring together young people and businesses in this creative project and to raise awareness of the importance of businesses caring for and investing in Scotland’s environment.
Video entries must highlight why businesses should invest in nature and how business can play a role in protecting and rebuilding our environment, and will be used in our future work with businesses. The competition will run between the 18 February and 31 May 2019, with the winner being announced in June. Find out more about the competition here together with the terms and conditions for entering.
Best of luck to those participating!
Find out more at https://www.nature.scot/filmcompetition
For inspiration, here is a short film, from Scottish Forum on Natural Capital showcasing the importance of Scotland’s natural cap
