As part of the 2004 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital, Earthwatch Institute will present its 2004 Earthwatch Film Award to Lords of the Artic , with a United States festival premiere screening on March 23 rd , at National Geographic in Washington, D.C.

Lords of the Arctic is a co-production of The National Film Board of Canada (NFB), Glacialis Productions , and Gedeon Programmes. The award presentation will take place on Tuesday, March 23 at 7 pm in the National Geographic's Grosvenor Auditorium. The evening will be introduced by Dr. Marie Studer, Chief Science Officer, Earthwatch Institute , and the Earthwatch Film Award will be presented to film director Caroline Underwood by Earthwatch Science Advisor and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Wade Davis. Discussion with the filmmaker follows the screening.

In Lords of the Arctic , wildlife specialist Caroline Underwood focuses on northern wildlife and its close and tragic relationship to climate change. The film examines the plight of the polar bear as well as the precarious situation of bowhead and beluga whales, seals, walruses and many species of birds. Following the six seasons of Inuit, this in-depth exploration of the world of Arctic wildlife presents animals as the first victims of a system in flux.

In speaking about her experience making the film, Underwood says " The Arctic is an incredibly large, open expanse that seems both completely desolate in some areas, and teeming with life in others, like around openings in the ice. The number of animal species in and around these openings is incredible - like an oasis. I was deeply moved by the signs I saw of radical climate change. Like Louis Fortier says at the end of the movie, 'we risk losing what is special in the Arctic.'"

" Lords of the Arctic , with its spectacular footage of the fragile yet breathtakingly beautiful landscape and animals, brings alive the drama of global climate change, and makes the case for scientific field research, so critical to effective conservation," commented Dr. Mark Chandler, Director of Research for Earthwatch Institute.
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Lords of the Arctic is one of five films in the documentary series Arctic Mission , filmed in high definition as a team of filmmakers, sailors and scientists undertook a voyage across the Arctic aboard the sailing vessel Sedna IV. Their mission was three-fold: to study the impact of climate change in the Arctic, film this little-known part of the world and share the magical universe of the far north with the world.

Tickets are required. National Geographic and Earthwatch members, $13 with advance purchase or reservations only. Nonmembers , $16. For information and to order tickets, please call 202-857-7700 or fax your ticket request to 202-857-7747. The National Geographic, Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium is located at 1600 M. St., NW (METRO: Farragut North).

The Arctic Mission series is a co-production of Glacialis Productions (Jean Lemire), the National Film Board of Canada (Éric Michel, Colette Loumède and Sally Bochner) and Gedeon Programmes (Stéphane Millière). More information and a cyberdocumentary about the making of the series and the Sedna IV can be found at www.nfb.ca/sedna/

Earthwatch Institute is an international nonprofit organization which supports scientific field research worldwide by offering members of the public unique opportunities to work alongside leading field scientists and researchers. The Institute's mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.

Founded in 1971 in Boston, Earthwatch Institute ( www.earthwatch.org ) is an international nonprofit organization that engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Earthwatch Institute has offices in Maynard, Massachusetts; Oxford, England; Melbourne, Australia; and Tokyo, Japan. 50,000 members and supporters are spread across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, with 4,000 volunteering their time and skills to work with 140 research scientists each year on Earthwatch-sponsored field research projects in 49 countries.


About the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital
Originally founded in 1993, the 2004 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital ( www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org ) presents 90 films from 30 countries. There are 51 film premieres and 53 organizations are collaborating with the festival on its screenings. Most events are free and this year 22 filmmakers will be discussing their work along with scientists, educators and cultural leaders who add depth to film topics.

About the National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Since its creation in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada has produced over 10,000 films and won more than 4,000 awards - including 10 Oscars®. As Canada's public film producer, the NFB produces and distributes distinctive, culturally diverse, challenging and relevant audiovisual works that provide Canada and the world with a unique Canadian perspective. To purchase NFB products or for more information, visit www.nfb.ca.

More information and a cyberdocumentary about the making of the Arctic Mission series and the Sedna IV can be found at www.nfb.ca/sedna/

High-resolution images of the film can be downloaded at the National Film Board of Canada's website at www.nfb.ca/photogallery . The filmmakers are available for interviews.