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"Dar Fur - War for Water", a documentary about the fight for water in the Sudanese province of Darfur, has received the award for best documentary at the ECOZINE International Environmental Film Festival in Spain's Zaragoza. The film was made by Slovenian director Maja Weiss and activist Tomo Kriznar. "Darfur - Vojna za vodo", as it title runs in Slovenian, sheds light on the events among the rebels before and after the signing of a deal between the Sudanese government and the self-proclaimed leader of the Sudan Liberation Army, Minni Arcuo Minawi.

The accord, signed in May 2006, was only a political farce with which some leaders washed their hands before the domestic and world publics, while the genocide over the people of Darfur resumed only three days after the signing.

 

In justifying its choice, the jury said "the film has a powerful message, and its goal is not to bag festival awards but make people acquainted with taboos". "The same is true of its directorship and photography," the jury was quoted by agency Giedon on Sunday.

 

Festival director Pedro Pineiro said the film was a shocking report by heroes of our time who dare to take a camera and go to the forbidden areas where industrialised countries keep killing indigenous people and rob them of natural resources to preserve the privilege of Europe's dominance.

Kriznar, who has visited Darfur on several occasions and was even late President Janez Drnovsek envoy to the region, was happy with the recognition from the festival, saying the ECOZINE had the courage to bring up taboos and discuss topics which major media outlets avoid to report on or often even try to cover up.

 

After being first screened last May at the film market at the Cannes Film Festival, the film has travelled to several festivals, and received a special Amnesty International award at the international film festival in Durban, South Africa.

 

Just like Kriznar's first film about Sudan (Nuba: The Pure People), this co-production of public broadcaster TV Slovenija and the national Film Fund was made to encourage politicians, activists and NGOs to help bring peace to Darfur.

 

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