Blue Heart

What would you do to protect the last wild rivers in your own country from destruction? The film "Blue Heart" shows people in Albania, Bosnia and Croatia fighting to save their rivers and their habitats - the last untouched, free-flowing river systems in Europe and home of the endangered Balkan lynx....

The aim of the film and the "Blue Heart" project is to raise public awareness worldwide of the massive and long-term negative effects of an unreflected hydropower boom in the Balkans. More than 3,000 dams, often without the local population having a say, are planned or under construction in the Balkans. 91% of these planned projects will generate little energy (less than 10 megawatts), although they are very expensive to build and maintain.

The film "Blue Heart" documents the struggle to protect the Albanian Vjosa, the longest dam-free river in Europe; the efforts to protect the endangered Balkan lynx in Macedonia; and it shows the month-long sit-in strike of women in Kruščica, Bosnia and Herzegovina who stand guard day and night to protect the only source of drinking water in their community.

"Blue Heart" will be shown worldwide from 28 April 2018 in a campaign led by Patagonia. The premiere of the film will take place at the Idbar Dam in Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by screenings throughout the Balkan Peninsula and in large and small cities around the world.

"Blue Heart" is a documentary that convinced our film jury because of its breathtaking picture aesthetics.

We found the film sensually stimulating and were thrilled by the images, music and editing.

The film presents a series of success stories of how the community can positively change the course of history. The only exception was the jury's opinion that more scientific background and alternative opinions would have done the film good.

"Blue Heart" was screened at the Films for the Earth Festival 2018.

Links & documents

• Official Website

Attachements

• Worksheet Aqua Viva (german)

• This film can be watched for a fee at the top.

You can also view it for a fee at:

• iTunes