As a European representative dealing with the natural and environmental changes of Europe, the climate change of our planet and with sustainable development, as well as a private individual, feeling responsibility for these, as the chairman of the Szolnok International Film Festival it gives me a great pleasure to greet you this year here.It is the eighth time to expect film makers and viewers to Szolnok to Annual Film Festival. In the row of festivals this will be the 4th time where scientific educational films get a leading role. This year in the centre of the festival there are films about our life-style as well as films made about the protection of our environment, and nature surrounding us.
The rich program is provided by film-makers from 15 different countries, who represent themselves with 122 creations. In addition to this in the explanatory screenings there will be 20 more special films shown.
Visitors to our Festival may have got used to be able to attend rich cultural and educational programs and exhibitions. During the Festival there will be a number of excellent lectures and high level professional workshops. This year we are hoping to deeply examine such important questions of present like how could film-makers contribute to a more environment aware, more liveable Europe, and what the media and education can do in order to approach these purposes as well s what social responsibility can be assumed to the movie art these days.
How much could Science-recognised alternative medicine gain space among those leading a healthy life and among those desiring to be cured, and how does future look like for homeopathy and kineziology or even the for the science of acupuncture looking back to a past of thousands of years? Can we be efficient enough to plant the demand for a healthy life and environmental awareness in young people or are we building a more and more unhealthy and polluted -and consequentially sicker society?
For those coming to the festival I wish a content, useful entertainment time, and for the competitors I wish a beneficial, professional fulfilment, and great success.
Péter Olajos
European Parliament Representative
Environmental, Public Health, and Food Safety Committee
Committee Dealing with Global Climate Change
