filmproductiebedrijf van den ende

Waga Brothers International Festival of Nature Films 24/28 March 2010

PIASEK, WIATR, WODA + BILET POWROTNY DO SACHSENHAUSEN

SAND, WIND, WATER - Return Ticket to Sachsenhausen

Tykocin, a village of 11,000 inhabitants in East Poland, was the scene of this Festival. It is almost as if Time has stood still here, and nothing has happened for a hundred years, but that is not really true. Just like anywhere else in Poland, history is almost tangible here. Before WWII, Tykocin had a large Jewish community. But in 1944, more than half of the population was taken away to various concentration camps, among which Sachsenhausen. And that is the reason why this Festival, which shows nature documentaries from all over the world, also shows the historical documentary Return Ticket to Sachsenhausen. This is also done in honour of Jan van den Ende, one of the makers of the films 'Nature on your Doorstep' and 'Stork Stories in the Netherlands' which won prizes here in 2000 and 2006.
Joanna Wierzbicka, who organised this 6th Festival, wrote: "I have seen many films about concentration camps, but no other film has touched me so deeply. I think I am not alone in this."
The Festival offers a place where nature filmers may exchange experiences. They also meet many students, who in groups visit the sport hall/cinema. The students are involved in all festivities; the youngest read poetry or perform dances, the older students receive the guests and see to the catering.
Beside the opportunity to watch the films, the Festival includes a formal reception in the regional museum, and excursions into the nearby Narew National Park and Bierbza river. The migrating birds are late this year, but hundreds of Greylag geese are already present, loudly honking at times.
At the end of the Festival, the winners are announced. You can see the results at http://www.wagabrothersfestival.org.pl

Unique documentary lake area Nieuwkoopse Plassen

At the visitors' centre of the lake area Nieuwkoopse Plassen in the West of the Netherlands, the historical nature documentary ' Rietland in de Randstad' (Reedlands on the edge of town, 1975) is now for sale on DVD. The documentary shows rare and unique images of the nature in the lake area Nieuwkoopse Plassen in the early nineteen seventies.

In the late nineteen sixties Dutch nature film makers Jan van den Ende (1922-2008) and Bob Schrijvers (1925-1975), both well known for the unique quality of their nature films, started on this documentary. They brought into view the local plant and animal life as well as fishermen and reedcutters from Nieuwkoop village. The result was remarkable, but after a single showing on television in 1976, the documentary ended up in the archives.

Now, years later, Monique van den Broek, partner to Jan van den Ende in film and private life, decided to restore the old 16mm film and to have it digitalized, "as a way to save the historical images for posterity and share this inheritance with the world" as she says. The Dutch Nature preservation society Natuurmonumenten was interested and offered initial sponsoring. Another important sponsor was the Dutch Province of Zuid-Holland, which offered support within the framework of its Green Heart 2007-2013 programme as part of the iconic project 'Merk en Marketing' (Branding and Marketing).

Present-day warden of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen nature area Dirk Kunst is very pleased with the new DVD. "Many of the plants and animals still occur," he says, "but not all. Often external factors have influenced their environment. The documentary shows an image we want to try and bring back".

DVD "Rietland in de Randstad" (Reedlands on the Edge of Town), 45 minutes, E6.95 for members of Natuurmonumenten society, E8,95 non-members. For sale at the visitors' centre of the Nieuwkoopse Plassen nature area.