Small Planet Documentary Production Company

Having already received 5 international awards, “Life for Sale” by Yorgos Avgeropoulos is honored with another one, this time in neighboring Italy. The documentary received the Second Audience Award, at the 8th Film Festival “Cimameriche”, which took place during November 30-December 8, in picturesque Riviera di Levante.  

The First Audience Award was granted to «Waste Land», by Lucy Walker, Joγo Jardim and Karen Harley, (Brazil/UK 2011), while the First Award of the Jury Committee was granted to «MERICA», by Federico Ferrone, Michele Manzolini and Francesco Ragazzi (Ita/Brazil 2007).

“Cimameriche” is a colorful festival, organized by the local community of East Liguria, a place with particular environmental, social and cultural features. It is realized with the support of RAI, and of the authorities of Genova Prefecture and Liguria District. The organizers of the festival think of cinema as an artistic moment that contributes to the beauty of differentiality, to the mix of different cultures through immigration and to the enrichment of collective human experience.

‘Life For Sale’ examines the biggest water market in the world, set up in Chile. Where the country’s water resources do not belong to the state but to private individuals and one company can own an entire river and possess a quantity of water as big as Belgium. A place where water has turned from a public good of life to property and a ‘water right’ can cost as much as a house. Even in the Atacama desert, which is considered the driest place on the planet, the mining companies – big owners of Chile’s longest river, the Rio Loa – draw immense quantities and use valuable water to wash metals, thus condemning thousands of natives and farmers’ villages to thirst and poverty.

The 6th international prize for “Life for Sale” constitutes the 30th international award in total for Exandas Documentary Series.