An Oscar and Emmy-winning film production company based in San Franscisco, Actual Films, has produced a 90 minute documentary charting the Maldives’ efforts to raise awareness of climate change in the lead up to the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Summit.
The Maldivian government was approached by Actual Films in early 2009 seeking behind-the-scenes access to President Mohamed Nasheed and cabinet ministers.
After two years, US$1.5 million, 140 hours of footage and a soundtrack by Radiohead, the company has produced a 90 minute documentary ‘The Island President’, to be released in cinemas later this year.
The film was entirely funded by the US Ford Foundation, American Corporation for Public Broadcasting, MacArthur Foundation, Atlantic Foundation and the Sundance Institute.
The Maldivian government insists it had no editorial input into the film, which was left completely to Actual Films and Emmy-winning Director Jon Shenk.
“It felt a bit weird for the first two hours but after that the ministers seemed to forget the cameras were there,” said a senior government source.
“It is unprecedented for a documentary maker to be given round-the-clock access to a head of state, probably for very good reason.”
The source, who was shown a pre-release version of the film, described it as “somewhat like a real-life episode of the West Wing”; giving a unique perspective on the high-level machinations of world powers that would make it of interest to politics buffs as well as environmental activists, “and it will probably do wonders for tourism.”
“Everyone who’s seen it so far says it’s made them proud to be Maldivian,” the source said, adding that it was the first time a film about the Maldives was to be shown at international film festivals.
The film will be released in US cinemas later this year and aired in the Maldives in early 2012.
A trailer for the film can be seem at http://theislandpresident.com/
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the trailer looks very cool. can't wait to see this.
Pres. Nasheed is like Pres Obama, hated by demagogue worshipping idiots at home and loved by everyone else.
They both promised "change", and had the misfortune of the wrong kind of change forced upon them. Their supporters are disappointed they are too soft and the opposers say their very existence is unconstitutional.
call me a demagogue worshipping idiot. call me anything. But this doenst change the facts. I have no love for Gayoom. I think for 30 years Gayoom's focus was on only one thing. And that is creating his personality cult to make sure that he remains president for as long as he could.
Sadly the same now holds true for the young man we elected as president in 2008. He is sorrounded by the same people who controlled gayoom. That is people like I.H Zaki & Dr. shaheed etc. Anni is receiving the same advice to build his cult and to make sure that he is able to go on as president for as long as he can so that the vultures and hyenas can go on feeding eternally on the kill he brought down.
People, its high time to wake up. Anni is no longer the Anni we elected in 2008. Lets not be blind. Lets not turn a blind eye to what reeko, maria, ibrahim h zaki & the rest r doing to this country. They control Anni to the hilt. Anni of course was a sincere man. That was the reason why we voted him. But things have changed. And it did change real big time. But now that these people have convinced him that his survival depends on them he will go on currying favour to all their whims and fancies. MDP fans, please ask urself one question. We know anni personally for so long. Do u honestly thing that the real Anni we knew before 2008 would want to do these kind of personality cult building stunts?
Another drama!!! Enough is enough. No More Aneh Dhivehi Raajje Dream. Aneh Dhivehi Rajje is only for MP's and Businessmen.
A Man for all islands - Gayyooms' book.
Anni did better.
The Island President - a movie
One never stops learning....
Ahmed abdulkareem sulaiman:
Nobody, nobody becomes a President without being ambitious. He really would like to win in 2013 too, but the recent council elections shows that this can't be 100% guaranteed. He will have to show better results in the next two years to get that.
You can vote him out. As for me personally there is no choice right now but MDP. If a different party rises up and presents themselves to be better, then they shall have my vote. However, no way for DRP-PA demagogues.
@peasant, the Roanu Edhuru
"If a different party rises up and presents themselves to be better, then they shall have my vote. However, no way for DRP-PA demagogues".
What other parties beside DRP, PA..LOL
Parties that dont have 1000 members LOL
PAKAAS
@muscian (the idiot):
What part of the word, "If", did you not understand?
Was it the letter "I" ?
Or was it the letter "f"?
Was it the combination of the two letters which form the word 'If'- which is a conjunction which introduces the conditional clause?
Or could it be that there was a law I'm unaware of, that it would be illegal or impossible to establish another political party?
Oh dear. Is this another award?
Oh come on how can some one compare this idiot with President Obama, a decorated academic law professor and community organizer and experienced US senator. Who has been elected most the difficult time in US history after great depression, he has saved US economy just with in 1 in year in office. He has so much legislative achievements no US president has been able to do, such as universal health care. What this guy island President has done here in Maldives, rather than boasting he will do this and that on international media and local. If there is anything he has done that is destroy this country's economy and social fabrics in every works of life in this country. Who ever is has dissent view his cult label them as Gayoom, who cares about Gayyoom, we want decent life here, we want law and order, what has he done to bring peace in this small islands. Simply nothing.
Oh come on how can some one compare this idiot with President Obama, a decorated academic law professor and community organizer and experienced US senator. Who has been elected most difficult time in US history after great depression, he has saved US economy just with in 1 in year in office. He has so much legislative achievements no US president has been able to do, such as universal health care. What this guy island President has done here in Maldives, rather than boasting he will do this and that on international media and local. If there is anything he has done that is to destroy this country’s economy and social fabrics in every works of life in this country. Who ever has dissent view his cult, label them as Gayoom, who cares about Gayyoom, we want decent life here, we want law and order, what has he done to bring peace in this small islands. Simply nothing.
@Ekaloa, Nasheed inherited an economy that is worse than America's was in 2008. What hadn't been mortgaged to pay for Gayoom's election campaign had been looted by his cronies. The World Bank said it was the worst economic mess of any country undergoing democratic transition since 1956.
Despite this, and despite having the Majlis run by a bunch of gangsters and oil/drug dealers, Nasheed has protected democratic rights and freedoms, made transport network for first time, pensions for first time, health insurance for the first time, privatisation programme for first time, building houses (albeit slowly), reforming education and setting a new path to wean us off foreign oil.
Not bad for 2 years and certainly more impressive than Obama!
SO much for being a climate champion.
http://www.hilath.com/?p=10404
If this could be included in the film it would be more complete.
I don't like the title of this film. Reminds me too much of 'the village idiot.'
@Aicha, why don't you add, since 2008 22 people have been murdered either by stabbing or gang violence in broad day light in capital Male' alone. No one has been convicted so far.If convicted next day he will be released by presidential decree or MDP order.Thousands of civil servants have been lay off, for no reason.Most of the valuable state assets has been sold to foreign companies who has ties with regime, including airport,telecommunication ,the list goes on.All these things are the achievements of MDP lead government by Nasheed, these things need to be in that film.
jeeeez....first save the country from starvation....n then think of saving the people from drowning....
food prices are rising....everything is pricey...
there wont be a country or people to be saved if all die of hunger ....
atleast we could work towards climate change if our bellies are full....
For those who care about facts:
http://icecap.us/images/uploads/OpenLetter.doc.pdf
http://www.climatechangefacts.info/ClimateChangeDocuments/NilsAxelMornerinterview.pdf
“It felt a bit weird for the first two hours but after that the ministers seemed to forget the cameras were there,”
What about Reeko Moosa Manik and Mariyam Nisha ???
TO EVERYONE WHO IS CALLING THIS A FILM : THIS IS NOT A FILM, its a documentary charting the Maldives’ efforts to raise awareness of climate change U MORONS