The United Nations Television film, "Africa: Digital Graveyard", a segment of UNTV's monthly series 21st Century, won first place out of 20 contenders in the Current Affairs category at EKOTOPFILM, the long-running Slovakia-based international film festival focusing on sustainable development.
"Africa: Digital Graveyard" addresses the growing problem of electronic waste or "e-waste" as developed nations ship obsolete and second hand electronics to countries like Ghana. Most of the items are worthless and end up in dumpsites in Accra. The film also depicted action taken by innovators in South Africa who have found creative ways to recycle, refurbish and reprocess elements from old electronics for use as raw materials in the manufacture of new products.
The award-winning film was produced by UNTV producer Mary Ferreira, filmed by Joaquim C. Vieira and edited by Peter Mitchell.
The ceremony was attended by Slovakia's Minister of Environment, József Nagy, the Mayor of Bratislava, Milan Ftácnik, and Chairman of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, Pavol Frešo.
Sonja Wintersberger of UNIS Vienna and James Arthur, a representative from the Embassy of Ghana, collected the award at the ceremony in Bratislava on 21 October 2011 on behalf of the News and Media Division of the Department of Public Information in New York.
Bruce Bucklin, the jury chairman, said that the jury was moved by the striking images in the film illustrating the threat to health and humanity from electronic waste if not disposed of responsibly.
UNTV last won a prize at EKOTOPFILM in 2009, for the film "Ecuador: Model of Green Enterprise", produced by UNTV producer Patricia Chan.
