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Manila Bulletin devider Embassies at Work devider Innsbruck Nature Film Festival debuts in Asia with 1st edition in Manila

Innsbruck Nature Film Festival debuts in Asia with 1st edition in Manila

Published Dec 8, 2025 10:41 am
Executive Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin-of SM Supermalls, INFF Biodiversity Advisor Stefanie Pontasch, Ambassador Johann Brieger of the Embassy of Austria, Mme. Roswitha Brieger, and Senior Assistant Vice President for Operations Perkin So of SM Mall of Asia
Executive Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin-of SM Supermalls, INFF Biodiversity Advisor Stefanie Pontasch, Ambassador Johann Brieger of the Embassy of Austria, Mme. Roswitha Brieger, and Senior Assistant Vice President for Operations Perkin So of SM Mall of Asia
The Innsbruck Nature Film Festival (INFF) has officially made its debut in Asia, launching its first-ever Manila edition at the SM Mall of Asia Cinema. Held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2025, the three-day event brings free screenings of award-winning nature and environmental films from Austria, offering Filipino audiences a unique opportunity to explore global stories of biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable futures.
Austrian Ambassador Johann Brieger officially opened the festival with an inspiring message on Dec. 1, 2025, emphasizing the significance of the event as one of the most meaningful cultural collaborations between the two countries.
The Ambassador spoke on the deep connection between culture, nature, and collective responsibility, noting that while Austria is often associated by Filipinos with the iconic film ‘’The Sound of Music’’, this festival offers “something even better”—a chance to experience another side of Austria through the breathtaking landscapes and biodiversity of Innsbruck.
Stefanie Pontasch, Biodiversity advisor of INFF, and Titus Cañete of LAMAVE
Stefanie Pontasch, Biodiversity advisor of INFF, and Titus Cañete of LAMAVE
Established as a key cultural event in Tyrol and Innsbruck in 2002, the Innsbruck Nature Film Festival (INFF), is one of Europe’s most respected platforms for environmental cinema. Every year, this international film contest attracts hundreds of filmmakers, as it covers topics such as nature, ecology and sustainability in addition to artistic film aspects.
‘’By bringing the INFF to Manila for the very first time, we hope to contribute to this global dialogue from here in the Philippines, a country rich in biodiversity and deeply connected to nature, yet also vulnerable to the realities of climate change,’’ said Ambassador Brieger.
Ambassador Brieger also highlighted the importance of elevating local conservation voices, especially with the inclusion of the Filipino documentary “Iyo ang Dagat” by Sally Snow and LAMAVE, calling environmental stewardship “personal, communal, deeply local,” and reminding student audience that their generation has both the right and the responsibility to demand and lead meaningful change.
Ambassador Johann Brieger of the Embassy of Austria delivers the opening remarks at the Innsbruck Nature Film Festival – Manila Edition.
Ambassador Johann Brieger of the Embassy of Austria delivers the opening remarks at the Innsbruck Nature Film Festival – Manila Edition.
The opening ceremony also featured welcome messages from Joaquin San Agustin, SM Supermalls executive vice president for Marketing, who shared that SM’s longstanding commitment to sustainability and community engagement aligns closely with the festival’s purpose.
The event was greatly supported by the presence of Perkin So, senior assistant vice president for Operations of SM Mall of Asia, Dolly Rose S. Manalang, executive director of the National University–MOA Campus, along with faculty members and school officials.
National University-MOA students and faculty at the Austrian Embassy’s special screening of “Wild Innsbruck” by Patrick Centurioni at the SM Mall of Asia Cinema
National University-MOA students and faculty at the Austrian Embassy’s special screening of “Wild Innsbruck” by Patrick Centurioni at the SM Mall of Asia Cinema
Guests were treated to a special screening of the Austrian documentary “Wild Innsbruck” by Patrick Centurioni, offering a stunning look into the natural world surrounding Innsbruck. The film was later contextualized through insights shared by Stefanie Pontasch, Biodiversity Advisor of the INFF, who flew in from Innsbruck for the festival.
The program continued with a short talk and panel discussion on nature filmmaking featuring Pontasch and Titus Cañete of LAMAVE, enriching the audience’s understanding of biodiversity, conservation storytelling, and the role of film in environmental advocacy.
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