We're delighted to introduce you to Nancy Dionne, the first of our two new Trustees for LandxSea, who will support us on governance, strategy, and oversight, helping us steer the ship as we grow the festival:
Introduce yourself! I've worked across documentary film, photography and public engagement, with a long-standing value in exposure to nature as a foundation for human and planet health, and environmental storytelling.
Favourite environmental film?One of the first films that shaped my understanding of environmental harm was SILKWOOD (dir. Mike Nichols), which I encountered at a very young age. It was my first realisation that people could be lied to about something as serious as radiation exposure, and that nature and communities could be damaged through this abuse of power. What stayed with me most was the bravery of ordinary individuals willing to speak out to protect others, which I came to understand later as a form of environmental stewardship.
I believe in the importance of a story showing not telling the viewer what is at stake and feel that environmental films are most effective when they invite audiences to make up their own minds and show you people putting one foot in the front of other to dare for change.
Part of the role you're most looking forward to? Being of service, and inspired by all of the local heroes involved.
Fun fact about you? I made a short documentary in film school about a rare mushroom's connection to forest health and version of it went viral in Japan!
A quote that inspires you? “Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets, but humbler folks may circumvent this restriction if they know how. To plant a pine, for example, one need be neither god nor poet; one need only own a good shovel.” - Aldo Leopold (writer and philosopher)