An environmental film called This Is Our Home with a clear message that the green spaces need to be enjoyed and not destroyed through development will be the subject of a discussion tonight in Science and the City festival.

Directed by renowned film maker Pierre Ellul, the short movie focuses on the fact that “our home is being wrecked by insatiable greed. It is not ours to destroy. It is time to act to save our home.”

It will be aired tonight at the Parliament Stairs in Valletta and followed by a discussion led by sociologist Michael Briguglio who will speak about the effect of lack of trees on society.

Architect Rebecca Dalli Gonzi will also discuss innovative ways of implementing sustainable development through regenerating and rehabilitating areas and creating new ways of developing to include green solutions.

Ellul released his short film in June and features Maltese children and families enjoying the countryside and the Mediterranean Sea, and the message is carried through the voice of a child who reminds viewers “the environment is not yours to destroy”.

Some of his earlier work includes the feature documentary film ‘Dear Dom‘ that looks at how the former Labour Prime Minister influenced and shaped a country and a people.

Ellul’s film will be screened as part of a special edition of CineXjenza, which aims to engage people with science through TV and film. Another short film titled BEN will also be shown, created by a group of film and theatre students.

Malta’s Sciene and Arts festival, Science in the City, will transform Valletta tonight between 6pm and midnight through art installations, exhibitions, science theatre, shadow puppetry, science film festivals, music, street art and live experiments – all related to science and research.

The message this year is simple – everyone is born with practically no knowledge of the world but we learn, especially when the lesson is delivered in a creative and fun way.