Arclight Productions is pleased to announce that its film "WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD" has won the prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award. The documentary short examines the precarious state of the world's fresh water supply through the lenses of six acclaimed National Geographic photographers. The result is a visually arresting study of our most vital resource, presented from environmental, social, political and cultural perspectives across the globe.

Arclight produced "WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD" as a featured component of the eponymous photographic exhibition, presented by the Annenberg Space for Photography in association with National Geographic magazine. Like the exhibit, the 21-minute film was inspired by the magazine's single-topic issue on fresh water and tells its story exclusively through images and commentary by the photographers and their editors.

Compelling images-and their underlying stories-take viewers on an eye-opening journey from the top of the world (the Himalayas) to the lowest point on Earth (the Dead Sea), revealing the causes and consequences of our dwindling water supply. To maximize the visual impact and present photography in vivid detail, Arclight produced the film in 4K resolution (four times the resolution of HD) for presentation on the Annenberg Space for Photography's 14-foot digital 4K screens.

"The film was made for a premiere photography venue, so still images are central to the storytelling," says director Steven Kochones. "But these are not ordinary images. They are National Geographic images. And 'Water' shows how brilliant photography can connect with viewers in profound, indelible ways. With the CINE award, I am delighted that the film also resonates outside the photo space on the strength of its narrative."

For over 50 years, CINE has recognized filmmaking excellence through its competitions, which involve hundreds of media specialists judging entries in 32 moving-image categories. Winners are selected through a rigorous, tiered jury system, based on criteria reflecting storytelling, production value, artistry, purpose and overall excellence. "WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD" joins the esteemed list of CINE winners.

"WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD" played at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles from March 30 thru June 13, 2010. The associated, award-winning National Geographic issue was released in April 2010. The film and other related media can be viewed at: http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/exhibitions/voice_water.asp

"The impact of the film 'WATER: OUR THIRSTY WORLD' on audiences at the Annenberg Space for Photography was powerful. Throughout the exhibit run, we constantly heard from guests how their perspectives and behaviors with fresh water were changed by it," commented Leonard Aube, Executive Director, Annenberg Foundation.

The film's featured photographers and topics: Jonas Bendiksen (The Tibetan Plateau), Edward Burtynsky (California's Pipe Dream), Lynn Johnson (The Burden of Thirst), Paolo Pellegrin (Parting the Water), Joel Sartore (Silent Streams), and John Stanmeyer (Sacred Water). Featured National Geographic editors: Ken Geiger, David Griffin, Todd James, Chris Johns, Elizabeth Krist, Sarah Leen, and Kathy Moran.