Swarovski presents WATERSCHOOL a new documentary feature film

Following its premiere at Sundance Film Festival and screening at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Swarovski presents its compelling new film ‘Waterschool’ during the Cannes Film Festival, followed by a panel discussion about empowering the next generation to conserve our world’s most precious resource.

‘Waterschool’ shines a light on one of the greatest issues facing mankind: safeguarding the continuing supply of fresh water. The documentary follows the experiences of several young female students who live along six of the world’s major rivers – the Amazon, Mississippi, Danube, Nile, Ganges and Yangtze – and celebrates the work of Swarovski Waterschool, a community investment program set up in 2000 that has reached almost half a million young people through 2,400 schools worldwide.

To make ‘Waterschool’, a team of seven graduate students from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television travelled across five continents to capture the moving stories of these young girls, giving voice to the generation for whom the preservation of clean water is most pressing. Vivid, lyrical, and often poignant, the film is a reminder of the power of education – with the support of the business community – to transform lives and tackle the world’s pressing environmental issues.

‘Waterschool’ reveals how the teachers and guides of Swarovski Waterschool are empowering the next generation to take care of the world’s most valuable resource. The result is a powerful call to arms – for teachers and educators as much as young people themselves. As the students discover how best to husband and protect water, in order to share their insights with their peers, parents and grandparents.

Panel Discussion: ‘Empowering the next generation to take action’

Following a screening of the film, Tatiana Siegel of The Hollywood Reporter moderated a panel discussion titled ‘Empowering the next generation to take action’. On the panel, Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, was joined by Teri Schwartz, Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, and award-winning documentary producer Lucy Walker.

The panellists discussed the role business must play in dealing with global challenges such as the conservation of water, how Swarovski Waterschool is creating positive change in communities, and the importance of empowering the next generation to become ambassadors for water conservation. In addition, they discussed the rewarding journey the young filmmakers embarked on during production, with Lucy Walker’s unparalleled experience mentoring them, guiding them through how to tell such a significant story with such global impact.

Nadja Swarovski, Member of Swarovski Executive Board, commented: “This project embraces principles which lie at the foundation of our philanthropic legacy – environment, female empowerment and education. The glimpses the film offers into the lives of six young women highlight some of the issues around water within different geographic regions, and will hopefully inspire communities to focus on education and enable change. I am grateful to the UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television and its graduate film students for making this beautiful film about our Waterschool, under the mentorship of Dean Teri Schwartz and Lucy Walker, who have brought to bear their considerable expertise in the making of documentaries and feature films.”

Teri Schwartz, Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, commented: “It has been a great honor to partner with visionary leader Nadja Swarovski and her team to create this landmark feature documentary. I am very proud of our remarkable graduate film students to whom Swarovski gave an unparalleled opportunity to create a film at the highest levels of creative excellence. Key to our School’s mission is providing diverse students with transformational opportunities to create stories that not only entertain, but also foster social impact. This amazing partnership with Swarovski underscores our shared belief in the power of story to enlighten, engage and inspire change for a better world.”

Find out more about Swarovski Waterschool at www.swarovskiwaterschool.com