School of Media News

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. --Award-winning documentary filmmaker and educator Sanjeev Chatterjee will introduce his film about potable water entitled “One Water,” (www.onewater.org) at 7 p.m. CDT Wednesday, April 2, at Gary A. Ransdell Hall auditorium at Western Kentucky University. 

The Fleischaker/Greene Fund for Excellence in First Amendment Issues in the WKU School of Journalism & Broadcasting (SJ&B) is sponsoring the viewing of “One Water” and Chatterjee’s visit to campus.  Both are scheduled as part of SJ&B’s semester-long focus on environmental journalism. 

A professor at the University of Miami, Chatterjee will be available for discussion immediately following the film and will be leading discussions in classes on Thursday, April 3, including the Fleischaker/Greene "Environment and Journalism" course, currently taught this spring semester.

"As a former colleague I can't say enough about my regard  for Sanjeev and his work,” said Loup Langton, director of the WKU School of Journalism & Broadcasting.  “Sanjeev has continually used his talents in filmmaking to address international issues critical to today and to the future.  His work always demonstrates an understanding of the issues, an intelligent and creative presentation of those issues through film and a profound respect for his subjects."

 Chatterjee’s film has earned distinctions in a variety of industry-related arenas.  An earlier short version of  “One Water” won two awards at the Broadcast Education Association, was screened at special United Nations conferences in 2004 and 2005, and received a special jury award at the World Water Forum in Mexico City in 2006.  The film is also the recipient of the Best Environmental Feature award from the Artivist Film Festival, Best Documentary Cinambiente in Turin, Italy, and Best Documentary at the Foyle Film Festival in Derry, Ireland, all in 2008.  A feature version of "One Water" premiered on the closing night of the Miami International Film Festival, also in 2008.  

The film has been screened at diverse venues including Expo Zaragoza 2008 and International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, and an international television version of the film was completed in 2009 narrated by actor Martin Sheen.

Personally, Chatterjee was honored with the Images and Voices of Hope World Summit Award of Appreciation for his documentary work in 2007.

 Chatterjee’s focus on coverage of the environment has included a variety of topics.  He was commissioned by the National Geographic Channel to produce television reports about environment and culture in India.  As part of National Geographic's prime time magazine show "National Geographic Today," the report topics ranged from deforestation and habitat fragmentation to the survival of folk and classical dance in India. The Salt Lake City Corporation commissioned Chatterjee to create a video installation for an exhibition "The Physical Fitness of Cities" that was mounted as part of the 2002 Winter Olympic festivities and highlighted aspects of good design in city building.

Chatterjee’s other works include a television pilot entitled "Through Her Eyes," a proposed series of documentaries about women photojournalists of note.  "Through Her Eyes" won the Best of Festival, King Award at the Broadcast Education Association's Media Arts Festival in 2006.  A film sequel, “Beyond Assignment,” was completed in 2011 with Chatterjee serving as co-executive producer.

The academic community has also recognized Chatterjee’s accomplishments as an educator.   He has been selected for the faculty of the Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, Chatterjee was a featured speaker at TEDxMiami, and he received a Fulbright scholarship to work with students in India in 2011.  He served as the Executive Director of the Knight Center for International Media at the School of Communication at the University of Miami prior to his Fulbright responsibilities in India.

The event is free and open to the community.  For WKU students, the Wednesday evening presentation will be a swipeable event.

For more information on Chatterjee’s visit to WKU, contact the School of Journalism & Broadcasting at (270) 745-4144.