A new international film prize is turning to the past for answers to one of the 21st century’s most urgent crises. The Water Film Prize 2025, announced this week by Let’s Talk About Water (LTAW) and UNESCO’s Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET), is calling on filmmakers to spotlight ancient hydro technologies as potential solutions for today’s climate and water management challenges.

Themed «Back to Our Future,» the competition urges filmmakers to produce short films exploring historical water systems such as Persian qanats, Indian stepwells, and Peruvian terracing. These technologies sustained human societies in some of the world’s harshest environments and are being re-evaluated in light of mounting ecological stress.

The initiative underscores a growing recognition that modern technologies alone may be insufficient to meet global water goals. As the #climate crisis# accelerates, organisers argue, traditional ecological knowledge and time-tested practices could play a key role in building resilience, conserving biodiversity, and supporting communities.

Eligible films must run 3 to 5 minutes and can be submitted in documentary, fiction, or animation formats. Submissions are encouraged to address broader themes such as water conservation, climate adaptation, and social cohesion.

A total of $10,000 will be awarded across several categories, including youth, student, and regional prizes. Winning films will premiere at the WAMU-NET annual meeting in Brasilia in November, with additional screenings at international festivals and the World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027.

Regular entries are due by 15 August 2025. Find more info – HERE