GEDA has produced a dozen films on renewable technologies. There films draw on success stories to present viewers an update of renewable energy technologies and their applications in various sectors viz. domestic, agricultural and industrial. GEDA has also produced 3 animated films that communicate technical and social messages with regard to renewable energy in a fun format for children.

Exhibition and Presentation Packages include theme specific Renewable Energy Panels, and Power Point Presentations available on loan as the archive collection.

These films are available as video cassettes and CD's on loan from the GEDA Resource Centre or can be purchased for a nominal cost. GEDA organises film shows in schools and community gatherings through local agencies involved in public education. Besides the films produced by GEDA, the GEDA Resource Centre also has a collection of 100 films, some of which are available on loan, while the others can be viewed at GEDA.

"Navo Jamano Navi Harifai", The Energy Race, animated film, 1991, Gujarati, 10 minutes, appropriate for children. This renewable energy tale draws its inspiration from the renowned fable of the race between the hare and tortoise, which effectively demonstrated the winning strength of the slow and steady tortoise. In this New Energy Race, the tortoise equips himself with the power of renewable energy technologies - a wind cap, a solar photovoltaic shell, and a biogas chamber under his shell, while the hare believed he would race ahead with his petrol powered shoes, coal cigar and gas-engine jacket.

Did the hare win this race; did his high-powered sources come to his aid in throes of petrol and coal shortages?

This film is both entertaining and effective in describing the long-term sustainability of renewable energy sources, as compared to conventional fuels.

" Atoot Dosti", An Everlasting Friendship, 1991, Music, 5 minutes, appropriate for children and Educational Institutions. (Price Rs. -----).

This lyrical film tells an enchanting tale of a young tribal girl and her special friendship with a tree, which she single handedly saves from the wrath of the wood cutters and the contractors from the city, for whom a tree is merely the value of its wood. It questions the felling of forests in the name of development. Though the film has no narration, its eloquent music track complements the story.

Availabe as a 2 in one cassette

Kalyani Kartoot, The Escapade's of the Colour Black, animated cartoon film, 1993,Gujarati, 10 minutes, appropriate for children. (Price Rs. -----)

Through a series of experiments an eccentric scientist discovers a "secret friendship" between the sun and the forsaken and ostracised colour - Black, who is relegated to dark corners by the colours of the rainbow. Through the scientist's experiments, the film tells the story of one of fundamental principles of solar energy collection, and the heat absorbing property of the colour black which can put the sun's energy to use to cook food, heat and desalinate or distill water.

Reaching for the Sun, 1990, English, 20 mins, suitable for a broad educational use. This film is also available in Gujarati, and is titled "Urjamani"

This film is a comprehensive documentation of the various applications for which the Sun's energy can be tapped. Beginning with an invocation to the Sun, which is the powerhouse of the Universe, the film briefly dwells on the present crisis of conventional fuels such as petrol and coal and the alternatives that technologies based on renewable energy can provide in this scenario. It then focuses attention on the use of the Sun's energy for various domestic, agricultural, industrial and other community needs. Extensive interviews of beneficiaries reveal the satisfactory working of many of these systems both in terms of efficiency and economy, thus stressing their viability in today's world. The working of each device is illustrated in details with some explanation of the basic scientific principle on which it operates. Research scientists also explain emerging technologies such as the solar pond in a simple language.

This film would be of interest to planners, solar energy activists and promoters, environmental scientists, research institutes, naturalists, beneficiaries, university and secondary school students as well as the general public.

"Sonama Sugandh", Community Biogas, Many benefits, appropriate for rural NGOs and Village communities, 1990 , Gujarati, 28 minutes

Community Biogas Plants have been effectively utilised in Mehsana district, which has a successful history of dairy-cooperatives in the development of the region. Stressing the crucial role of community participation in successful community biogas projects, the film draws on the experience of village mandalis in the villages of Vadpura, Motipura and Methan in Mehsana district. It describes various experiments to manage a community facility through active women leadership, innovative dung collection and accounting systems, gas and slurry distribution logistics, collection of monthly dues and managing finances for the operation and maintenance of the Biogas Plant,

"Urjano Jadugar", The Solar Cooker, an Energy Magician, 1990, Gujarati, 23 minutes, suitable for women's forums, home science colleges and schools and those with a healthy appetite.

This is a film about solar cooking as a feasible practice in daily living. Drawing on the experience of various solar cooker users, the film uses an interesting docu-drama format to highlight the convenience, and value of solar cooking, the taste and aroma of the food, its nutritive value, fuel saving, versatility of the device for boiling, baking, cooking, roasting and drying. The film positions the Solar Cooker as a complementary kitchen aid and also describes how to cook in a solar cooker and what can be cooked.

Available as a 3 in 1 cassette

Switch on the Sun, 1995, English and Gujarati, 15 minutes, appropriate for urban families, lay users and women and community groups.

Switch on the Sun focuses on solar energy technologies, which can offer convenience and comfort in urban homes. The film revolves around a typical day in a small urban family seen from the perspective of the home-manager… The urban homemake finds a friend-in -need in renewable energy technologies, as they assist her in her struggle to keep pace with the early morning rush hour, provide tasty yet nutritious meals, manage her multi-tasks and interests within and without the home, balance budgets with comfort, share quality time with the family, her and satisfied concern for a clean healthy environment.

Energy, An Alternative 1995, English and Gujarati, 15 minutes appropriate for industry viewing.

This film presents successful applications of Renewable energy Technologies in urban and Rural Industries and alternatives for power generation. The film visits successful renewable energy projects such as Solar water Heating in Dairies, water Pumping in Horticulture, Biomass Gasifiers for thermal applications and wind Power Generation. Interviews with users and manufacturers provide field evaluation of the technology and insight into techno-economics and market development.