Madurai is a place of great historical and cultural importance. Well known as a seat of learning since the Sangam periods dating back to 4th century B.C, it is famous for its cultural and scholarly pursuits. The city had an academy consisting of critics, poets and savants highly esteemed both by kings and commoners. It was in Madurai that three successful conferences of Tamil scholars called Sangams flourished.

In keeping with this tradition, Madurai Symposium is envisioned to be a development arena, where all stakeholders of development - Community Institutions, Civil Societies, Government, NGOs, Financial Institutions and Academia converge at Madurai for the convention, conferences and carnival. The third Development Film Festival on 'Water and People' is organized as part of the Madurai Symposium. Exciting images of development interventions on Water will be displayed through screening of development films in the evening of all the days. Best films will be recognised and suitably awarded.

The Centre for Development Communication (CDC) of DHAN Foundation organises this Festival. This is the Third Development Film Festival. The First edition of the festival focused on poverty, from a larger perspective on water, environment, gender, education, health and culture. The second festival focused on Water and life. Both the festivals received a wider acclaim and participation from the film making community. Films were curated by a diverse panel of experts and selected films were screened during the Symposium for the participants and public viewers. Films selected from among the screened pool were awarded. Third Development Film Festival 2007

The third edition of the Festival continues to focus on 'Water'. Water is elixir of life. Water is life, physical, emotional and spiritual. It should not be considered merely as economic resource. Sharing of water is an ethical imperative and expression of human solidarity. The vital nature of water makes it possible cause of tension but, more importantly, a potential source of cooperation.

There is a need for empowering poor people, and especially women, children and other vulnerable groups, to be meaningfully involved in decisions over services and management of water resources. Raising the public awareness and political will is imperative to promote sustainable water governance. It requires multi - media strategies promoting the values of water, its efficient use, disaster mitigation, and the protection of water resources.

The Festival will showcase the exemplary works done by the documentary film makers on the issues and dimensions of Water, focused on people. Films from Independent film makers, media organisations and NGOs are invited for the Festival.