The focus for the 2016 Biennial, FotoFest's 16th International Biennial of Photography and Mixed Media Art, is humanity's relationship with the changing planet. CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES: Looking at the Future of the Planet, the Biennial theme, will be explored in a series of exhibitions, videos, films, books and educational programs with over 30 leading international artists, scientists, and environmental experts. The FotoFest 2016 Biennial exhibitions run March 12-April 24, 2016.

For the 2016 Biennial Film Program, FotoFest is collaborating with nationally known Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital to present a series of international films exploring a range of important environmental topics at MATCH.

Tiger Tiger

The tiger - Panthera tigris, is one of the largest and most powerful predators to stride our planet. In the usually dispassionate language of science, the tiger is anointed as a "charismatic species" - In other words, an animal possessed of both beauty and rare mystique. Yet while the tiger is celebrated in folk legends and mythologies throughout the world, its presence on earth is greatly threatened. Fewer than 3,200 tigers now survive in the wild, and extinction in our lifetime is a real possibility.

Set in the Sundarbans, the mystical semi-aquatic belt of mangrove forest shared between India and Bangladesh, Tiger Tiger follows Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, one of the top big cat conservation biologists in the world, as he travels through the one tiger habitat he has never before seen. Schooled on the rough streets of the Bronx in his youth and afflicted with a potentially devastating speech impediment, Alan found salvation in his communication with and passion for animals. And like the tiger he faces his own diminishing timeline. Diagnosed with leukemia, Alan makes what may be the last expedition in his long career in search of the last wild tigers of the Sundarbans.

Here in remote forests of menacing beauty, the tiger is not only the feared lord of the jungle, but also of the water, for the Sundarbans tiger has adapted to become a powerful swimmer and aquatic hunter. On land and in water, the Sundarbans tigers have a reputation for being man-eating, and our film follows Alan as he explores the relationship between local people who live on the margins of the forest and the fearsome, but threatened predator.

Set in one of the least-known landscapes left on Earth, Tiger Tiger is the story of a man with numbered days seeking to save an animal whose days may also be numbered.

For additional information about the FotoFest 2016 Biennial film program and exhibitions visit www.fotofest.org.

FOTOFEST INTERNATIONAL 

Founded in 1983, FotoFest International was established to promote international awareness of museum-quality photo-based art from around the world. FotoFest is a non-profit photographic arts and education organization based in Houston, Texas. The first FotoFest Biennial was held in 1986. It is the first and longest running photographic arts festival in the United States. It is considered as one of the leading international photography Biennials in the world. 

As an producer of serious international photographic arts exhibitions, FotoFest is a platform for art and social issues.FotoFest is known as a showcase for the discovery and presentation of important new work and new talent from around the world. The FotoFest Biennial takes place citywide in Houston with participation from the leading art museums, art galleries, non-profit art spaces, universities and civic spaces. The Biennial has an audience of 275,000 people from 34 countries. This audience includes a select group of 150 museum curators, gallerists, publishers, editors, photography collectors, directors of non-profit art spaces and international festivals from Asia, Europe, Latin America, Canada and the United States.