The Island President

THE ISLAND PRESIDENT tells the story of President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, a man confronting a problem greater than any other world leader has ever faced – the literal survival of his country and everyone in it.   Nasheed brought democracy to the Maldives after thirty years of despotic rule but he is now faced with an even greater challenge:  as one of the most low-lying countries in the world, a rise of three feet in sea level would submerge the 1200 islands of the Maldives and make them uninhabitable.  A classic David and Goliath tale, THE ISLAND PRESIDENT captures Nasheed’s battle to stop and reverse global warming, culminating in his trip to the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009 where the film provides a rare and unprecedented glimpse at Nasheed’s electrifying and passionate behind the scenes exchanges with the heads of state attending this top-level global assembly.  A film about one man’s mission to save his nation and perhaps the planet, THE ISLAND PRESIDENT is a riveting, uplifting story that is impossible to take your eye off of.

Part of newportFILM’s GREEN SCREEN program. Casino Theater. 6pm, wine reception with food provided by Salvation Cafe. 7pm, film followed by Q&A with Virginia Lee and Teresa Crean of the Coastal Resources Center at URI and Annie Brett of Sailors for the Sea.