Island Earth
Directed by Cyrus Sutton (USA) 63min.
From Emmy award-winning social and environmental filmmaker Cyrus Sutton comes Island Earth, a critical piece exposing the perils of industrial food practices using the canary in the coal mine environment of Hawaii. Sutton follows the journey of a sensitive few seeking to use the wisdom of the past to reclaim Hawaii's role as agricultural and environmental leader. Stunning in its cinematic merits and inspiring in its elemental message, Island Earth is a must see.
The Bentley Effect
Directed by Brendan Shoebridge (AUS) 85min
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The story of small towns in Australia uniting against oil and gas companies, bent on turning the Earth into profits. This film- the product of five years of documentation- traces a story that is both unique and universal: the struggle of environment against corruption, people against profit. The Bentley Effect provides a fascinating, up-close view of resistance culture and ignites a fire of defiance, outrage, and hope. Deeply empowering, honest and timely.
Guided
Directed by Bridget Besaw (USA) 18min.
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Guided profiles the gentle spirit of Maine wilderness guide Ray Reitze, in his element amidst the whispering pines, singing crickets and croaking frogs of the North Maine Woods. Ray shares his philosophy of how to live in harmony with our environment and offers a more spiritual understanding of nature and our ephemeral place in it. This film effortlessly captures the heart with sincerity and wisdom. More than offering a ‘new perspective’, Guided reminds us of our inherent connection to all aspects of the Earth, awakening in us what we know to be true in our souls.
Frontera Invisible
Directed by Nicolas Richat, (COL) 28min
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A gripping film that charts the production of palm oil in Colombia and the devastating effects on communities and subsistence farmers. Beautifully shot, Richat dives deep into the lives of local Colombians, bringing humanity and beauty to the difficult subject of palm oil production.
There Will
be Water
Directed by Per Liebeck, (DNK) 59min.
The idea is simple – bring saltwater into the desert –evaporate it by means of the sun and create freshwater, food and energy in desert areas, thus creating the potential to change the lives of millions. Faced with the prediction that “the next war in the Middle East will be a water war,” engineer Bill Watts devised a creative solution, rooted in biomimicry and pure ingenuity. There Will Be Water honestly portrays the struggles and successes of a team of visionaries. Visually captivating and inspiring
Songs
of the Vine
Directed by Maira Clancy and Blake Montgomery (USA) 15min.
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Shot over the span of two months in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, Songs of the Vine is a virtual reality documentary focusing on the healing modalities, cosmovision, and culture of the Shipibo, an indigenous group well-known for its rich tradition of plant spirit shamanism, including a mastery of the visionary ayahuasca brew. By immersing the viewer into the depths of the Amazon jungle and exposing them to the medicine songs and perspectives of Shipibo healers, Songs of the Vine illustrates an ancient but increasingly relevant dynamic between humans and nature. A piece that has the ability reveal wisdom of the Amazon to an audience like never before.
Being Hear
Palmer Morse and Matthew Mikkelsen (USA) 10min.
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A film about sound that captures more than just our ears. Emmy Award-winning nature sound recordist and acoustic ecologist, Gordon Hempton works to protect the few remaining quiet places on Earth from noise pollution. Being Hear highlights his quest is to preserve silence as well as portray the importance of listening to the world around us. It is a marvelous journey into the auditory world of nature, leaving the audience with the realization of the profound interconnectedness of all things
The Pine
Tree Villa
Directed by Jan Koester (DEU) 13min
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Lion and Bird break into an uninhabited villa to find out about the reason why it is not aging. Immediately they feel the power that keeps the villa alive. Koester artfully crafts an imaginative world. Beautifully animated, the audience is pulled into a bright and dynamic reality with familiar character qualities such as curiosity, stubbornness, and trust.