American Conservation Film Festival 2009 Official selections

FILMS

Big River – 30:00

Filmmakers Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis

11/5 9:30 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

11/6 10:30 Shepherd University Erma Ora Byrd

In this follow-up to King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis take to to Iowa’s rivers , determined to find out what their little acre of corn has done to the big river downstream.  What they find rises troubling questions about America’s embrace of industrial agriculture: drinking water contaminated with pesticides and fertilizer, a hypoxic “dead zone” on the Gulf of Mexico, ad topsoil erosion that threatens our future ability to grow food.

Coal Country - 84:00

Director Phyllis Gellar

11/6 7:00 Opera House

11/7 7:00 Opera House

11/8 4:00 Opera House

The director of The Appalachians, brings us an inside look at the modern coal mining technique known as mountain top removal (MTR).  Both sides in this conflict claim that history is on their side. Families have lived in the region for generations and most have ancestors who worked in the mines. Everyone shares a deep love for the land, but MTR is tearing them apart.

Eating Alaska - 57:00

Director Ellen Frankenstein

11/6  9:30 Shepherd University Erma Ora Byrd

11/7 1:00- NCTC Classroom

A vegetarian moves to Alaska, marries a fisherman and hunter, and sets off on a journey for the "right" thing to eat. This wry look at what's on your plate explores ideas about eating healthy sustainable food from one's own backyard, either urban or wild, versus industrially produced food shipped thousands of miles.

Feral Peril (53:00)

Producer Gina Twyble

11/7 1:30 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

11/8 2:00 Opera House

In this film noir, Australia's island state, Tasmania, is one of the world's last great wildlife havens, but its struggling native species are under threat from a feral fox invasion.  Or are they?

Food, Inc – 93:00

Filmmaker Robert Kenner

11/6 9:30 Shepherd University Frank Center

11/8 1:30 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

Dinner will never be the same again.  This exposé lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, and exposes the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA, and FDA.  Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers, and our own environment.

Fresh: The Movie – 72:00

Filmmaker Ana Joanes

11/6 7:00 Shepherd University Frank Center

11/8 3:00 War Memorial Building

A celebration of farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.  FRESH’s focus on these inspiring individuals and their initiatives around the US provides the audience with actionable solutions and provides an antidote to concerns about corporate control. FRESH is indeed a breath of fresh air -- and a call to action.

The Greening of Southie – 46:00

Filmmakers Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis

11/6 7:45 NCTC Small Theater

11/7 4:00 NCTC Small Theater

The traditionally Irish American working class neighborhood of South Boston is known for many things, but until now environmental innovation wasn’t one of them.  This film tells the story of the first LEED certified green building in South Boston, the pride and confusion it generates, and the people who made it possible.

Grizzly – 50:00

Producers John and Sara Shier

11/7 4:30 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

11/8 1:00 Opera House

A year in the life of Yellowstone’s grizzlies.  Grizzly follows two grizzly bears, documenting their triumphs and failures, and providing a rare glimpse of life in one of America’s great wildernesses.

Home -  90:00

Filmmaker Yann Arthus Bertrand

11/7 8:30 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

11/8 12:00 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

Mesmerizing aerial views provide a visually astonishing portrait of the Earth. Director Yann Arthus-Bertrand brilliantly and dreamily captures the miraculous linkages within delicate eco-systems.

Hotspots – 109:00

Director Michael Tobias

11/7 2:30 NCTC Classroom

This documentary shows what it takes--in the trenches--to negotiate a sustainable future for life on Earth.  Based on the book, "Hotspots Revisited: Earth's Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Eco-regions" by renowned conservationist Russell A. Mittermeier and colleagues, this film provides a behind-the-scenes look at some conservation success stories.

How to Survive a Bear Attack –5:00

Filmmaker-Randy Boyum

11/7 4:15 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

In two minutes this short animated film will tell you everything you need to know about surviving an encounter with a bear.

In a Place Out of Time – 45:00

Director- Erin Hudson

11/6 8:45 Opera House

11/7 9:00 Opera House

11/8 3:45 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

A poetic portrait of a fourth generation New Mexican who sold his backhoe and picked up a camera in pursuit of a photographic quest, and new meaning in his life.  This film takes a gentle and multilayered look at an individual's eternal connection to community, landscape, and memory.

In the Company of Moose – 56:40

Filmmaker- Jonathan VanBallenberghe

11/5 8:00 NCTC Small Theater

11/7 3:00 NCTC Small Theater

11/8 1:00 War Memorial Building

Biologist Vic VanBallenberghe has spent more time living with wild moose than anyone in the world.  His son, filmmaker Jonathan VanBallenberghe, follows him over the course of a year in Denali National Park, Alaska, showing the passion behind Vic's research as well as the growing intimacy of their relationship.

Karearea: The Pine Falcon – 49:00

Filmmaker- Sandy Crichton

11/5 9:00 NCTC Small Theater

11/8 12:00 War Memorial Building

Wildlife photographer George Chance spent the 1970s following and studying the New Zealand Falcon; now some thirty years later he is suffering from ill health and going blind.  Filmmaker Sandy Crichton gets ever closer to a remarkable wild population of falcons as he attempts to realize George's dream by adding movement to his photographs.

The Linguists 65:00

Filmmaker Seth Kramer

11/6 9:30 Opera House

11/7 9:45 Opera House

11/8 4:45 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

David and Greg are "The Linguists": scientists racing to document languages on the verge of extinction.  In Siberia, India, and Bolivia, the linguists' resolve is tested by the very forces stifling languages: institutionalized racism and violent economic unrest.  David and Greg must overcome their own fears and pre-conceived notions to draw speakers from decades of silence.  Their journey takes them deep into the heart of the cultures, knowledge, and communities at stake.

Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators – 58:00

Filmmakers Karen and Ralf Meyer

11/7 2:30 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

11/8 12:00 Opera House

Sharing key themes and characters with the book, Where the Wild Things Were, by Shepherdstown author William Stolzenburg, this film explores the vital role that North America's top predators play in our ecosystem and the scientists, ranchers and others who bucked convention to recognize their importance.

Milking the Rhino 54:00

Filmmaker David E Simpson

11/6 7:00 War Memorial Building

Two of the oldest cattle cultures on Earth are beginning to see that wildlife conservation can rival the benefits of livestock.  But not all community members embrace change.  This film offers complex, intimate portraits of rural Africans in the throes of cultural change.

The National Parks: This is America – 44:00

Filmmaker Ken Burns

11/5 7:00 NCTC Small Theater

National Parks are one of America’s greatest innovations, now copied by nations around the world.  This film explores the national park idea by weaving together stories of extraordinary people from a wide variety of backgrounds who devoted their lives to the national park ideal--to preserve and protect these special places for everyone, for all time.

No Impact Man – 90:00

Filmmakers Lisa Gabbart and Justin Schein

11/6 7:00 Shepherd University Erma Ora Byrd Auditorium

11/7 1:30 NCTC Small Theater

Could you live without toilet paper for a year?  Author Colin Beavan did.  In November 2006 he began the No Impact Project.  A newly self-proclaimed environmentalist, Colin leaves behind his liberal complacency for a vow to make as little environmental impact as possible for one year. No more automated transportation, no more electricity, no more non-local food, no more material consumption...no problem. That is, until his espresso-guzzling, retail-worshipping wife Michelle and their two year-old daughter are dragged into the fray.

Pirates– 08:00

Filmmaker Karen Pouye

11/6 8:30 War  Memorial Building

A simple day at the beach with a grandfather and grandson ends somewhere you'd never dream.  This intriguing combination of animation and live action will leave you pondering what will happen if the “pirates” continue to plunder our natural treasures.

Running With Wolves-51:00

Filmmaker-Richard Matthews

11/7 6:30 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

11/8 3:00 Opera House

Biologist Gudrun Pflueger returns to the Canadian Rockies two years after being diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor. Her quarry is an elusive wolf named “Hope,” an alpha female Gudrun hasn’t seen any sign of since before she was diagnosed with cancer. Gudrun’s search for Hope leads her to a shy pack living deep in a thick forest near Banff Nat’l Park. Hunted as vermin by sportsmen and under constant pressure from encroaching humans, this pack of wary predators has learned to fear man to an extreme. Once an Olympic athlete, Gudrun struggles to return to the top fitness needed to track wolves in mountain terrain, and struggles to find “Hope” amongst these mainland wolves. Running with Wolves documents her struggles against cancer, the fate of Hope and the future of the Banff wolf pack.

A Sea Change – 86:00

Filmmaker Barbara Ettinger

11/5 7:00 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

Imagine a world without fish.  Combining personal odyssey with a journey of scientific discovery, this documentary explores the threat of ocean acidification, the flip side of climate change, and what it means for our children.

Shenandoah: Voices of the River –52:00

Executive Producer George Ohrstrom

11/7 12:00 NCTC Small Theater

11/8 3:00 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

Celebrate one of our local treasures – the Shenandoah River.  This beautiful and moving film will remind you of what you love about the river and will renew your commitment to protecting it.

Shifting Sands: Climate Change in the Mojave – 19:00

Filmmaker Stephani Gordon

11/7 4:30 NCTC Classroom

The unique life in the Mojave exists on a knife-edge, and with climate change, we stand to lose the rich diversity found in this extreme and beautiful place.  Researchers share their perspectives on the potential risks and fate of Joshua trees, bighorn sheep, desert pupfish, and other natives of the Mojave.

A Snowmobile for George –94:00

Director Todd Darling

11/6 8:40 War Memorial Building

Natural allies or unnatural acts?  A rambunctious road trip collects the stories of fishermen, cowboys, and firemen who had to face the consequences of environmental deregulation by the Bush Administration.

A Tale of the Sundarbans – 57:00

Filmmaker Moynul Huda

11/7 12:00 NCTC Classroom

The Sundarbans is the biggest mangrove forest in the world, located in the southwestern coastal area of Bangladesh.  The presence of animals, birds, and vegetation of numerous species has made this forest a unique repository of biodiversity.  The forest is extremely important in our lives but some natural and manmade causes are creating threat to its existence.

When Eagles Dream

11/7 2:00 NCTC Small Theater

STUDENT FILMS

Disturbance (19:08)

Filmmaker Jeremy Roberts, Montana State University

11/5 6:30 Shepherd University Erma Ora Byrd

Disturbance explores the natural history and politics of burned forest in the northern Rocky Mountains.

Division Street (53:00)

Filmmaker-Erick Bendick , Montana State University

11/5 7:40 Shepherd University Erma Ora Byrd

Roads are the largest human artifact on the planet; they have fragmented wild landscapes, ushered in the 'age of urban sprawl,' and challenged our bedrock sense of community.  From pristine roadless areas to concrete jungles, follow filmmaker Eric Bendick on the 'green adventure of a lifetime'--a quest to visit the farthest place from any road in the lower 48 states.

Extreme Commuting (28:45)

Filmmaker Andrea Bloom, American University

11/5 6:50 Shepherd University Erma Ora Byrd

11/8 2:30 War Memorial Building

A driver, train rider, and bicyclist each ride 90 minutes to get to work in Washington DC.  "Extreme Commuting" follows the daily paths of three professionals as they negotiate their way through one of the most congested cities in the nation

Frog, Chemical, Water, You (17:00)

Filmmaker Jennifer Grace, Montana State University

11/7 12:30 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

This children's film produced for the Smithsonian National Zoo examines the impact that chemical contaminants play in worldwide amphibian declines and some simple things you can start doing to reduce your chemical footprint today.

Into the Cool: The Living (20:00)

Filmmaker Ed Watkins, Montana State University

11/5 7:20 Shepherd University Erma Ora Byrd

What if all the complexity of our climate, our ecosystems, and even life itself could be grounded in a single law of nature?  What if we already discovered it?  Join Eric D. Schneider and Dorion Sagan on a journey from cups of tea to tornadoes, and steam engines to jungles.  In the process you may well discover why life is just another cog in a grander machine, why trees are cool, and why we probably shouldn't be changing the temperature of our planet.

Rising Tides: Hawaii Parks in Peril (12:40)

Filmmaker Stephani Gordon, Montana State University

11/5 9:05 Shepherd University Erma Ora Byrd

How will the coral reefs, monk seals, native plants, and honeycreepers of Hawaii deal with climate change?  Local researchers working in the island chain's stunning national parks tell us their concern for wildlife, key habitats, and cultural resources.

Wings Over the Marsh (30:00)

Filmmaker Mathieu Le Lay, Institut Francophone de Formation ou Cinema Animalier de Ménigoute (IFFCAM)

11/5 8:35 Shepherd University Erma Ora Byrd

11/7 8:30 Opera House                                                                               

11/8 2:30 War Memorial Building

A marsh, a citadel, a raptor.  This visually stunning film with no dialogue enchants with the drama of life among birds in a French marsh.

CHILDREN'S Program Saturday 11/7

Films - 12:30 to 1:30 NCTC Byrd Auditorium

Photo Safari- 1:45-5:00 NCTC Grounds

Chickens of the Sea (07:00)

Filmmaker Steve Furman

…a sea of grass that is!  Most of the native prairie in North America is gone and prairie chickens are rare.  But if you're lucky enough to find them they are fun to watch

Climate Change: Wildlife and Wildlands (06:00??)

Filmmakers Doug Canfield and Ryan Hagerty

NCTC based filmmaker Doug Canfield, and photographer, Ryan Hagerty, explain climate change and provides ways for children to help the environment.

Frog, Chemical, Water, You (17:00)

Filmmaker Jennifer Grace, Montana State University

This children's film produced for the Smithsonian National Zoo examines the impact that chemical contaminants play in worldwide amphibian declines and some simple things you can start doing to reduce your chemical footprint today.

Why Don't We Ride Zebras? (12:00)

Filmmaker Hannah Smith Walker

Have you every wondered why we only domesticate some kinds of animals?  This clever film combines animation and live action to explain the process of domestication, and answers the question “Why don’t we ride zebras?”

Young Voices on Climate Change (10:00)

Filmmaker Lynne Cherry

11/7 5:00 NCTC Classroom

Produced by children’s book author, Lynn Cherry, this collection of short trailers provides a sneak peak at her upcoming film on what children can do about climate change.

Find more information: American Conservation Film Festival for tutors and students