Monday, July 20, 2009

2009 Far North Conservation Film Festival


"Featuring a diverse group of films about the conservation of wildlife, cultures, and wild place around the world"

This was the first year that I attended FNCFF and I definitely plan on returning next year. This year the films ranged from 2 minutes to 85 minutes. The topics covered everything from sea slugs to how to reorganize our energy usage.

Normally the FNCFF is held in November, but I guess there was a complication with the dates so it was held this weekend. Attendance was very low because it was a beautiful summer evening in Fairbanks, but it was still disappointing that more people didn't show up. I was not able to go to the Saturday's films at UAF Schiable Auditorium due to a rad Citizen Cope concert, but the line up was as follows:

SATURDAY

Addicted to Plastic (85 Minutes) For better and for worse, no ecosystem or segment of human activity has escaped the shrink-wrapped grasp of plastic. Addicted to Plastic is a global journey to investigate what we really know about the material-of-a-thousand uses and why there's so darn much of it. On the way, we discover a toxic legacy and the men and women dedicated to cleaning it up.


The New Environmentalist (27 minutes) The New Environmentalist features intimate portraits of seven passionate and dedicated activists. These are true environmental heroes who have placed themselves squarely in harm's way to battle intimidating adversaries, while others are creating partnerships with unlikely allies. Their goal: Safeguarding Earth's natural resources from shortsighted exploitation and unbridled pollution.

Plight of the Puffins (14 minutes) Off the coast of Iceland and off the beaten track like the Westman Islands, a unique stretch of volcanic activity runs rampant and migratory sea birds are abundant. The world's largest breeding colony of Atlantic Puffins is found here, and for generations hardy islanders hunted the clown-facedbirds for survival. Today puffins provide a link to the past, but Earth's changing climate is threatening Iceland's puffin population. Plight of the Puffin explains the impact of changing global seas on this unique island community.

Recipes for Disaster (63 minutes) Concerned about the world's addiction to oil and it's disastrous environmental consequences for the planet, the filmmaker of Recipes for Disaster convinces his family to go on an "oil diet" for one year. Aiming to reduce their contribution to greenhouse gases, Webster--if not his wife and two sons, who are very reluctant participants--is eager to learn from their experiment and becomes a man on a mission.


SUNDAY: These were all the films that I saw. I think my favorites were Waste = Food and Good Food and the Sea Slugs.

Woven Ways (50 minutes) Woven Ways shares the stories of five Navajo families, the land and the livestock that sustain their culture and economy, and the grave environmental injustices that threaten their health and well being. Deadly uranium and dirty coal power pose serious problem to all those who live on the Navajo reservation in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. Told in their own words with no scripted narration, Woven Ways is a story of Navajo beauty, hope, and determination to protect the land, air, and water--not just for themselves, but for generations that will come.



Listen to the Ice (7 minutes) The glaciers of Alaska, and Kenai Fjords in specific, have been telling us about climate change for many years. We are only now starting to listen. Join USGS Research Geologist Dr. Bruce Molnia as he investigates the glaciers of Kenai Fjords using repeat photography to document a century of change.

Attack of the Sea Slugs (2 minutes) Bright orange sea pens bring color to the cold stark landscape of the subtidal sand flats of the Puget Sound. Although these sand flats appear desolate, hiding in wait is a creature with an acquired taste for sea pen.


Good Food - Sustainable Food & Farming in the Pacific Northwest (57 minutes) Something remarkable is happening in the Pacific Northwest- After leaving the land for decades, family farmers are making a comeback! They are growing much healthier food at higher quantities, all the while using less energy and water than factory farms. To top it off, all of this food is organic!

The Sectret Weapon (5 minutes) When attacked by a voracious sunflower star, the helpless keyhole limpet relies on others for its defense. Watch and find out who will come to its aid!

Bottle This (11 minutes) Bottle This is a pictoral essay on the merits of drinking tap water over bottled water.

Waste = Food
(51 minutes) In a world where more societies with high consumption rates generate excessive amounts of waste, traditional environmental notions of reducing or recycling waste products are no longer sufficient. This movie explores the new theory of ecologically intelligent design that producers' products, when discarded should be recyclable and biodegradable.

TRAILER:



FULL MOVIE:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3058533428492266222


Kilowatt Ours - A plan to Re-Energize America (12 minutes) Kilowatt Ours traces the wires from our light switches to environmental catastrophes such as air pollution, childhood asthma and global warming. The filmmaker takes viewers on a thought - provoking search for solutions and save consumers money, strengthen America's economy, and improve the quality of our lives and the environment.

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