Planet In Focus (PIF) is only a couple of weeks away. This year, PIF will shine a spotlight on the theme of landscapes, looking at contemporary film and videomakers who are challenging and redefining our changing perceptions of landscape.

Here are some of the Canadian and International films that will take part in this year’s festival. Canadian selections included in this Spotlight explore the sustainability of the nation’s urban and industrial development, the beauty of the land and the pressing environmental issues that are threatening our landscape.

On The Line and Spoil both address Enbridge Inc.’s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline Project, investigating how the pipeline would affect the communities and ecosystems on the projected oil route. On the Line director Frank Wolf will be in attendance at the Toronto premiere.

Making its world premiere, Brick By Brick: The Story of Evergreen Brick Works follows Evergreen Director Geoff Cape on his mission to realize the Brick Works renewal and ecosystem rehabilitation project, and the years of planning and financing that helped create the sustainable community hub we know today. Director Catherine Annau and Geoff Cape will be in attendance. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion on sustainable design in Toronto.

The Gold of Others (L’Or des autres) unearths the struggle between the federal Mining Act’s prioritization of the right to exploit subsoil resources—in this case, gold—and citizens’ rights to protect their land and property in Malartic, Quebec. Director Simon Plouffe will be in attendance.

“White Water, Black Gold”   trailer from David Lavallee on Vimeo.

White Water Black Gold: Keepers of the Water follows glacial hiking guide David Lavallee on a three-year journey from ice fields to oil fields. Narrated by actor and environmentalist Peter Coyote, the film investigates how the expansion of the Alberta Tar Sands is putting half of Canada’s water supply at risk. David Lavallee will be in attendance.

Up in Smoke follows tropical ecologist Mike Hands on a three-year journey as he attempts to persuade Honduran farmers to adopt a groundbreaking sustainable alternative to the widespread practice of slash-and-burn agriculture, one of the world’s largest contributors to climate change and equatorial deforestation. A Honduran coup prevented Hands from appearing at the 2009 United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen, but his persistence earned him the opportunity to present his research to the U.N. last March. Director Adam Wakeling will be in attendance.

Niger River: A River Under Siege features explorer, climate journalist and star of the film Himalaya Alert at last year’s Festival, Bernice Notenboom as she and her team embark on a 750-kilometre kayak expedition on the Bani and Niger Rivers towards Timbuktu, Mali to discover how the local Fulani, Bozo and Tuareq tribes are adapting to the extreme weather conditions they are experiencing. Bernice Notenboom will be in attendance for the world premiere.

Future of Hope examines how inhabitants of the vast and beautiful Iceland are struggling to make ends meet in an economy that is suffering from a debt-system collapse. With a fantastic soundtrack by Biggi Hilmars and a wonderful cast of characters, Future of Hope explores how Icelanders have found innovative and sustainable ways to live in the future.

Solartaxi: Around the World with the Sun follows Swiss school teacher Louis Palmer and his homemade Solartaxi on his epic 18-month adventure spanning the globe. Making history as the world’s first circumnavigator powered exclusively by the sun, Louis demonstrates to a multitude of passengers—including Jay Leno, James Cameron, Prince Hassan of Jordan and renowned scientists and politicians—that solar energy is not only functional and efficient, but a reliable alternative to fossil fuels.

Planet In Focus runs from October 12 to 16. For the full line up, schedule and ticket information go to PIF’s website.