The 13th edition of the Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival (PIF) begins its run this week, Wednesday, October 10th. The festival presents five full days of film screenings, galas, industry series, and more. Featuring close to 70 international and Canadian films, short and feature length, there is a lot to choose from.
Feature films, this year, include many interesting documentaries:
Northwords – Geoff Morrison, Canada
Award-winning journalist and activist Shelagh Rogers and the creators of The National Parks Project feature some of Canada’s best-known writers including Joseph Boyden, Sarah Leavitt, Rabindranath Maharaj, Noah Richler and Alissa York as they make their way through one of Canada’s most extreme environments on a life-changing journey to the awe-inspiring Torngat Mountains National Park. Alissa York and Rabaindranath Maharaj will be in attendance at the festival and will read from their works following the screening.
Maori Boy Genius – Pietra Brettkelly, New Zealand
From the moment of his birth, Pumanawawhiti Ngaa Rauuira has carried on his shoulders the heavy weight of his responsibility as a future leader of the Maori community. Still only 16, Pumanawawhiti wants to be the first in his community to go to university to gain the tools and means to fight for the indigenous rights of his people.
Canícula – Jose Ýlvarez, Mexico
Breathtaking cinematography and a poignant musical score frame an intimate look at the women’s relationship to the earth in their delicate crafting of ceramics and the mesmerizing free-fall act performed by the Voladores (“flying men”) in their invocation of blessings of the deceased. Ýlvarez’s close framing and graceful editing pay close attention to the rhythms of the Totonacs’ daily life and mirror the level of skill involved in their craft.
Heart of Sky, Heart of Earth – Frauke Sandig and Eric Black, Germany/USA
This film follows six young indigenous Maya in Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico, into their daily and ceremonial lives as they fight to resist the destruction of their culture and environment. Chan K’in is studying to become possibly the last shaman of the Lacandon Maya, living amongst the ruins of an ancient city and what was formerly the largest and most bio-diverse rainforest in North America. Working among the majestic ruins of Palenque, astro-archaeologist Alonso draws parallels between the collapse of the classical Mayan civilization and our impending ecological collapse. Flori, who fled her Guatemalan village during the genocide that killed a quarter million Maya, has returned after many years to organize her community against the Canadian gold mine that now threatens their health and environment.
Raising Resistance – Bettina Borgfeld and David Bernet, Germany/Switzerland
Like many other small-scale farmers, Arevelos’ crops have been decimated by the airborne herbicides used in industrial monocrop agriculture. Now the world’s fourth largest exporter of soy, Paraguay’s rapidly expanding soy industry has taken to seizing farmland to expand operations, mechanizing the cultivation process and seeing how these commercial grow room designs can make a difference to its efficiency, as well as using genetically modified seeds to ensure supply for a growing global demand.
Some of these screenings will be part of PIF’s $5 Screenings, which allow for more accessibility to see these films. As well, on Saturday, October 13th PIF offers a FREE children’s Animation Workshop following the family-friendly screening at 10am. This year, PIF is certainly offering films and activities for everyone.
For full listings, schedules and box office information visit planetinfocus.org. PIF runs until Sunday, October 14th with screenings at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
