The meeting of the Flying Frenchies stuntmen crew, the Compagnie 9.81 air dancers, musicians from the band Radio Monkey and the Baraka Flims team. A skillful blend of artists and high-level athletes in a symphony devoted to risk, a hymn to the void between visual performance and contemplative poetry.
“Life is One” is the story of three orphan sun bear cubs from Indonesia and their return to the wild. The story is told by the foster parent of these cubs who accompanied them to their independence. The viewer is placed in total immersion with the bears in the rainforest and discovers how beautiful, joyful and energetic they are.
Q & A with Kaitlyn Bock, Environmental Communications SpecialistAllison Leach, Conservation Photographer.
DOUGLAS TOMPKINS: A Wild Legacy (16m) Best Conservation Hero Film New York premier
A Wild Legacy tells the story of Douglas Tompkins (1943-2015) and his lasting impact on the wild landscapes of Patagonia. Tompkins spent the first half of his life building successful, global brands, while simultaneously adventuring around the world. He and his wife Kris have protected over 3 million acres in South America, more land than any other individuals.
Q & A with Q Martin, Director and Tom Butler, Vice President for Conservation Advocacy for Tompkins Conservation
In 1991, Michigan arborist David Milarch had a near death experience that inspired a personal quest – to archive the genetics of the world’s largest trees and to replant forests of their clones to fight climate change. This is the story of David’s quest to move the champions north as climate change threatens their current habitat from the atmosphere and reduce the amount of future climate change.
Deep within the Ecuadorian Amazon, a conflict is raging. The Waorani people battle industry operatives and their own government in a fight to survive. Join filmmaker Ryan Killackey and his native friend Otobo on an expedition into the most bio-diverse forest on Earth. Witness what may be lost as oil companies encroach and a forest Eden is destroyed - all for the oil beneath Yasuni.
Q & A with Ryan Patrick Killackey, Director
9:20 - 10:00PM
Reception
SATURDAY 25TH FEBRUARY
- MORNING PROGRAM
9:00 – 10:00
Check in and coffee.
10:00 – 12:40
VAMIZI – CRADLE OF CORAL (52m)
Best Cinematography
Vamizi is the largest island in the Quirimbas Archipelago, just off mainland Mozambique. Its magnificent coral reefs are a unique breeding ground for marine mammals. These healthy reefs also help other corals, near and far, to reproduce and grow as well as stabilize surrounding ecosystems. This fragile realm is however under threat. We follow a team of scientists from around the world who fight to stop the damage before it starts.
A modern band of explorers join their ungulate counterparts on a trek from Wyoming’s ranch lands over mountain passes and treacherous river crossings to the rugged beauty of Yellowstone’s high-alpine meadows. Along the way, they meet backcountry guides and cattle ranchers whose lives are intricately tied with the fate of the elk.
NO FRIENDS BUT THE MOUNTAIN
Best Student Film
US premier
Hana Raza, a conservationist in Iraq, struggles to preserve the pristine nature of her homeland from the destructive effects of war and unregulated economic development. Her parents took up arms against the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein. Now she fights to protect the animals and the environment of Iraq.
Bouldering champion, Angie Payne, leaves everything she knows beyond as she ventures deep into the French Polynesian jungle with veteran climber and explorer, Mike Libecki. Their objective, to put up a first ascent on the south face of the Poumaka Tower. Directors Andy Mann and Keith Ladzinski capture blood, sweat, and tears as the team climbs through mud and fear, into the unknown.
PANGOLIN is an intimate glimpse of the world's most trafficked mammal; from the moment it is taken from the wild to its final destination in China. Filmed with the help of reformed poachers and wildlife enforcement officers, the film acts as a surrogate for an estimated hundred thousand pangolins that are poached and smuggled annually throughout Southeast Asia and Africa.
Red Wolf Revival is a short film about the last remaining wild population of red wolves. Centered on the historic recovery effort in Eastern North Carolina and the state's declared intent to drive the species to extinction, we document the multifaceted struggle to reintroduce one of the rarest animals on earth in the face of cultural, economic, and biological challenges in North Carolina.
Q & A with Roshel Patel, Director
3:00 – 3:20
COFFEE BREAK
3:20 – 5:00
THE BEE HUNTER (8m)
Finalist
NY premier
Driving across Portland, OR with approximately 10,000+ honey bees in her Toyota truck at sunset, Wisteria knows she has done it again. She has successfully captured a swarm of wild homeless honey bees. We ride shotgun in this short documentary as we follow Wisteria on a swarm call, showing us just how unique and personal the process is.
THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES (80m)
Best Environmental Film
'The Hurt Locker' meets 'An Inconvenient Truth', THE AGE OF CONSEQUENCES investigates the impacts of irreversible climate change, resource scarcity, mass migration, and pandemic conflict through the lens of US national security and global instability.
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Fisher Stevens and Academy Award-winning actor, environmental activist and U.N. Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio, Before the Flood presents a riveting account of the dramatic changes occurring around the world due to climate change. The film follows DiCaprio as he travels to five continents and the Arctic speaking to scientists, world leaders, activists and local residents to gain a deeper understanding of this complex issue and investigate concrete solutions.
As human and elephant populations increase across the Serengeti ecosystem, the Maasai Mara region of Kenya is struggling with room for both to exist peacefully. Conflict is daily and sometimes deadly. A group of dedicated rangers is working to find a way to end the war of space.
In VICE on HBO’s "Our Rising Oceans", VICE founder Shane Smith travels to the bottom of the world to investigate the instability of the West Antarctic ice sheet and to see first hand how the continent is melting. VICE also follows the rising oceans to Bangladesh for a glimpse into the world's underwater future. The episode concludes with a special interview with Vice President Biden.
Q&A – Tim Clancy, Executive Director, VICE and Jerry Ricciotti, Director of Photographey
Meet the new faces of climbing: 15-year-old Ashima Shiraishi and 16-year-old Kai Lightner are the leaders of the next generation, already taking the sport to the next level. A trip to Norway puts their skills to the test, and Ashima attempts to make history on a V15 boulder in Japan.
After surviving for millions of years, many frog species are now slipping towards extinction. An ancient parasitic fungus has recently turned deadly and is now causing the most severe wildlife disease event in recorded history. Join us as the frog rescue team at the Honduras Amphibian Rescue & Conservation Center races to save three endangered species in the cloud forest of Cusuco National Park, Honduras.
The Pray will immerse you into the forested world of the dead leaf mantis. This action packed film boasts incredibly unique and dynamic shots. Fly through the forest with flies, witness the cunning behavior between the mantis and the hawk and experience a hunt like you’ve never seen before. Using stunning cinematography we divulge the truth of a catch and behold the incredible way a mantis devours its prey.
4 MUMS IN A BOAT
(44m) Best Adventure Film
US premier
Four working mums attempt to break a world record by becoming the oldest rowers to cross the Atlantic. With absolutely no adventure or endurance experience, will they make it to the finish line? Their families think they’ve lost their minds.
A salmon in Alaska makes an unlikely journey on "the Mount Everest of rivers" - the Susitna - as residents consider the costs/benefits of a government-proposed mega-dam. A humorous, emotional, and ultimately powerful story of learning to recognize what we love and when to fight for it. Inspired viewers can learn more and get involved at Susitna River Coalition.
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