Boasting an international slate of new environmentally-focused shorts and features, the Festival will showcase 34 inspiring and entertaining films – including films by 11 female directors — April 6-8 at the Prince Theater
Philadelphia, PA, March 6, 2018 – The Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival is thrilled to announce the full programming line-up for the 2nd annual Festival, which returns to the City of Brotherly Love during the first weekend of April (April 6 – 8), at the Prince Theater in downtown Philadelphia.
The Festival opens with the Pennsylvania Premiere of Anote’s Ark, directed by Matthieu Rytz, straight from its Sundance 2018 World Premiere. The Opening Night feature showcases Jeff Orlowski’s Chasing Coral, winner of the Sundance Film Festival Audience Favorite Award, and closes on April 8th with the Pennsylvania Premiere of Karina Holden’s provocative journey into the ocean realm, Blue. The Festival will feature dozens of new shorts and features from international and American filmmakers to kick off Earth Month.
“With Philadelphia emerging as a global leader in urban sustainability, we are delighted to bring back the city’s first environmental film festival for a second year,” said the Festival’s Executive Director Debra Wolf Goldstein. “Our Jury Panel reviewed over 260 films to select exceptional and interesting new films that have something for all ages and interests.”
“The caliber of programming from around the world that we’re offering at the upcoming Festival is tremendous,” said Alexandra Drobac Diagne, Artistic Director. “We are hosting Pennsylvania Premieres for 8 of the 9 features, along with 25 shorts. We offer a wide spectrum of topics and a broad range of styles, from straightforward documentaries to artistic explorations.”
The Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival will honor Jeff Orlowski, Director of the powerful Oscar-shortlisted Best Documentary Feature, Chasing Coral, on Opening Night with the Festival’s Environmental Advocacy Award, presented by founding sponsor The Nature Conservancy. The Festival will also honor Susan Kucera, Director of the stunning tour de force, Living in the Futures Past, produced and narrated by Jeff Bridges, with the Festival’s first EcoVisionary Award following its Pennsylvania Premiere.
The Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival’s lead sponsors are two prestigious environmental organizations: The Nature Conservancy and Media, Pennsylvania-based Natural Lands, which provided essential funding for this year’s Festival, together with generous support from an extensive list of environmentally-minded donors and community organizations. Saint-Gobain, the globally renowned leader in sustainable building materials, is presenting sponsor for two of this year’s film blocks: the new Kids’ Planet program and Philly Rising! The Sustainable Economy, on Saturday, April 7.
The 2018 Festival includes participation by 11 female filmmakers, a Student Short Film Competition sponsored by Drexel University, many post-screening Q&As with filmmakers, as well as an Opening Night Red Carpet Reception & Dinner.
Weekend passes and single tickets are on sale now and can be purchased on the Festival website www.philaenvirofilmfest.org/festival/buy-tickets/ or in person at the Prince Theater box office (1412 Chestnut Street; open Mon. – Sat. noon to 5:00 pm).
Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival brings the planet to Philadelphia through the power of environmental films. The Festival showcases exceptional new shorts and features about the beauty and fragility of the earth that entertain, inform, and inspire personal action.
For more information, visit www.philaenvirofilmfest.org Facebook: @PhilaEnviroFilmFest Instagram: @PhilaEnviroFilmFest Twitter: @PhilEnvFilmFest
Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival Full Line-up
Kids’ Planet Program for schools, Friday, April 6 (Pre-Festival Opening)
Three Fools, Director Genna Rubio
Plastic Is Forever Director Dylan D’Haeze (Post-Screening Activity)
Tipping Point, Director Dylan D’Haeze (Post-Screening & Education Discussion)
Use Me, Director Abyed Hasan
Block 1 -- Festival Opening Feature and Shorts, Friday, April 6, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Pursuit, Director Mike Oblinski
The Shaman and the Scientist, Director Sarah Hutt
Use Me, Director Abyed Hasan
Feature: Anote’s Ark, Director Matthieu Rytz (Pennsylvania Premiere),
Opening Night Red Carpet Reception & Dinner, Friday, April 6, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Block 2 -- Opening Night Feature, Friday, April 6, 8:00 – 10:00 pm
Chasing Coral, Director Jeff Orlowski ,Post-Screening Discussion with Jeff Orlowski
Block 3 -- Philly Rising! The Sustainable Economy, Shorts and Panel Discussion, Saturday, April 7, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Philly Rising, Director John Connor (World Premiere)
Sankofa Community Farm, Director Mitchell Smith
A Watershed Moment, Director Tom Lennon
The Local Oyster Stout, Director Mark Burchik
Block 4 -- Feature and Shorts, Saturday, April 7, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Save Me!, Director Mohsen Nabari
Fix and Release, Director Scott Dobson
Feature: Silas, Director Anjali Nayar (Pennsylvania Premiere)
Block 5 -- Feature and Short, Saturday, April 7, 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Green Zone, Director Mehmet Kanadli
Feature: Wasted! The Story of Food Waste, Directors Anna Chai and Nari Kye (Pennsylvania Premiere) Post-Screening Discussion with Anna Chai
Block 6 -- Shorts, Saturday, April 7, 4:00 – 5:45 pm
Moonshadow, Director David Elkins
Facing Navassa, Director Milo Kimn
Person of the Forest, Director Melissa Lesh
Water Warriors, Director Michael Premo
Prince of Smoke, Director Matthew Gelb
Block 7 -- Feature and Shorts, Saturday, April 7, 5:15 – 7:15 pm
Mexican Fishing Bats, Director Edward M. Rogueta
Desolation Follows, Director Burnham Aldridge
Adaptation Bangladesh, Director Justin DeShields
Feature: Five Seasons – The Gardens of Piet Oudolf, Director Thomas Piper (Pennsylvania Premiere) Post-Screening Discussion with Thomas Piper
Block 8 -- Feature and Short, Saturday April 7, 8:00 – 10:00 pm
A Beautiful Mistake, Director Jill Somer
Feature: Living in the Futures Past, Director Susan Kucera (Pennsylvania Premiere) Post-Screening Discussion with Susan Kucera
Block 9 -- Feature and Shorts, Sunday, April 8, 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Thriving with Their Feet Wet, Director Mitchell Smith
Valve Turners, Director Steve Liptay
Feature: The Last Animals, Director Kate Brooks (Pennsylvania Premiere)
Post-Screening Discussion with Kate Brooks
Block 10 -- Feature and Shorts, Sunday, April 8, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Horseshoe Crab Moon, Director Mitchell Smith
El Yolero, Director Oscar Guzman
Feature: The New Fire, Director David Schumacher (Pennsylvania Premiere)
Post-Screening Discussion with David Schumacher
Block 11 -- Closing Feature and Short, Sunday April 8, 5:15 – 7:15 pm
The Conductor, Director Bethany Borg
Blue, Director Karina Holden (Pennsylvania Premiere)
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Festival Contact:
Alexandra Drobac Diagne
Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival Artistic Director alexandra@philaenvirofilmfest.org