Thursday 14 September (2 hr 35 min screening time)

 

Four days of the film festival kick off on Thursday, with doors opening at 6 pm

 

French Fries to Go (15 min)

This is the story about a guy, his truck and some used vegetable oil.  It is an award winning film that documents the origins of Telluride’s Biodiesel project, which resulted in the launching of the first city bus in the USA to run on 100% pure Biodiesel. 

Tui Tuia (28 min)

As keepers of other birdsongs, the Tui takes us on a journey of sound and vocal mimicry. Told through the growth and learning experience of two Tui chicks. The influence of the environment upon their vocal repertoire develops, as one chick becomes an adult in the forest and the other in the city. The film also looks at the possibility of extinct birds living on through the voice of the Tui. Tui Tuia is a natural history film with a difference.

Global Focus ::  Conservation among Conflict in East Timor (10 min)

A land of lush rainforests, tropical beaches and spectacular coral reefs, East Timor has seen its natural resources plundered over the years by military occupation and profiteering colonialists.  A former clandestine resistance leader, Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho, is now the head of the first and only environmental nongovernmental organization in his homeland.  In 1998 de Carvalho founded the Haburas Foundation, which means "to make green and fresh" in Tetum, East Timor's national language, to tackle his country's environmental crises.  Under his leadership, this island nation, a Portuguese colony until 1975 ravaged by centuries of occupation and warfare, is charting a new course for sustainable development and environmental protection based on Tara Bandu, the East Timorese cultural practice of acting in harmony with nature.

Water and Autonomy (15 min)

Many of the indigenous communities in Mexico have no access to potable water.  The film looks at this serious problem and how the Zapatista communities are solving it.  Through solidarity and training from internationals many communities are now building their own water systems.  Members of the communities speak about ways the water project fits into their autonomous process, helps fight sickness, has provided a means of reflection for how to protect existing water sources and represents another means of resistance to globalization projects like the Plan Puebla Panama.

Marine Reserves: Restoring the Oceans (13 min)

A short, informative film outlining the situation facing our ocean life, and the key steps to reversing the impact. Beautiful underwater imagery combined with thorough commentary clearly communicates the importance of protecting our oceans.

A Stake in Our Future (5 min)

Making clever use of New Zealand’s stunning beach landscape, this film begins by recounting the human timeline, noting major developments in the last 10,000 years. Then, noting the recent but rapid overuse of the Earth’s resources, it ponders the impact of the proposed Marsden B coal-fired power station on the Whangarei environment.

INTERMISSION

 

South Central Farmers (7 min)

In South Central Los Angeles, 350 low income families farm 14 acres of land in order to feed their families and stay off welfare.  Now, a wealthy land developer has acquired this property and is threatening to kick the farmers out.  This is the story of their passion and struggle to survive.

Running Dry (50 min)

Water, daily life, and for many daily strife.  Running Dry is inspired by former U.S. Senator Paul Simon’s book Tapped Out and features world leaders, including Mikhail Gorbachev, discussing the coming global water crisis and new solutions. The documentary was written, produced and directed by Jim Thebaut and is narrated by Jane Seymour.

Deadly Treadlies (12 min)

Deadly Treadlies is a bike rebuilding programme for young people that has operated out of Alice Springs since 2003.  The project runs workshops in Alice Springs, in local town camps and in remote Aboriginal communities.  This film is made from footage taken during a film making run in conjunction with DT workshops in remote communities during 2003/04.