Over twenty films showcasing an impressive collection of environmental conservation themed shorts and documentary films will be displayed over four days at three separate locations in rural West Virginia, only seventy miles up the Potomac from Washington, D.C.
The Three Locations
- Byrd Auditorium at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center
- Opera House Theater
- Shepherd University
The films vary in professionalism from commercial documentary ventures to student film and even children’s submissions.
2009 Film Choices
At just over an hour and a half, Robert Kenner brings Food, Inc., a feature length documentary on the nation’s commercial food industry. According to the statements made in press releases for this film, the goal is to “expose the highly mechanized underbelly that’s hidden from the American consumer…” According to the filmmaker, commercial food industry corporations place profit above all other concerns, including consumer health and safety and the economic impact on local or organic farmers.
Feature Length Films
Filmmakers Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney bring the movie short “Big River”, a 30 minute look into Iowa’s rivers. The goal of the movie is to explore the environmental impact that an acre of corn has on a large river downstream. Industrial agriculture is shown to lead to drinking water that is contaminated with pesticides, fertilizer, and other damage that may threaten society’s future ability to grow food.
Phyllis Gellar, the director of the Appalachians, brings us Coal Country, an 84 minute look at modern coal mining techniques and their impact on the environment. The most modern technique that is being reviewed is known as mountain top removal, commonly referred to by those in the industry as MTR. This film brings up the debate between those who are for the technique and those who are against it. Mining for coal whether thru mountain top removal or more traditional methods and especially the friction between the two groups is causing social friction among the families in the area.
Clocking in at 109 minutes (just shy of two hours), Michael Tobias brings Hotspots to the film festival. This feature length documentary looks at the infrastructure necessary to obtain a sustainable environmental future for Earth. This movie is based on the book, "Hotspots Revisited: Earth's Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Eco-regions" by renowned conservationist Russell A. Mittermeier.
Children's Selections and Shorts
At just over two minutes, the short animated film “How To Survive A Bear Attack” by Randy Boyum provides all the information that you need to know in order to safely survive an encounter with one of natures’ most impressive creatures.
Over twenty other films will also be shown throughout the weekend. And the best part is, admission to the films is free. Several restaurants are in thearea offer dining for reasonable prices, and there is much to see and do in the area. If there is one film festival to check out this November, this would be the one to check out.
Cecilia Johnson - Welcome to my world. As an 8-year active duty Navy combat veteran, I have been to more countries and seen more wonders than most of my ...
