Environmental

Florida Premiere. Organic Rising demystifies organic agriculture for the consumer. U.S. consumers are confronted with the U.S.D.A. organic label on a daily basis but only a handful of people know what it represents. Director Anthony Suau provides us with a thorough guide on the history of organic farming, the regulatory practices, and most of all the farming practices that have led to organic produce at your local grocery store or outdoor market. And to understand what organic is, it is also necessary to know what organics is not. Suau also takes a close look at conventional agriculture through the voices of farmers and renowned scientists. The research presented by the scientists, on the human and the environmental effects of synthetic pesticides, is profoundly disturbing and unprecedented. Organic Rising is a profound look that demystifies the regulatory process and farming methods to give us informed choices for maintaining a strong and robust agricultural future.

15 min documentary film discusses the work of Lemur Conservation Foundation in Madagascar and Myakka City, Florida. Lemurs are the most unique and most endangered primates in the world with 98% of the more than 110 species threatened with extinction.

Common Ground is the highly anticipated sequel to the juggernaut success documentary Kiss the Ground, which touched over 1 billion people globally and inspired the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to put $20 billion toward soil health. By fusing journalistic exposé with deeply personal stories from those on the front lines of the food movement, Common Ground unveils a dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system. The film reveals how unjust practices forged our current farm system while profiling a hopeful and uplifting movement of white, black, and indigenous farmers who are using alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that could balance the climate, save our health, and stabilize America’s economy – before it’s too late. Common Ground is the recipient of the 2023 Human/Nature Award, a prize established to amplify a film that best exemplifies solution-oriented environmental storytelling.

Florida Premiere. Songs of Earth is a majestic symphony for the big screen. With director Margreth Olin’s 85-year-old father as a guide, we experience Norway’s most scenic valley, Oldedalen in Nordfjord. This is where he grew up and where generations before him have lived in balance with nature. Majestic images of wild mountains, calving glaciers, and bustling wildlife go side by side with her parents’ stories about the generations who trod the trails, the relationship we have with nature, and what is valuable in life. This is a stunning, cinematic work about life, death, nature and about simply being present in the world.

Women of the Watershed highlights the role women have played in the conservation of the Florida Everglades beginning with the earliest advocates of the 20th century and through insightful visits with present day scientists, advocates and artists, who are actively engaged in modern day conservation activities. We follow the journey of Chloe Barnett, who grew up along the edge of this massive sheet of water that gently glides down the Florida peninsula into Florida Bay. Her purpose is to engage with women who are actively involved in conservation activities throughout the watershed to better understand the water challenges we are now facing. Everglades National Park represents only a fraction of the entire Everglades system that also includes the various waterways that lead through the Kissimmee River Basin, Lake Okeechobee, the Southern Everglades and Florida Bay. Chloe recounts her experiences with coral restoration along with the problems of coral bleaching that now threaten the very survival of this coral reef system. This story begins at the end, and leads her on a journey upstream towards the headwaters of the entire Everglades system as she visits with the Women of the Watershed.

Preceded by the short Conservation Across Continents: Madagascar, a look at the efforts to preserve the lemur population in that country.

In Attendance: Scott Michael Barnett, Director; Johanna Vega, Executive Producer; Chloe Barnett

A young man tries to grow an oak tree by combining soil, an acorn, and the ashes of his dead father.

“​Microplastic Madness – Brooklyn kids take on plastic pollution” is an inspirational and optimistic take on the local and global plastic pollution crisis as told through a refreshing urban youth point of view with a powerful take action message.

Fifth graders from PS 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn – a community on the frontline of Climate Change that was severely impacted by Superstorm Sandy- spent 2 years investigating plastic pollution. Taking on the roles of citizen scientists, community leaders, and advocates, these 10-11 year olds collect local data, lead community outreach, and use their impressive data to inform policy, testifying and rallying at City Hall. They take the deep dive into the root causes of plastic pollution, bridging the connection between plastic, climate change, and environmental justice before turning their focus back to school. There they take action to rid their cafeteria of all single-use plastic, driving forward city-wide action and a scalable, youth-led plastic-free movement.

With stop-motion animation, heartfelt kid commentary, and interviews of experts and renowned scientists who are engaged in the most cutting edge research on the harmful effects of microplastics, this alarming, yet charming narrative, conveys an urgent message in user-friendly terms with a take action message to spark youth-led plastic free action in schools everywhere.