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Friday, January 7 - Evening
4:00 - 7:00pm
Welcoming Reception at Mowen Solinsky Gallery at 225 Broad Street
NEVADA THEATRE
The Spirit of the Outdoors
7:00pm
Mary Youngblood performs
7:05pm Yuba
Patty Eacobacci
Local filmmaker and river lover, Patty Eacobacci has put together this beautiful music video inspired by the Yuba River and the song “Yuba” by Native American flutist, Mary Youngblood. (United States, 2004, 4:14 min.) In person: Patty Eacobacci
Contact:
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7:10pm The Obsession
David Conlon
Getting to the top is only half the battle. Overcoming mental blocks is the way to succeed—both in climbing and in life. This rotoscoped animated short is about a rock climber who has become so obsessed with a particular climb that it’s all he thinks about. (United States, 2003, 2 min.) In person: David Conlon
Contact:
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7:15pm Return to Balance
Sterling Johnson
World-class rock climber Ron Kauk, acknowledging the wonderful gifts he has been given, feels that now, more than ever, it is important to share what his life of climbing has taught him. Through beautiful imagery by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Sterling Johnson, Kauk relates the insights and stories of his discoveries, showing our relationship with nature. Raising our awareness is his desire, and he does just that by telling us how, by his simple lifestyle of “just being—on and off the rocks,” he listens to nature and deeply respects and honors the earth. The film was shot and will be screened in high definition and features the music of Native American Cedar Flutist Jeff Ball. (United States, 2004, 51 min.) In person: Ron Kauk, Sterling Johnson
Website: www.snowcreekconsort.com
8:40pm Monumental: David Brower’s Fight for Wild America
Kelly Duane
From the moment David Brower first witnessed the extraordinary beauty of Yosemite Valley, his life was tied to the fight to preserve the American wilds for future generations. Not since John Muir has an American fought so hard or been more successful in protecting our natural heritage. At the center of the film are the themes that absorbed Brower throughout his life: the threatened beauty of the American earth, the spiritual connection between humans and the great outdoors, and the moral obligation to preserve what is left of the world’s natural wonders. Nominated for the Environmental Media Association Awards, 2004; Goldie Award; Bay Guardian, 2004. (United States, 2004, 74 min.) In person: Kelly Duane and historian Roderick Nash
Website: www.bullfrogfilms.com and www.loteriafilms.com
MINERS FOUNDRY - GREAT HALL
An Adventurous Lifestyle
7:10pm Free Radicals
Mahyar Abousaeedi and Ed Chen
Dreaming of hot sand, females, and mahi mahi, three Rocky Mountain cockroaches enter the extreme ski contest of a lifetime. (Some adult situations.) Best Animated Short, Tambakos Video Competition; First Place CG Short, WorldFest Film Festival. (United States, 2003, 8:24 min.) In person: Mahyar Abousaeedi and Ed Chen
Website: www.freeradicalsthemovie.com
7:25pm Peregrine Dreams
Greg Bernstein
Project Bandaloop, an unique dance company, creates a blend of dance, sport, ritual, and environmental awareness. Inspired by the possibilities of climbing and rappelling, the choreography draws on aerial, vertical, and horizontal movement to craft dances, many site-specific. This piece was made site-specifically on a six-day ascent of the Shield on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. The dance celebrates the return of the Peregrine Falcon from the brink of extinction. (United States, 1997, 10 min.)
Website: www.projectbandaloop.org
7:35pm Between Earth and Sky
Brendan Kiernan and Frank Pickell
Follow a team of paragliders into the Khumbu region of Nepal and discover a Himalayan wonderland. Their goal is to fly from a 6,000-meter peak and share free flight with the Sherpa people. They discover some powerful lessons on sharing and living in the moment. (United States, 2004, 45 min.)
Website: www.rattlecan.net
8:40pm Special Presentation: “Carving a Path for Women”
Tina Basich
Within snowboarding, women’s involvement is gaining momentum over men. Tina Basich is not only leading this pack of women, but she is carving a path for women in all extreme sports. Her presentation will include an animated short by Paul Frank, starring herself; a montage of “GKA,” a girls’ action sports TV show that she hosts; and a sneak preview of her directing debut of the film, Represent: The Rise of Women in Action Sports, due out this year. In person: Tina Basich
9:20pm Edge Dancing Across Siberia
Joy Tessman
An American kayaker and photographer Barry Tessman and Siberian Sasha Provatorov came to depend on each other at a time when their countries taught otherwise. The two follow their dream of documenting the wilds of Siberia. Filmmaker Joy Tessman joins the festival again this year with another wonderfully sensitive film. (United States, 2003, 13 min.) In person: Joy Tessman
Website: www.boldervisionfilms.com
9:35pm Ocean Spirit
Bill Kreutzmann, Jeffrey Haupt, Wes Skiles
Take a trip with Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann, and you’ll get lost in the beauty of an underwater playground. This unique adventure involved a 3,000- mile ocean voyage to the remote islands of Rivillagigedos, 400 miles south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Join the team as they swim with Giant Sperm Whales and ride with Manta Rays. Woven through the film is music by members of the Grateful Dead and Jeffrey Haupt. (United States, 1994, 47 min.) In person: Bill Kreutzmann
Website: ocean-spirit.net
MINERS FOUNDRY - STONE HALL
Going with the Flow: River Stories to Inspire, Sponsored by Wolf Creek Wilderness
7:10pm Russian Wave
Becky Bristow
Two professional kayakers, Becky Bristow and Dunbar Hardy, are hired by the Russian government to assess whitewater rivers and tourism potential in northeastern Russia. Upon their arrival, all indications were that they were in for an incredible adventure, but it turned out to be a little different from what they had imagined. (Canada, 2004, 26 min.)
Contact:
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7:40pm Three Women, Three Hundred Miles
Kelley Kalafatich and Carr Clifton
In late November 2001, three women, all successful outdoor athletes, embarked on a 19-day journey no one had ever dared previously—a 300-mile trip through the Grand Canyon using only riverboards for flotation. This fascinating and suspenseful film testifies to the character and courage of the women. Meryl Streep narrates the introduction. Best Documentary, Durango Film Festival. (United States, 2003, 68 min.) In person: Kelley Kalafatich
9:15pm Bigger Than Rodeo
Tripp Jennings and Karl Moser
Combining equally the burliest waterfalls ever seen on video and the biggest aerial freestyle ever shot, Bigger Than Rodeo is an instant jaw dropper. Follow the crew and top paddlers in their search for the sickest whitewater imaginable. They find something more meaningful and truly bigger then they could imagine—Ed Lucero’s 105-foot record-breaking waterfall. (United States, 2004, 44 min.) In person: Ed Lucero, Tripp Jennings, and Karl Moser
Website: www.epicocity.comEP/EPFlash.html
Saturday, January 8 Morning
MINERS FOUNDRY - GREAT HALL
An International Perspective, Sponsored by Diane and Lowell Robertson
10:05am Bozhestvo (The God)
Konstantin Brozit
In this award-winning 3D animated short, even a Hindu god may have to reincarnate to get rid of a bothersome fly! Best Animation, Russian Film Festival, 2003; Avanca Film Festival, Portugal, 2003. (Russia, 2003, 5 min.)
Website: www.melnitsa.com
10:10am Defending Forests: The Struggle of the Campesino
Environmentalists of Guerrero, Chiapas Media Project
The deforestation of Mexico’s Guerrero’s mountain ranges dates back to the 1950s. In 1994, with the signing of NAFTA, the transnational Boise Cascade Corporation began what resulted in the exploitation of thousands of kilometers of virgin forests. This is the story of the Organization of the Campesino Environmentalists (OCE) created in 1998 and their work in halting Boise Cascade’s exploitation of their forests. (Mexico, 2000, 18 min.)
Website: www.chiapasmediaproject.org
10:30am Inheritance: A Fisherman’s Story
Peter Hegedus
When a dam burst at a Romanian goldmine in early 2000, more than 100,000 tons of cyanide was released into the Tisza River, devastating its ecology as well as the livelihoods of subsistence fishermen in neighboring Hungary. This spill created Central Europe’s worst ecological disaster since Chernobyl. The documentary follows fisherman Balazs Meszaros as he struggles with the effects of the disaster on his own community and attempts to confront the corporate forces behind the mining operation. Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking, Australian Center of the Moving Image, 2004; First Prize, Global Peace Film Festival, 2003; Special Jury Prize, International Scientific Festival, 2003. (Australia, 2003, 75 min.)
Website: www.soulvisionfilms and
Website: www.frif.com
MINERS FOUNDRY - STONE HALL
Saturday Morning Cartoons
10:05am Unerasable Painting
Sagi Zamaschik
A little girl draws beautiful fish on the sand by the edge of the sea. Thinking the sea has cruelly erased her painting, she is finally proved wrong. (Israel, 2004, 5 min.)
Contact:
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10:10am The Great Ball Game
Andrew Horne
For generations, the Muskogee First Nations have passed down a tale that reminds us that what makes us unique can often be used to great advantage. Once an outcast, Bat comes through in the great ball game between the creatures with teeth and those with wings. (Canada, 2003, 6 min.)
Website: www.cuppacoffee.com
10:18am Nibbles
Christopher Hinton
Buckle your seatbelt for this animated road trip with award-winning filmmaker Chris Hinton. Like most family car trips, this one is defined by its stops at roadside eateries—again and again and again. Oscar®, BAFTA, and Annie nominated. (Canada, 2003, 5 min.)
Website: www.acmefilmworks.com
10:25am Tracks
Corrie Francis
USC student filmmaker Corrie Francis animates this lovely film, evoking the awe of the African savannah and its wild animals at sunset. Finalist, International Family Film Festival. (United States, 2003, 2 min.) In person: Connie Francis
Contact:
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10:30am Past Whispers
Brett Rutland
Follow the adventures of three siblings who open a portal into a world of magical skies and landscapes. They delve into the belly of a waterfall, take flight on the wings of a beetle, and meet up close a disgruntled oak tree. Audience Award for Best Animation, Temecula Film Festival. (United States, 2004, 9 min.) In person: Brett Rutland
Website: www.pastwhispers.com
10:40am RollerBoy
Robert Welkner
Look out, litterbugs! Rollerboy dons his hockey outfit and grabs his trusty hockey stick to take care of business with a swift hip check to anyone caught littering. It’s not long before he faces a gang of thugs not willing to give up the streets and an opponent just as swift and talented on skates as Rollerboy. You’ll think twice before you toss that candy wrapper on the sidewalk after seeing Rollerboy in action! (United States, 2003, 7 min.) In person: Robert Welkner
Website: www.thirstyfilms.com
10:50am Sailing Shoes
Taylor Leach
Explore the international sport of Sabot sailing with the young award-winning filmmaker Taylor Leach. Break-an-Egg Productions, a team of filmmakers ages 9-12 years old, have put together another wonderful film, this time featuring the Seal Beach Yacht Club’s Young Mariner program participants and instructors. (United States, 2004, 13 min.) In person: Taylor Leach
Contact:
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FELLOWSHIP HALL
Special Film Workshops
8:30am Filmmaker Breakfast (Subject TBA)
10:00am Special Workshop: “High Definition Production and Post Production”
Sterling Johnson, filmmaker, Return to Balance
Join Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Sterling Johnson as he shares his experiences as an independent filmmaker and how he made the transition from standard definition video production to high definition. He’ll discuss technical changes in his work and the process of high definition production and post production. Return to Balance will screen on a large plasma monitor using an Apple G5 computer with a Kona capture card and external hard drives. A representative from AJA Video will be present to answer technical questions and discuss the future of HD post production. While the seminar will be aimed at filmmakers, the general public will find it interesting and informative.
ODDFELLOWS HALL
The Last Great Wilderness: Saving the Arctic
10:00am Oil on Ice
Dale Djerassi and Bo Bondart
What happens if another oil spill occurs on the coastal plain or under an ice-covered Beaufort Sea? How can one rationalize development of irreplaceable wilderness areas or ignore the cultural survival of indigenous populations? Oil on Ice connects the fate of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to decisions America makes about energy policy, transportation choices, and other seemingly unrelated matters. Pare Lorentz Award, International Documentary Association. (United States, 2003, 57 min.) In person: Dale Djerassi, Bo Bondart, and executive producer, Steve Michelson
Website: www.oilonice.org
11:00am Being Caribou
Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison
On April 8, 2003, two Canadians left the remote community of Old Crow, Yukon Territory, to join the Porcupine Caribou Herd on their epic life journey. For five months, Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison migrated, on foot, 1500 kilometers across river, snow, and tundra, with the 123,000-member caribou herd, traveling from wintering grounds to calving grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska—and back again. Pro-development oilmen in the U.S. Oval Office, along with a Republican-controlled Senate and Congress, made development of oil and gas reserves in the Alaskan portion of the Porcupine Caribou’s sacred calving grounds more likely than ever. But what do we really know about these caribou and how they might be affected? (Canada, 2004, 72 min.)
Website: www.beingcaribou.com
Saturday, January 8 Afternoon
MINERS FOUNDRY - GREAT HALL
Water and Food: Essentials of Life
Sponsored by Michael Funk
12:50pm Bottle This
Gregory Warner
There has been a major public relations campaign launched to convince people that bottled water is safer, better, and purer than tap water, but studies have found that it’s not necessarily so. So begins the story about America’s second-most popular beverage: bottled water (number one is still soda). Bottled water claims to be the healthy alternative—but is it really worth paying 1,000 times more than for tap? And how did tap water get such a bad rap? (United States, 2004, 9:23 min.) In person: Gregory Warner
Website: www.pbs.org
1:00pm Thirst
Deborah Kaufman and Alan Snitow
Is water part of a shared “commons”—a human right for all people? Or is it a commodity to be bought, sold, and traded in a global marketplace? Thirst tells the stories of communities in Bolivia, India, and the United States that are asking these fundamental questions. More than a billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Each year, millions of children die of diseases caused by unsafe water, and the numbers are increasing. These facts drive a debate in the opening scenes of Thirst, which takes place at the 2003 Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan. Their consensus for large dams and privatized, corporate water systems is challenged by experts and activists who assert that water is a human right, not a commodity to be traded on the open market. (United States, 2004, 62 min.) In person: Dale Stocking of Stockton
Website: www.bullfrogfilms.com and www.thirstthemovie.com
2:15pm Special Program: Blue Planet Run
Beth and George Gage
Twenty percent of the world’s population, 1.2 billion people, lacks access to safe drinking water. Ironically, there are no technological or mechanical barriers to solving this condition. To meet this need, an eclectic group of international activists, business people, community health experts, and innovators are assembling a plan to provide a lifetime of safe drinking water for 200 million people by the year 2015. The goal is to raise money and understanding with The World Footrace, created and organized by Blue Planet Run. This biannual global race is designed to attract the support of the world with national teams of runners circling the planet in 80 days. The race, scheduled to begin in 2007, is a race for the very lives of millions of people. (United States, 2004, 2 min.) In person: Beth and George Gage and Jin Zidell, executive director
Website: www.blueplanetrun.org
2:50pm Nibbles (see page 6)
Website: www.acmefilmworks.com
3:00pm The Future of Food
Deborah Koons Garcia and Catherine Butler
There is a revolution happening in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America—a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. The Future of Food offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled grocery store shelves for the past decade. From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada, to the fields of Oaxaca, Mexico, this film gives a voice to farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been negatively impacted by this new technology. (United States, 2004, 91 min.) In person: Deborah Koons Garcia, Catherine Butler, Anuradha Mittal
Website: www.lilyfilms.com
MINERS FOUNDRY - STONE HALL
PART ONE: Thinking Outside the Box—A Variety of Shorts
Sponsored by Shanti Emerson and Jivat Mukhi
12:30pm Parking and The Exciting Life of a Tree
Bill Plympton
Academy Award-nominee Bill Plympton is among the elite of American animators. He has a portfolio of cartoons published in The New York Times, National Lampoon, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. In Parking, an attendant and a blade of grass star in a duel of wits that only escalates, becoming a Road Runner vs. Wile E. Coyote type of battle, with the final victory going to nature. (United States, 2001, 7 min.) The Exciting Life of a Tree, inspired by a trip through the historic battlefields of France, is an “adult” short chronicling a tree throughout centuries of human and animal events. (United States, 1998, 6 min.)
Website: www.plymptoons.com
12:46pm Green by Design
Kristen Nutile and Nadia Amer
Nowadays, sustainable living goes well beyond recycling, consuming less, and eating organically. Jim Bell of San Diego is one of the country’s first green designers. Green by Design shows that green architecture makes both common sense and economic sense. (United States, 2004, 7:15 min.)
Contact:
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12:56pm Mini Cine Tupy
Sergio Bloch
Welcome to the Mini Cine Tupy, a movie theatre on the outskirts of Sao Paolo, Brazil, made from “trash.” Meet the proprietor of the establishment, a charming trash gatherer whose love of the cinema inspired him to show matinees for the kids in the neighborhood. The cinema opens every Sunday, and the screening starts as soon as it gets dark—unless it rains. Tickets are free, and the popcorn is delicious. (Brazil, 2002, 10 min.)
Contact:
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1:36pm Flip Flotsam
Lucy Bateman and Etienne Oliff
Filmed in Kenya over a period of two years, this wonderful little film journeys into the lifecycle of probably the world’s most prevalent footwear—flip-flops. From the factory floors, to doormats of the cities, to the mercy of the Indian Ocean, these shoes even become boats for sea life. But once they wash on a shore, north of Kenya, a new life and an even more creative use awaits them. Special Jury Award, Explorer’s Club Film Festival; Newcomers Award, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. (Kenya, 2002, 30 min.)
Website: www.flipflotsam.com
MINERS FOUNDRY - STONE HALL
PART TWO: Reaching Great Heights
1:50pm Climb Free
James Rapp
Although separated by a continent and strangers to each other, Debra and Gail share a common thread of dealing with the challenge of life-threatening illnesses and taking up the extreme sport of rock climbing in their 40s. Against the backdrop of the rocks of Lone Pine in the Eastern Sierra, Taquitz and Suicide rocks in Southern California, and the Shawangunks in New Paltz, New York, this inspiring story connects the personal life trials of the women with the mental and physical challenges of rock climbing. (United States, 2004, 24min.) In person: James Rapp
Contact:
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2:20pm The Last Mountain
Sally Rubin
Sport, fate, and mortality are thoughtfully considered in this heartfelt documentary. Filmmaker Sally Rubin revisits her risk-driven father’s mysterious death in a hiking accident and reveals unexpected questions about the fears that led her father to his tragic fate. Nominated for Best Documentary, Angelus Awards Student Film Festival. (United States, 2004, 26 min.) In person: Sally Rubin
Contact:
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2:50pm Daughters of Everest
Sapana Sakya and Ramyata Limbu
Bringing a unique flavor to the common stories of climbing the world’s highest peak, Daughters of Everest provides an up-close account of female Sherpa climbers. Told from a woman’s perspective rarely seen on Everest, this film is both a dramatic and inspiring story and an absorbing portrait of the Sherpa community. Best Documentary, Mt. Shasta Film Festival, 2004; Jury Award, Telluride MountainFilm, 2004; Best Film on Climbing, Banff Mountain Film Festival, 2004. (United States/Nepal, 2004, 56 min.)
Website: www.naatanet.org
4:00pm Farther Than the Eye Can See
Michael Brown
For most of us, it is difficult to imagine climbing Mt.Everest at any point in our lives. But can you imagine climbing it blind? Here is the inspirational story of blind climber Erik Weihenmayer’s historic ascent. This multi-award-winning film captures the emotion, humor, and drama of one of the most historic and most successful Everest expeditions ever. Numerous worldwide awards including: Best of Festival, Taos Mountain Film Festival; Grand Prize, Montreal International Adventure Film Festival; Special Jury Award, Banff Mountain Film Festival; nominated for two Sports Emmy Awards. (United States, 2003, 75 min.)
Website: www.seracfilms.com
FELLOWSHIP HALL
The Wild World of Animals
Sponsored by Judi Funk
12:30pm Tracks (see page 7) In person: Corrie Francis
Contact:
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12:40pm Ride of the Mergansers
Steve Furman
The Hooded Merganser is a rare and reclusive duck found only in North America. Every spring in the Great Lakes region, the wary hen lays and incubates her eggs in a nest high in the trees. Just 24 hours after hatching, the tiny ducklings must make the perilous leap to the ground below to begin life in the wild. Enjoy footage of these ducklings rarely observed by humans, and experience a heartwarming blend of natural history, drama, and even comedy. Best Short Documentary, Northern Lights Film Festival. (United States, 2004, 11:34 min.) In person: Steve Furman
Contact:
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12:55pm A Question of Freedom
Wendy Kohn and Heather Mosher
Set in Zimbabwe, A Question of Freedom dramatically portrays the complex issues surrounding elephant conservation in southern Africa. In this region, it is no longer a question of freedom for elephant populations that currently outnumber what the ecosystem can support. Now, the question is whether humans and elephants can find a way to live together while preserving the diversity of our fragile planet. This film tells the compelling story of Kwamanzi, a young orphaned elephant who chooses refuge in a herd of free-ranging domesticated elephants rather than face starvation and death on his own. (United States, Africa, 2004, 42 min.) In person: Wendy Kohn and Heather Mosher
Website: www.kwamba.com
1:55pm The Last Journey of the Leatherback?
Stanley Minasian
Scientists predict that the giant Pacific leatherback sea turtle, which has survived unchanged for over 100 million years, could vanish in the next 5 to 30 years if current threats from wasteful industrial fishing are not curtailed. The leatherback is the largest sea turtle, measuring nine feet from head to tail, with the largest ever recorded tipping the scales at 2,000 pounds. This film documents the incredible life of the leatherbacks, which can dive as deep as the whales and migrate across entire ocean basins. (United States, 2004, 28 min.) In person: Robert Ovetz, Save the Leatherback Campaign Coordinator
Website: www.seaturtles.org/
2:30pm Buffalo War
Matthew Testa
Native Americans, ranchers, government officials, and environmental activists battle over the yearly slaughter of America’s last wild bison. Yellowstone National Park bison that stray from the park are rounded up and sent to slaughter. This film explores the controversial killing by joining a 500-mile spiritual march across Montana by Lakota Sioux Indians who object to the slaughter. Woven into the film is the civil disobedience of an environmental group trying to save the buffalo, as well as the concerns of a ranching family caught in the crossfire. Multiple awards, including Best Environmental Film, San Francisco International Film Festival. (United States, 2001, 57 min.)
Website: www.bullfrogfilms.com
3:40pm The Meatrix
Louis Fox
Created by Free Range Graphics for the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE), The Meatrix is a humorous Flash animation that spoofs The Matrix films while drawing attention to the problems of factory farming. Netsurfers Award for Short Films for the Internet, Annecy Festival, 2004. (United States, 2003, 4 min.) In person: Louis Fox
Website: www.gracelinks.org
3:50pm Peaceable Kingdom
James LaVeck and Jenny Stein
At a time when factory farming is in the headlines for putting the environment and public health at risk, Peaceable Kingdom takes its audience on an eye-opening journey to the heart of this unfolding national drama. Propelled by the testimony of farmers who have come to question the fundamental assumptions behind their community’s way of life, the film delivers a riveting portrait of human and animal lives caught up in an out-of-control industrial machine. Much more than an exposé, Peaceable Kingdom is about personal redemption, healing, and hope, offering a life-changing vision of a peaceful world that is well within our reach. Some scenes may be difficult to watch. Enriching the Human Spirit through Film Award, Ojai Film Festival, 2004. (United States, 2004, 70 min.) In person: James LaVeck
Website: www.tribeofheart.com
ODDFELLOWS HALL
The View from California
sponsored by former SYRCL Board President and founding member Charlie Brock
1:05pm Yuba (see page 4) In person: Patty Eacobacci
Contact:
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1:10pm 37 Views from Lone Bobcat Woods
Janaia Donaldson and Robyn Mallgren
Do you ever wonder how an artist sees? Wanting to see her familiar surrounding afresh, an artist creates an image by looking out from each window in her Sierra Nevada home. In this moving art gallery, paintings in many styles emerge from a photographic panorama. Telling what attracted her eye as the artworks pass by, this local Nevada City artist reveals an imaginative and personal response to the natural world. (United States, 2004, 6min.) In person: Janania Donaldson and Robyn Mallgren
Contact:
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1:20pm Restoring Balance
Kevin White
Located just 12 miles off the coast of Southern California, Anacapa Island is a jewel in the Channel Islands National Park. Historically, Anacapa has provided important nesting habitat for seabirds, including the rare Xantus’ Murrelet. However, as a result of the accidental introduction of the black rat to the island, there has been widespread predation on seabird eggs and chicks. Knowing that rats are responsible for 40-60 percent of the world’s bird and reptile extinctions, the Channel Islands National Park and several independent experts come to the same conclusion: remove the rat from Anacapa or face continuing pressure on the native wildlife of the island. (United States, 2003, 27 min.) In person: Kevin White
Website: www.restoring-balance.org
1:50pm Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea
Chris Metzler and Jeff Springer
There was a time when the Salton Sea, tucked into the southeast corner of California, was known as the Riviera of the West, a haven for jetsetters and vacationers. Created by accident, it is now one of the country’s worst ecological disasters: a fetid, stagnant, salty lake, coughing up dead fish and birds by the thousands. Still, a hardy few have hung on there, hoping for help to come along and restore the lake to its former glory. Eccentrics abound in this surreal landscape. Hair-raising and hilarious—part history lesson, part cautionary tale, and part portrait of a strange community—this is the American Dream gone as stinky as a dead carp. Numerous awards including Best Documentary, Bend Film Festival and Big Bear Lake International Film Festival. (United States, 2004, 60 min.) In person: Chris Metzler
Contact:
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3:15pm Special Presentation:
Tahoe Rim Trail: Exploring the Jewel
Mark Vollmer and Carole Maupin Take an armchair hike on the Tahoe Rim Trail—explore the geologic and natural history on this virtual trek on the rim above one of the most spectacular lakes in the world. Far above the action of lakeshore tourism, the quiet splendor of the Rim Trail is now accessible to all. Join author Mark Vollmer and editor Carole Maupin in this multi-media presentation about the Tahoe Rim Trail’s beautiful environment and the trail-building volunteers. Many images are from Mark’s book, Tahoe Rim Trail: Exploring the Jewel. (2003, 20 min.) In person: Mark Vollmer and Carole Maupin
Contact:
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3:45pm Dude, Where’s My River?
Tom and Debra Weistar, Catherine Stifter, and students from
Synergia Learning Ventures, Nevada City In the summer of 2004, eight teenagers and three teachers embarked on a unique expedition: to follow the Hetch Hetchy water system from its source at the Headwaters of the Tuolumne River in Yosemite to its culmination in San Francisco Bay. They interviewed environmentalists, water managers, lawyers, ordinary citizens, and grassroots activists. Through the medium of film, they are using what they learned to educate others on one of the most critical environmental issues of our time. (United States, 2004, 30 min.) In person: Tom and Debra Weistar, Andre Wenn, Derek Engel, Samantha Lyman, Ian Jolly, Ian Reine, and Alex Zapalac
Website: www.synergia.us
4:30pm Special Presentation: “Art as Activism”
Darryl Cherney
What is the role that music, film, and art can play as tools for activists? Why has art been pushed to the back burner in the recent past? What role did the arts play historically in progressive campaigns? Fresh from a victorious civil rights lawsuit against the FBI and the campaign that saved a portion of the Headwaters Forest, folksinger, activist, and filmmaker Darryl Cherney will explore the answers to these questions and more as we face perhaps the most critical chapter in our planet’s history. In person: Darryl Cherney
Website: www.darrylcherney.com
Saturday, January 8 Evening
NEVADA THEATRE
Making a Statement, Making a Difference
7:05pm Winneman War Dance at Shasta Dam
Toby McLeod
A proposal to raise the height of Shasta Dam near Redding threatens to flood Winnemem Wintu sacred sites on the McCloud River. In September, 2004, the Winnemem responded with a four-day war dance to spiritually unite the people in their struggle for sovereignty and religious freedom. This film documents their efforts to protect the water, salmon, and ceremonial sites. (United States, 2004, 5 min.)
Website: www.sacredland.org
7:10pm In the Light of Reverence
Toby McLeod
Devils Tower. The Four Corners. Mount Shasta. All are places of extraordinary beauty—and impassioned controversy—as Indians and non-Indians struggle to co-exist with very different ideas about how the land should be used. For Native Americans, the land is sacred and akin to the world’s greatest cathedrals. For others, the land should be used for industry and recreation. Narrated by Peter Coyote and Tantoo Cardinal (Metis), In the Light of Reverence documents the struggles of the Lakota in the Black Hills, the Hopi in Arizona and the Wintu in California to protect their sacred sites. Best Documentary Feature, American Indian Film Festival; Jury Award, Telluride MountainFilm; Best Cinematography/Videography Award, Siskiyou Environmental Film Festival. (United States, 2001, 73 min.) In person: Toby McLeod and Caleen Sisk-Franco
8:50pm Hempsters: Plant the Seed
Diana Oliver and Michael Henning
The medical marijuana issue may be a hot one in California, but the industrial hemp movement is also birthing a new family of activists across the nation. This poignant film highlights the brave individuals who are fighting for the freedom to grow one of the most useful plants on earth: actor and activist Woody Harrelson, who in 1996 was arrested for planting four feral hemp seeds in Kentucky; traveling hemp activist Craig Lee and several featured old-school Kentucky tobacco farmers who want to grow the multipurpose crop as a way to save their farms; Lakota Alex White Plume, part of the first family to plant industrial hemp on American soil since the 1950s; Julia Butterfly Hill, who protested the pulping of old-growth forests by living for more than two years at the top of a 1,000-year-old redwood tree in Northern California; and Gatewood Galbraith, the fiery orator of the U.S. Reform Party, who attempts to bring the public at large to its senses in his own inimitable style. A hyper-paced ride with a sizzling soundtrack, this motion picture puts hemp at the heart of just about every grassroots issue in America today. More than a political study of cannabis, Hempsters is a rousing portrait of our country’s most spirited and sensible free-thinkers. Some adult language. (United States, 2003, 90 min.) In person: Diana Oliver, Michael Henning, and Gatewood Galbraith. Invited: Willie Nelson, Woody Harrelson, and Alex White Plume
Website: www.hempstersthemovie.com
MINERS FOUNDRY - GREAT HALL
The Power of One, Sponsored by Brad and Betsy Welton
7:00pm Our Land, Our Life
Beth and George Gage
Northern Nevada Shoshone sisters, Mary and Carrie Dan, are mad as hell. Representatives from the federal government have begun killing their horses, threatening to take away their land and existence. The land has been in their family since time immemorial and guaranteed by treaty since 1862. Mary and Carrie are now fighting back—for themselves and some 60 million acres of their people’s land. (United States, 2004, 11 min.) In person: Beth and George Gage
7:25pm Special Presentation: “Speaking for the Trees”
John Quigley
Artist/Activist John Quigley discusses his adventure living in a 400 year old oak tree named “Old Glory” to keep it from being cut down. What he thought would be a few days turned into more than two months as the site at “Old Glory” became an ongoing town hall meeting with over 20,000 visitors. John weathered storms, 24-hour- a-day media scrutiny, political attacks and the daily challenge of managing bodily functions. With visuals he takes us inside the media bubble of America’s first big urban tree-sit. Quigley talks about staying focused, standing firm and allowing the power of nature to work through you. With examples of how one action inspired ripples through an entire community, he will challenge the audience to find their ‘tree.’ The presentation will also include visuals from Quigley’s work as an aerial artist illustrating a range of creative options for how one person can make a difference. In person: John Quigley
Website: www.spectralq.com
8:05pm Invisible Creek
Gregory Warner
The largest oil spill in American history wasn’t in Alaska—it was in New York City, on a waterway between Brooklyn and Queens called Newtown Creek. The 3 ½ mile creek has an ugly history—with 12 hazardous waste sites along its bank. In this film, we canoe down the creek tracking polluters with The Riverkeeper, then meet the group of inner city teenagers who are trying to reclaim these waters. (United States, 2004, 8 min.) In person: Gregory Warner
8:15pm Troubled Waters
Jonathan Halperin
A series of apparently unconnected crises among animal populations around the world turns out to be linked by water. The fourth hour in a National Geographic series entitled Strange Days on Planet Earth, this film examines evidence that toxins are being spread throughout the world’s water systems. Each of these stories may be part of a worldwide transformation in which Earth’s vibrant waterways—its streams, rivers, estuaries, and even ocean—have become massive delivery systems for invisible poisons. Yet even as the level of water-borne toxins rises, scientists and farmers alike are discovering exciting new solutions. (United States, 2004, 56 min.) In person: Jonathan Halperin
Website: www.seastudios.com
9:20pm Special Presentation: Source to Sea, “Swim for Clean Water”
Christopher Swain and Andy Norris
1,234 miles—Columbia River. 80 miles—Charles River. 129 miles—Lake Champlain. 315 miles—Hudson River. Christopher Swain is not driven to be a highly regarded athlete or have his name in any book of records. A husband and father of two, he just wants to be able to see his daughters drinking, fishing, and swimming in clean water. This amazing individual has swum the length of rivers and lakes, battling through class-IV rapids, sewage, and around discarded appliances—all to fight for clean water and draw attention to the fate of our world’s waterways. Filmmaker Andy Norris will present his documentary in progress, joining Swain in this extraordinary presentation. In person: Christopher Swain and Andy Norris
Website: www.swimforcleanwater.org
MINERS FOUNDRY - STONE HALL
Epic Journeys, Sponsored by Ralph Hitchcock
7:00pm Special Presentation: “Alaska Revisited”
Reinette Senum
What would it be like to cross Alaska alone, at fifty-five below, without a tent, a radio or gun? You’re invited to experiences this incredible journey as Reinette Senum presents “Alaska Revisited.” Join Reinette as she shares her unique presentation of National Geographic footage, slides and colorful storytelling bringing to life the amazing story of her 4 -month, 1,500-mile solo trek through the Alaskan wilderness and the coincidental and unbelievable family history that takes this story to a different dimension. In person: Reinette Senum
8:05pm Dead Men Walking
Rune Gjeldnes and Torry Larsen
Imagine a ski trip with your buddy described as: “The world’s worst ski trip, across the devil’s dance floor.” But with the completion of the hellish adventure, two men accomplished what other expeditions had failed to do before them. In the year of 2000, Norwegian adventurers Rune Gjeldnes and Torry Larsen set out from Cape Arctichesky, Siberia, to cross the Arctic Ocean. In the end, the guys lost their sleds, gear and over 50 kilos of bodyweight. As they finally staggered back on land in Cape Discovery, North Canada, 109 days later, they were nothing less than dead men walking. (Norway, 2002, 60 min.)
9:15pm Alone Across Australia
Ian Darling and Jon Muir
A man and his dog set off for a very, very long walk ... In 2001, one of the world’s most accomplished climbers and adventurers, Jon Muir, began a 2,500-kilometer odyssey to cross Australia from the south to the north coast on foot. For 128 days, Muir and his dog Seraphine survived entirely off the land—hunting and gathering along the way. Muir was taxed to the limit both physically and emotionally. Often close to despair, he drew on his instinct for survival, his deep understanding of the land, and his remarkable inner strength. Numerous international awards including: Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary, San Francisco Documentary Film Festival, 2004; Jury’s Choice Award, Taos Mountain Film Festival, 2004; Best Film on Mountain Environment, Banff Mountain Film Festival, Crystal Heart Award, Heartland Film Festival. (Australia, 2003, 52 min.)
Website: www.sharkislandproductions.com
Contact:
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Saturday, January 8 Late Night
NEVADA CITY WINERY
VIP Party, 10:00pm
Join us for a special evening with festival guests, filmmakers and celebrities. Enjoy the award-winning wines from Nevada City Winery and delectable hors d’ouevres. 21 and over only. Special passes required. No tickets will be available at the door.
Sunday, January 9
MINERS FOUNDRY
Champagne Breakfast, People’s Choice Award Film Screening, and Awards Ceremony
9:30am
Come and celebrate the end of the festival with a continental breakfast, screening of the People’s Choice Award film (to be announced that morning), and the award ceremony. Champagne and special drinks available. Limited to 200 people. Tickets purchased separately. Some may be available at the door.
Festival Awards
Be sure to place your vote for the "2005 People’s Choice Award." Ballots will be given with tickets as well as available at each venue. One ballot, per person, please.
Other awards given this year will be:
Best of the Fest
Best of the Entries
Best Children’s Film
Most Inspiring Adventure Film
The Spirit of Activism Award
Special Events
You may have your plate full of films this weekend, but don’t forget to take part in the wonderful happenings throughout downtown Nevada City during the fest weekend:
Friday, January 7, 4-7pm
Welcoming Reception
at the Mowen Solinsky Gallery, 225 Broad Street.
The gallery features sculpture by John Mowen and photography by Steve Solinsky, plus a sophisticated selection of contemporary work by national and regional artists. Join us for a glass of wine to begin the festival weekend.
Saturday, January 8, 4-7pm
Nevada City Wine Stroll
Buy your signature festival glass at the hospitality tent in front of the Miners Foundry and then stroll around town to a variety of shops and wineries for a taste of local wines. The stroll venues include:
- J.J. Jacksons, 244 Commercial Street
- Nevada City Winery, 321 Spring Street
- Indian Springs Winery, 303 Broad Street
- Carrington’s Fine Wines, 242a Commercial Street
- Iron Mountain, 130 Main Street
- New York Hotel Shops, 408 Broad Street
- Summerwood, 312 Broad Street
- Mountain Pastimes, 320 Spring Street
- Deer Creek Studios, 317 Spring Street
- Mostly Clay, 227 Broad Street
- Gary Frost, photographer, at Citronee Bistro & Wine Bar, 320 Broad Street
- LeeAnn Brook, photographer & painter, at Broad Street Books & Espresso Cafe, 426 Broad Street and J.J. Jacksons, 244 Commercial Street
- David McKay, photographer, at Mon Ami, 107 North Pine Street
- Leslie Elias, photographer at Gallery II, 217 Main Street, Grass Valley
- Stacy Mora, painter, at Flour Garden Bakery, 11999 Sutton Ave., Grass Valley (near Ralphs), and Center for the Arts, 314 W. Main St., Grass Valley
Chat with the Filmmakers
One of the most wonderful aspects of a film festival is having a chance to meet and talk with all of the incredible filmmakers. We’ll be setting up special times throughout the weekend at various cafes, restaurants, and businesses for you to chat with the filmmakers. Look for the special handout and schedule at the hospitality tent in front of the Miners Foundry.