Arts & Leisure
Climate Action Film Festival wraps up this week
The Climate Action Film Festival (CAFF) by SunCommon is hosting its final nights of programming Thursday, March 11, and Friday, March 12, ending a two-week run of short films, feature films and panel discussions from around the world. This film festival came to the Marquis in Middlebury for its debut last year, but due to COVID has launched this year’s festival online.
The second annual Climate Action Film Festival (CAFF) by SunCommon is a celebration of films with a focus on solutions to the climate crisis. It is the first festival of its kind to exclusively feature storytelling around solutions rather than simply the impacts of climate change.
“We’ve been building on the momentum after 2020’s festival debut. There is clearly a huge desire to engage with climate action through films and filmmaking. Storytelling through film carries a lot of weight, it can change minds, inspire action, and create unity,” said Patrick McCormack, storyteller at SunCommon and CAFF Creative Director. “We have an inspiring lineup of films this year, and one of the benefits of an online festival is that many of the filmmakers and activists are able to join us from their homes around the world.”
Here are the films that have screened since the festival launched on March 2:
Matagi Mālohi: Strong Winds
The Pacific Climate Warriors shift the narrative to uplift each other and reveal themselves not as victims of the climate crisis but as the leaders, healers, nurturers, and artists they are.
Yongoyvuqatsi
Shot on a single reel of Super 8mm film, this tone poem examines the hypocrisies undermining our efforts to address the climate crisis.
Invasion: The Unist’ot’en’s Fight for Sovereignty
When a determined group of Indigenous Canadians fight to stop 13 pipelines from crossing their land, the government answers with an armed police raid.
Future Grandma
A witty and dedicated grandmother puts her body on the line and risks arrest to raise awareness about the climate emergency.
Monbiot: Arresting the Truth
A British activist and journalist uses his skill set to draw attention to the climate crisis and encourages viewers to contribute to the movement in the best ways they can.
Our House is on Fire
While going about their morning routine, a family acts as if everything is normal despite fires burning throughout their house.
Imagine for 1 Minute
A one-minute meditation imagining a better future.
Rise
An exceptional and diverse group of young people dive deep into their own motivations, fears, and hopes as they prepare for a nationwide protest.
Shepherd’s Song
A young farmer embarks on a new path with her nomadic flock of sheep, restoring ecosystems and preventing wildfires along the way.
Oil & Water
Facing imminent takeover of their ancestral lands, women in Northern Kenya organize to stand up against an oil giant despite resistance from men in their community.
On Friday, March 12, 7-8 p.m., watch the final film of the festival: Necessity. Directed by Jan Haaken; USA; 60 min. After the film, join director Jan Haaken as well as activists and lawyers from the film to discuss the necessity defense, as well as the current resistance taking place at the Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota.
All films and discussions will be available to ticket holders for the duration of the festival so people who buy tickets now will be able to see the events that have already taken place. Tickets are available now at the cost of a “pay what you can” donation. All proceeds from ticket sales go to support CAFF partners 350 Vermont and New York Renews, to support their work in organizing for local climate action in 2021.
Visit ClimateActionFilmFestival.com to see the full schedule and get tickets.
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