REEL EARTH AOTEAROA ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL
Victoria Cinema
Adults $12.50 and Students $10
Next weekend - see www.envirocentre.org.nz for three more sessions
Saturday 27th September 4pm
Mohikinui River
5 minutes
Shooting to Learn
New Zealand (2007) 18 minutes
Director: Dwayne Fowler
Shooting to Learn is the compelling story of a man driven by passion for the Himalayan tahr - a specieswhose right to exist in New Zealand is hotly debated. Set against the magnificent landscape of alpine South Island, this is a story of determination, patience and the inherent tensions of conservation issues in a local and global context.
Common Scents
Canada (2007) 3 minutes
Director: Steve Whitehouse
A whimsically animated tale of lust, greed and the overwhelming desire to smell good. Common Scents is a brilliantly crafted allegory warning of the dangers of mindless and unsustainable resource use.
Why Birds Sing
United Kingdom (2006) 80 minutes
Director: Archie Powell
Taken from the book of the same title, Why Birds Sing contains a rich mix of science, philosophy, ornithology, music and performance. The documentary explores the mysterious and often conflicting theories on why birds sing, and why humans are so attracted to the music of nature. An entertaining movie sure to stimulate discussion among bird lovers and musicians alike.
Sunday 28th September 12.30pm
Xtreme Waste
New Zealand (2007) 8 minutes
Directors: Talbott Walker and Lula Chapman
The story of a proactive community on the West Coast of New Zealand who has taken control of their waste issues, Xtreme Waste is a delightful, upbeat and inspirational film. Faced with the closure of the local outdated landfill and a polluted waterway, the community of Raglan took it upon themselves to address their waste issues head on. The result is a locally run, highly successful transfer station which has reduced content to landfill, created jobs, and instilled an ethos of reuse and recycling. Humorously told by the enthusiastic staff, and set to a local soundtrack, this is a highly enjoyable eight minutes.
Smalltalk Diaries: the decomposers
United Kingdom (2008) 14 minutes
Director: Martin Dohrn
Smalltalk Diaries is an amusing portrayal of the unsung heroes of our ecosystem - the insect decomposers. Looking through the ‘Translation Lens' we watch minibeasts, woodlice, earthworms, dungflies, wood ants, snails, a bluebottle and a cockroach, who manage, in between fighting, arguing and feeding, to explain the basics and importance of decomposition.
Calici: a rural conspiracy
New Zealand (2007) 24 minutes
Director: Claudia Babirat
Calici: a rural conspiracy makes for compelling viewing as it examines the illegal release of the Calici rabbit virus in the South Island ten years ago. Motivated by despair and desperation, frustrated by perceived bureaucratic delays, and with the risk of dire consequences, the farming community took the introduction and spread of the Calici virus into their own hands. The illegal introduction and spread of the Calici virus was viewed by some as a gutsy act to save farms and the nation from the devastating impacts of high rabbit populations, and by others as an act of environmental crime. With informative and amusing interviews with local farmers, MAF officials, and politicians, Calici is an entertaining and thought provoking look at ‘kiwi ingenuity' in the face of biosecurity checks and balances.
Bright Ideas
New Zealand (2007) 4 minutes
Directors: Ross Inness-McLeish, Jack Tippler, Ollie Neas , Nelson Boys College
Can Nelson Boys College be brighter about its energy bill? You bet! The cast and crew take up the challenge with enthusiasm and creativity, reclaiming kilowatts left right and centre with their school-wide campaign to educate and motivate change.
An Alchemy in Green
New Zealand (2005) 50 minutes
Director: Dave Dawson
Can the creativity and energy of one man restore a landscape? Sometimes yes. An Alchemy in Green is a compelling story of an individual's determination to restore life to a ravaged land. Following the story of Barry Brickell - artist, railway builder and nature conservationist - this film is a relevant and interesting exploration of the loss and restoration of New Zealand's impressive forests, shot on the
Coromandel Penninsula.
Sunday 28th September 7pm
The Meadow
Germany (2006) 43 minutes
Director: Jan Michael Haft
A high level production incorporating spectacular cinematorgraphy and visual effects, The Meadow is a movie of colour and form. This place, comparable to a coral reef or rainforest, is home to countless animals, big and small. A beautiful portrait of a place of beauty. But for how long?
Taking Root: the vision of Wangari Maathai
United States of America (2007) 81 minutes
Directors: Alan Dater & Lisa Merton
Fancy a Nobel Peace Prize in tree planting? Taking Root tells the inspiring story of the Green Belt Movement of Kenya and its founder Wangari Maathai, the first environmentalist and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. At times brutal, always powerful, there is something about this film that is deeply inspiring and moving. Overseas audiences cried, laughed and were moved to action.
