MOVING IMAGE FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 17-19, 2008,
MARIN CENTER, SAN RAFAEL, CA
Inciting Change Through Storytelling
Bioneers is a forum for connecting the environment, health, social justice, and spirit within a broad progressive framework. As part of the annual Bioneers conference, the Moving Image Festival seeks to get people out of their seats and into the streets to create a better, fairer world. Through screenings and panels, the festival explores the potential of independent visual media to engage us in the issues that matter most, spark dialogue, connect us in meaningful ways to the global community, and inspire action.
See clips from this year's films at our preview of coming attraction!
THIS YEAR'S FILMS:
Friday, October 17th
4:30pm, Showcase Theatre
OUR LAND, OUR LIFE
Why would the U.S. spend millions of dollars prosecuting and persecuting two elderly Western Shosshone sisters grazing their livestock in northern Nevada? Carrie and Mary Dann have always grazed their livestock on the open range outside their ranch—part of 60 million acres recognized by the U.S. government as Western Shoshone land. In 1973, the Bureau of Land Management informed the Danns that their animals were trespassing on United States public land, which set off a dispute between the sisters and the United States that swept to the U.S. Supreme Court and beyond. Bringing into focus important issues surrounding land rights and crimes against Native Americans, directors Beth and George Gage eloquently piece together the story of the long and tireless efforts that two incredible women put toward securing indigenous rights in the United States. In person: Directors Beth and George Gage.
Shown with:
SOUTH CENTRAL FARM: OASIS IN A CONCRETE DESERT
This moving short documentary by award winning director/producer Sheila Laffey with Sundance alumnus Geoffrey Pepos, deals with the high profile controversy involving poor farmers, their supporters, the developers, and the City of Los Angeles. Their story is juxtaposed with celebrity tree sitters such as Haskell Wexler, Daryl Hannah, John Quigley, Joan Baez, Julia Butterfly Hill, Martin Sheen and Willie Nelson who brought international attention to the issue. In person: Director/Producer Sheila Laffey and Executive Producer Jodie Evans.
Hear director Sheila Laffey's interivew on Tomorrow Matters with Deborah Lindsay.
http://www.deborahlindsay.com/audio/SheilaLaffey.mp3
7:30pm, Showcase Theatre
SLEEP DEALER
From Maya Entertainment, the futuristic Sleep Dealer is about a private company who has hijacked control of the area’s water supply and is selling it back to the village at outrageous prices. Yet three strangers risk their lives to connect with each other and break the barriers of technology in a film that is entertaining as it is politically charged. Winner of two major awards at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. In person: Writer/Director Alex Rivera.
Read interview with Alex Rivera in the Huffington Post Online.
7:30pm
YOUTH AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM EVENT
TALKIN' WATER (Preview Screening)
http://www.dctvny.org/talkinwater/neworleans.html
Produced by DCTV in New York, this coming of age story deals with
four African American teenage girls, two from New Orleans and two from New York City, who are disillusioned by the media coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Armed with video cameras, set out to tell the “real” story of the disaster, the girls explore issues of race, class and government, and their feelings about Katrina, America and what it means to grow up in chaotic times. In person: Filmmakers Shannon Sonenstein and Rodneka Shelbia.
Following Talkin Water, members of the Bay Area Video Coalition will present their short films that tackle on issues of racism and discrimination. In person: Filmmakers Shannon Sonenstein and Rodneka Shelbia.
Saturday, October 18th
4:30pm, Showcase Theatre
ESCAPE FROM SUBURBIA
Is Suburbia the American Dream or merely a lifestyle based upon the dwindling availability of cheap and abundant oil? In ESCAPE FROM SUBURBIA, director Gregory Greene's follow-up to his 2004 film THE END OF SUBURBIA, introduces three characters engaged in community activism loaded with fascinating stories, plus interviews with former Bioneers speaker Dr. David Suzuki, to show how declining world oil production has already begun to affect modern life in North America. But a movement of citizen's groups is confronting our addiction to oil with vision and courage in extraordinary ways. This film is a wake-up call that asks all the right questions; are we approaching peak oil now? What are the controversies surrounding future energy options? And what will you do as energy prices continue to skyrocket and the oil age draws to a close? In person: Debi Barker of the International Forum on Globalization.
SHOWN WITH:
THE STORY OF STUFF
A funny and insightful, fast-paced, fact-filled animated short looks at the underside of our production and consumption patterns exposes their connections to a huge number of environmental and social issues. In person: Filmmaker Annie Leonard. Hear her interview on KRXA 540 AM. Tomorrow Matters.
7:30pm, Showcase Theatre
LIFE. SUPPORT. MUSIC
Eric D. Metzgar’s visually and structurally brilliant new documentary, inspired by the writings of past Bioneer’s plenary speaker Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, deals with Jason Crigler, one of New York City’s most
sought-after guitarists, who suffered a brain hemorrhage after which the doctors told Jason’s family that he will be brain dead if he survives at all. But instead, the Criglers made a resolution—Jason will make a full recovery. The audience gets to watch a miracle unfold before our very eyes as the Crigler's mystifying journey begins. Metzgar takes the concept of healing to the personal, for how else can we heal the environment if we can’t heal our bodies and souls? Don't miss this heartwrenching and inspiring story story about family, community, love, and the curative passion of one’s art. Metzgar previous film The Chances of the World Changing was shown here in 2006. In person: Director Eric Metzgar.
Shown with:
Phoenix Dance
Shortlisted for the 2006 Oscars, this 22-minute documentary shows us the beauty and strength of one individual who defies our expectations of what it means to be "disabled." Homer Avila, who had been dancing with some of the word's top choreographers was diagnosed with cancer after which his right leg was amputated. We then watch Homer's triumphant return to the stage without crutches in a duet that goes against all concepts of the impossible. In person: Director Karina Epperlein
Sunday, October 19th
4:30pm, Showcase Theatre
ELECTION DAY
In a triumph of documentary storytelling, Election Day combines eleven stories--all shot simultaneously on November 2, 2004, from dawn until long past midnight. Factory workers, ex-felons, harried moms, Native American activists, and diligent poll watchers, from South Dakota to Florida, take the process of democracy into their own hands. The result: an entertaining, inspiring and sometimes unsettling tapestry of citizens determined on one fateful day to make their votes count.-Arts Engine's Big Mouth Films. In person: Director Katy Chevigny.
Shown with:
Shock Doctrine
This short film by Children of Men’s director Alfonso Cuarón, based on Naomi Klein’s recent book exposes America’s policies that have dominated the world through the exploitation of disaster-shocked citizens and countries.
Let the Bioneers Community know about your films!
If you're an independent filmmaker who would like to spread the word about your important work, join our community network group where you can imbed YouTube links to your films, upload photos, and start discussions about your projects. Go to:
http://connect.bioneers.org/group/indep
