Documentary film has a remarkable power to educate, inspire and be a catalyst for social change. Filmmakers shine a spotlight on critical issues and use the medium to bring their messages to audiences around the world. The film festival, now in its 16th year, returns in 2015 and continues to raise awareness about environmental issues.
Planet in Focus was founded by 91亚色 alumnus (MES 鈥99, MFA 鈥00) to promote awareness, discussion and engagement on a broad range of environmental issues. 91亚色鈥檚 continued participation in the festival will be marked this year with satellite events on campus and downtown events featuring 91亚色 U delegates, notable alumni and faculty involvement.
Victoria Lean
Headlining the opening night gala on Thursday, Oct. 22, is the Toronto premiere of the feature documentary (2015/88 minutes), the thesis production of recent 91亚色 graduate Victoria Lean (MFA 鈥14, MBA 鈥14).聽 The screening, sponsored by 91亚色鈥檚 Department of Cinema & Media Arts, takes place at 6:30pm at the Royal Cinema (608 College St.), followed by a Q&A session with Lean and other special guests. 聽Tickets are available .
Billed as a 鈥渟pectacular point-of-view documentary,鈥澛After the Last River connects personal stories from the Attawapiskat First Nation to entwined mining industry agendas and government policies. It paints a complex portrait of this isolated part of聽northern Ontario that is a homeland to some and a profitable new frontier to others.
After the Last River won the Nigel Moore Award for Youth Programming at its world premiere earlier this year at the DOXA Documentary Film Festival in Vancouver. It has since been shown at Ottawa鈥檚 One World Film Festival, Cinema Politica in Montreal and the Yellowknife Film Festival, among others.
Katherine Knight
Marcia Connolly
Planet in Focus also hosts the Toronto premiere of (2014/55 minutes), co-directed by visual art and art history Professor Katherine Knight and cinema and media arts alumna and cinematographer Marcia Connolly (MFA 鈥10). The screening takes place Friday, Oct. 23, at 6:30pm at Jackman Hall, Art Gallery of Ontario (317 Dundas St. W.). Tickets can聽be purchased
Strange and Familiar documents the striking designs and impact of architect Todd Saunders鈥 artist studios and the Fogo Island Inn, which have transformed the remote rocky outcrop off the coast of Newfoundland into a geotourism destination. The film picked up prizes for Best Atlantic Documentary and Best Cinematography at the Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax last month. It is screening at nine festivals around the world in just over six weeks, including the Lisbon Architecture Film Festival and the Architecture & Design Film Festival in New 91亚色.
A highlight of Planet in Focus is the , a full day of screenings and talks with guest experts in the fields of food/GMOs, mining, seed security, economics, ethics and e-waste. 91亚色 U students are invited to join the debate on Saturday, Oct. 24, starting at 11:30am at Innis College (2 Sussex Ave.). Complimentary tickets are available at the door on a first come, first served basis (student ID required).
For the full Planet in Focus program and screening schedule, visit the festival .
Planet in Focus on campus
Bookending Planet in Focus downtown, 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES), an annual sponsor of the festival since its inception, presents two events at the University's Keele campus.
As a prelude to the fest, a free public screening of Cosima Dannoritzer鈥檚 (2014/84 minutes) will be held聽in the Nat Taylor Cinema (N102 Ross Building) on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 12:30pm, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker. This eye-opening investigation probes the toxic, often illegal global trade in the 50 million tons of electronic waste 鈥 computers, TVs, mobile phones, household appliances 鈥 discarded annually in the developed world.
FES will also host a special screening for high school students and their teachers on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 10am to 2pm. The playbill features The Little Things, an engaging look at what a group of professional snowboarders are doing to embrace sustainability, and Return to Ryan's Well, an inspiring story showing how one person can make a lasting difference. The films will be followed by a panel discussion with FES faculty members. Admission is free for participating schools. More information and registration is available .