News release
The Eco-Film Festival returns to College at the Canyons from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 7.
This year’s free festival will offer seven different environmentally focused films.
“You may be moved by the fires, floods and excess heat in our area to learn more about how our actions are affecting the natural world, and this is an opportunity to do that and spend a relaxing, enjoyable day at the same time,” said a news release from the Santa Clarita Valley Eco Alliance, which is hosting the festival.
All films, as well as information tables, a bicycle library, and a unique umbrella art installation will be located in Aliso Hall and Courtyard. The closest parking is in lot 13, and is complimentary, the release said. A food truck will be parked on site nearby as well, offering vegetarian and other options for purchase from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The seven films will be shown in three time blocks — two in the morning from 10 a.m. until noon, three short ones during the lunch break from noon until 1:30 p.m., and the final two from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Each film will be followed by a short discussion/Q&A session about the film and its focus.
“Ocean” is one of the two morning choices. “Sir David Attenborough takes viewers on a breathtaking journey through coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, and shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing,” the release said.
The second morning choice is “Chasing Chimeras.” Chimeras are mythological creatures, and this groundbreaking documentary exposes how the fossil fuel industry is pushing false climate solutions like renewable diesel, hydrogen, biogas and carbon capture, the release said.
Three short films will be shown during the lunch break, and all could potentially be seen by all film-goers, since they’ll be shown at different times. “Hydrogen Hype” goes into more detail about why hydrogen isn’t a silver bullet to fix the climate. “The Story of Stuff” is an animation looking at the underside of production and consumption habits, calling for the creation of a more sustainable and just world. “Roots of Renewal” shows how regenerative practices used by farmers in Central America can help reverse environmental degradation and ensure a sustainable future.
In the afternoon, the two films on offer are “The Biggest Little Farm” and “The White House Effect.” The first film is the story of how a young couple transformed 10 acres of extractively farmed land in Moorpark into a reawakened ecosystem. They incorporated all aspects of nature — soil, plants, animals, birds and insects — with everything working harmoniously together, the release said. “It wasn’t without its challenges, but Apricot Lane Farms has now become an incredible 214-acre paradise, and the film is all about how they did it.”
In “The White House Effect,” archival material tells the origin story of the climate crisis and how a political battle in the George H.W. Bush administration changed the course of history, according to the release. “Bush’s promise to use the ‘White House effect’ to tackle global warming proves hollow when clashes occur between industry power brokers and then-EPA-chief Bill Reilly, representing environmentalists.”
This free film festival is a project of the SCV Eco Alliance, a coalition of 16 local environmental groups and organizations. Most of these groups will have tables in the Aliso Courtyard during the festival hours.
For more information about the Alliance and the film festival, visit the web site at scv-eco-alliance.weebly.com under Upcoming Activities.
