Call for Volunteers ONE EARTH FILM FESTIVAL, the Midwest's premier environmental film festival, seeks smart, fun-loving volunteers to build our 4th annual event. If you love film, care deeply about environmental issues, and want to expand your social circle while contributing to an important cause, here's your chance!
"Keeping it Reel"
This month's "Keeping it Reel" will let you be the judge! Watch up to 10 trailers for films being considered for the One Earth Film Festival. Then vote on your favorites, and we will add you to a drawing for a chance to win a private film screening. Vote here. Submit your “nominations” and suggestions for a future "Keeping it Reel" feature. Contact Sally Stovall: sally@greencommunityconnections.org.
Young Filmmakers Contest Now Taking Entries!
Entries due January 18, 2015
The One Earth Film Festival is now accepting entries for the third annual "One Earth...Our Earth!" Young Filmmakers Contest . Filmmakers, third grade through college, are welcome to submit their best work that inspires.
For more information visit the Young Filmmakers Contest page.
Reel Fun! Join the 2015 One Earth Film Festival Planning Team
What's more exciting than attending the Midwest's premier environmental film festival? That's easy: helping to plan and run it. The 2014 One Earth Film Festival (OEFF2014) drew almost 2,500 viewers and expanded to more Chicagoland venues. We need many talented and passionate volunteers to grow the festival and its impact in 2015.
Thank You, One Earth Film Festival Team!
A festival of the size and scope of One Earth Film Festival takes an enormous amount of work and coordination by many people. Green Community Connections - an all volunteer organization - would like to thank the following people for their contribution to the production of One Earth Film Festival 2014.
2014 Festival Core Team/Leads:
Ana Garcia Doyle, Films/Programming; Elaine Bell, 2014 Intern; Robin Sheerer, Venues & Events; Julie Moller, Sponsors; Dick Alton, Chicago Expansion; Pam Todd, Marketing and Chicago Expansion; Amy O'Rourke, Volunteers; Sally Stovall, Sponsors; Sue Crothers, Young Filmmakers Contest; Natalie Laczek, Chicago Expansion; Katie Morris, Young Filmmakers Contest; Christiane Broihier, Marketing/Promotion; Judith Hamje, Finance
Additional 2014 Planning Team Members:
Adam Webber; Cassandra West; Cheryl Munoz; Christine Fisher; David Gilley; Donna Morris; Doug Dixon; Earl Lemberger; Eileen Moloney; Estelle Carol; Gina Lee Robbins; Ginger Brown Vanderveer; Gloria Araya; Jacqui Ingram; Jim Babcock; Jo Ellen Siddens; Judy Dooley; Laurie Casey; Marni Curtis; Mary Erkins; Michael Reed; Mindy Agnew; Patrick O'Rourke; Peggy McGrath
2014 Festival Programming Participants:
Jamie Ponce; Carey Lundin*; Dave Danesh*; Sean Donnelly*; Sam Roe; Tom Eblen; Jim Slama; Joan Levin; Harry Rhodes; Ken Dunn; Adrian Fisher; Shaun Spikes; Patrick O'Rourke; Michael Reed; Doug Dixon; Micah Taair; Alicia Hammond; Maria Correa; Pam Bergdall; Seamus Ford; Dorie Blessoff; Jon Ravenscroft; KC Doyle; Michelle Hickey; KathyMarifjeren; Krista Mikos; Ellen Cutter; Kindy Kruller; Molly Fitzgibbon; Michele Gurgas; Gary Cuneen; Jim Haried; Namaan Gambill; John Hansen; Susan Lucci; Stephanie Walquist; Laura Maychruk; Cathy Schroeder; Blaise Dierks; Evelinda Ayala; Bill Gee; Seva Gandhi; Toni Anderson; Stephanie McCray; Larry Nance; Carol Serber; Cathy Aducci; Elena Maans; Monica Halloran; Neil Jiminez; Cindy McGuckin; Mario Lucero; Lisa Sanczenbacher; Cindy Klein-Banai; Thomas Shelton; John Wawrzaszek; Anthony Stepter; Dr. Rosa Cabrera; Seth McClellan; Dominic Frigo; Erika Horigan, David Pope; Robin Schimer; Jessica Fajun; Vicki Westerhoff; Emily Carroll; Vicki Nowicki; Maria Onesto Moran; Pete Sluka; Germaine Caprio Curry; Kristin Pink; Victor Guarino; Melissa Brice; Katerina Berin; Karen Rozmus; Josh Prysny; Harry Patterson; Matt Gbasik
*Filmmakers of One Earth Film Festival 2014 films
2014 Festival Volunteers:
Andrea Patete; Angel White; Angela Gonzalez; Anirudh Jyothi; Anthony Banks; Austin Robinson; Bettina Tahsin; Caitlin Jeffries; Carol Ann Trisko; Catherine Garcia; Cirese Giuntini; Corrine McLachlan; David Holmquist; Diane Pickard-Richardson; Dottie Hetzel; Elaine Houha; Eli Lauger; Ellie Kowal; Elna Hernandez; Emily Gilbert; Erik Malone; Erin Shattuck; Erin-Eileen Anderson; Brent Pope; Gina Ulrich Pope; Grace Sawin; Jodi Wine; John Owens; Julia Bankes; Juliana Engel; Justyna Nytko; Katie Larson; Kelly Conroe; Kimberly Ruffin; Loch Miwa; Maggie Testore; Marcus Copeland; Maria Pascarella; Mary Fitzgerald; Mary Rinder; Mary Perantew; Mary Fitzgerald; Mary Perantew; Mary Lou Dwyer; Michael Shannon; Michael Reed; Michael Quaid; Nan Whittaker; Natasha Kallish; Neru Arora; Nicole Gagliardo; Paige Kane; Ryan Mitchell; Sandra Reid; Sean Sheridan; Shannon Jarka; Sidney Shapiro; Sofia Sanchez; Susan Camberis; Sydney Tzeng; Sydney Tung; Tari Delisi; Ursula Wildfield; Vicky Carr; Vikram Somal; Violetta Khabibulina; Wendy Negron
We apologize in advance if we missed adding any people to this list; it was an incredible amount of people on board this year! Thank you one and all!
Quick Guide to Expert Advice at One Earth Film Festival
Making change in your life is rarely simple. But the One Earth Film Festival makes it easier by inviting inspiring guests who can help you dig deeper into the films and bring home useful takeaways. An exciting line-up of speakers and activities are in place for this year’s One Earth Film Festival. As in years past, film screenings will be combined with relevant activities and appearances by knowledgeable resource people who will enrich post-film discussions. Audience members can ask questions and share ideas, which can lead to continued discussion, local advocacy, and, most importantly, people-driven solutions to the myriad environmental challenges facing our planet. Join us with Jamie Ponce at the Green Carpet Gala on Friday, March 7th (7 pm at 19th Century Club, 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park) to celebrate the opening of One Earth Film Festival 2014. Ponce is the City Director for Chicago in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group - Clinton Climate Initiative. He is currently working with the Office of Mayor Rahm Emanuel to develop and implement the City of Chicago's sustainability strategy.
Here’s just a sampling of other guests appearing at this year's festival.
Jens Jensen The Living Green. Carey Lundin, director and producer of this film about “the Midwest’s first great conservationist” will be at the Chicago Preview screening on Saturday, March 8 at 2PM at the Triton College Performing Arts Building (R) (2000 5th Ave., River Grove, IL). Danish-born Jensen (1860 – 1951), who battled corruption and the runaway expansion of steel mills at the turn of the 20th Century, fought to bring “the living green” into the lives of Chicago’s workers.
Growing Cities. Special guest panelists Harry Rhodes, Executive Director of Growing Home, and Ken Dunn, Founder and Director of The Resource Center, will appear at the screening of this inspirational documentary about urban farming on Sunday, March 9 at 3 PM at the West Suburban Temple Har Zion (1040 North Harlem Ave., River Forest, IL). Rhodes and Dunn's organizations are featured in the film, which follows the filmmakers’ road trip to discover how people living in cities across America are challenging the way this country grows and distributes food.
More Than Honey. Beekeeping expert Naaman Gambill and John Hansen, Vice President of the Cook County/Du Page Beekeepers Association, will be present on Sunday, March 9 at 11AM at Garfield Park Conservatory's Jensen Room (300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago) to discuss the film. This critically acclaimed film will also be shown Sunday, March 9 at 3PM at Willard Elementary School (1250 Ashland Ave., River Forest). More Than Honey examines the world-wide disappearance and colony collapse of the bees which pollinate 80% of plant species and are therefore critical to our food supply and the survival of mankind. Plus, local beekeepers will bring handmade honey to sample at each screening!
Toxic Hot Seat. Chicago Tribune reporter, Sam Roe, representing the Pulitzer prize-winning team behind this film, and Oak Park Fire Chief Tom Eblen will attend this screening on Sunday, March 9 at 3PM at the Oak Park Public Library (834 Lake Street, Oak Park). This film about the health concerns surrounding the widespread use of flame retardants in our homes and communities follows a group of firefighters, politicians, scientists and activists in their decades-long fight against the chemical industry.
Comfort Zone. Filmmakers Dave Danesh and Sean Donnelly will discuss their film on Saturday, March 8 at noon at the Oak Park Public Library (834 Lake Street, Oak Park) . Comfort Zone, a film about climate change in upstate New York, brings this global issue to a local and individual level and focuses on the things that ordinary citizens can do to combat climate change. This screening includes a zero-waste, complimentary lunch before the film.
GMO OMG. Jim Slama, Founder of Family Farmed and Good Food Festivals will lead a post-film discussion at Lake Theatre (1022 Lake Street, Oak Park) on Saturday, March 8 at 10AM. A second showing, also at 10 on March 8, at the fieldhouse in Chicago’s Humbolt Park (1400 N. Sacramento, Chicago), will be moderated by Joan Levin from IL Right to Know GMO and includes a sustainable food resource fair. This is an inspirational and ultimately feel-good film about the inter-continental road trip taken by Jeremy Seiffert, a father of two young boys, to learn about the prevalence and safety of genetically-modified foods.
Musicwood. Dominic Frigo, a guitar and piano teacher and player, along with Gary Cuneen, founder of Seven Generations Ahead, and Erika Horigan, Horigan Urban Forest Products, will be on hand to lead a lively post-film discussion on Saturday, March 8 at 7PM at School of Rock Oak Park (219 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL). Plus, enjoy a mini-concert and zero-waste refreshments! This film is about the travels of the most famous guitar-makers in the world -- Taylor, Martin and Gibson -- to the heart of the largest rainforest in the United States on a quest save the Sitka spruce, widely used in the manufacture of acoustic guitars.
See these and many other rich programming options during One Earth Film Festival 2014. Reserve a ticket today (most are free!) to guarantee a seat as space is limited.
Watermelons, Pelicans and Gardens...Oh My!
We feel your pain...this frosty winter has inspired severe bouts of cabin fever. Parents are feeling it, and kids are, too. The One Earth Film Festival presents several opportunities for kids to get out of the house and explore another world...through the magic of film and community!
Many films in the One Earth Film Festival lineup will appeal to teenage viewers, but the festival will also present five programs specifically designed for kids ages 14 and under. These events are free, but seating is limited (some are already at or near capacity!). Reservations are highly recommended.
One Earth...Our Earth Young Filmmakers Contest
The festival will feature the winners of the second annual One Earth…Our Earth Young Filmmakers Contest. On Saturday, March 8 at 1:00 pm at Beye Elementary School (230 N. Cuyler, Oak Park, IL), three winning film teams will receive awards! Come watch their films and talk to the young filmmakers about their work. Along with an award certificate, each winning team will receive prize money plus a matching grant check to the non-profit organization of their choice that is working on a sustainability topic.
In the High School category the Hinsdale Central Ecology Club won top prize for “What Will You Do?” a film about transportation. Filmmakers Stephanie Jamilla, Josh Feldman, Rachel Chang, and Wendy Li attend Hinsdale Central High School in Hindsdale, IL.
In the Middle School category, a group called Pineapple Productions won top prize for “Earth 2114,” a film about water usage and resources. Fimmakers Ana Shack, Lillian Lowson, Marta Rohner, Isabella Saracco Haley Gladden and Cia Gladden attend Roosevelt Middle school in River Forest, IL.
In the Elementary School category, Willard Elementary School (River Forest, IL) students Jaxon Toppen, Danny Scholvin and Ray Deogracias won top prize for “Where Did The Rest of Us Go?” a film about electronic waste.
Saving Pelican 895
Ellen Cutter, Children’s Outreach Coordinator for the River Forest Public Library, will return to the festival again this year with activities designed to get kids creatively engaged with the themes in the films.
After viewing Saving Pelican 895 on Saturday, March 8 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Beye Elementary School in Oak Park, Cutter will lead kids ages 10 to 14 in a facilitated discussion. She will also lead activities with a large parachute to demonstrate the concepts of free movement versus the effects of oil slicks. Kids will also be able to look through a range of books about oil spills, wildlife rescue, and more.
Saving Pelican 895 chronicles the efforts of wildlife rescue experts in the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill, when nearly 9,000 birds were found in the oily waters of the Gulf Coast.
This film will also screen on Sunday, March 9 from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm at the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor, 7347 Madison St., Forest Park, IL.
Lost and Found
After watching Lost and Found on Saturday, March 8 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. at Beye Elementary School in Oak Park, Ellen Cutter of River Forest Library will invite children ages 3 to 9 to play with a large parachute to learn about waves. Parents and children can also peruse related library books specially selected by Cutter.
A magical tale of friendship and loneliness, Lost and Found tells the story of a little boy who finds a penguin on the doorstep of his house one morning. After much thought, the boy decides to help the penguin find his way back home, which means rowing a small boat all the way to the South Pole!
Watermelon Magic / The Curious Garden
Children ages 3-11 will enjoy two delightful films at the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor in Forest Park on Sunday, March 9 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. After the films, children will be led in a facilitated discussion. A resource table by the Oak Park Conservatory will promote upcoming programming, including free Saturday drop-in activities. Each child can take home a free packet of watermelon or sunflower seeds.
Watermelon Magic chronicles a season on the family farm, as young Sylvie grows a patch of watermelons to sell at market. The Curious Garden, based on the award-winning book by Peter Brown, portrays one boy’s quest for a greener world … one garden at a time. A little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world.
Seating is limited at these events, especially at The Brown Cow. Please reserve your free tickets today!
Special thanks to River Forest Library for their support and assistance in presenting children's programming at One Earth Film Festival 2014!
2014 Young Filmmakers Contest Winners
- High School category: Hinsdale Central Ecology Club. “What Will You Do?” A film about transportation by: Stephanie Jamilla, Josh Feldman, Rachel Chang, and Wendy Li. Young Filmmakers attend Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, Illinois.
- Middle School category: Pineapple Productions: Ana Shack, Lillian Lowson, Marta Rohner, Isabella Saracco Haley Gladden and Cia Gladden. "Earth 2114." A film about water usage and resources. Young Filmmakers attend: Roosevelt Middle school in River Forest, Illinois.
- Elementary School category: Jaxon Toppen, Danny Scholvin and Ray Deogracias. "Where Did The Rest of Us Go?" A film about electronic waste. Young Filmmakers attend: Willard Elementary School in River Forest, Illinois.
Get Inspired at the 2014 One Earth Film Festival
The University of Illinois at Chicago is hosting a One Earth Film Festival screening of The New Environmentalists at the Latino Cultural Center (803 S. Morgan St., Chicago) on Wednesday, March 5 at 3:30-4:30 p.m. Reserve tickets.
Robert Redford narrates this multiple Emmy Award-winning short film featuring inspiring portraits of passionate and dedicated activists, including the community group that fought the coal-fired power plant in Chicago's Pilson neighborhood.
After this 28-minute film, stay for a lively and engaging discussion about the environmental activism scene in Chicago and beyond. While this pre-fest screening is FREE, seating is limited, so please reserve a ticket.
This film will be screened again at the Closing Event of the 2014 One Earth Film Festival on Sunday, March 9 at 6-9 p.m. at Unity Temple in Oak Park, IL. Reserve a free ticket .
These are true environmental heroes who have built strong grassroots support and have placed themselves squarely in harm’s way to battle intimidating adversaries. The New Environmentalists share common goals – safeguarding the Earth’s natural resources from exploitation and pollution, while fighting for environmental justice in their communities.
For more information on the film, please visit the official documentary website.
This film will be screened again at the Closing Event of the 2014 One Earth Film Festival on Sunday, March 9 at 6-9 p.m. at Unity Temple in Oak Park, IL. Reserve a free ticket .
Directed By Will Parrinello / 2013 / 28 minutes
Turn Trash to Treasure at the 2014 One Earth Film Festival
In cooperation with the third annual One Earth Film Festival, The University of Illinois at Chicago is hosting a screening of the film "Trashed" at Gallery 400 (400 S. Peoria St., Chicago) on Wednesday, March 5 at 5:45-8 p.m. Reserve tickets.
The multi-award winning documentary, Trashed, starring Jeremy Irons, looks at the risks to the food chain and the environment through pollution of our air, land and sea by waste. The film reveals surprising truths about very immediate and potent dangers to our health. This is a global conversation between the film star Jeremy Irons and scientists, politicians and ordinary individuals whose health and livelihoods have been fundamentally affected by waste pollution.
Before the film, Gallery 400 will host a reception beginning at 5 p.m. While this pre-fest screening is FREE, seating is limited, so please reserve your ticket.
This film will be screened again at the the 2014 One Earth Film Festival on Saturday, March 8 at 6-8:15 p.m. at Roosevelt University, 425 S. Wacker, Room 611, Chicago, IL. Reserve a free ticket .
Visually and emotionally, the film is both horrific and beautiful as it fuses human interest story and political wake-up call. But it ends on a message of hope: showing how the risks to our survival can easily be averted through sustainable approaches that provide far more employment than the current "waste industry."
This film will be screened again at the the 2014 One Earth Film Festival on Saturday, March 8 at 6-8:15 p.m. at Roosevelt University, 425 S. Wacker, Room 611, Chicago, IL. Reserve a free ticket .
For more information on the film, please visit the official documentary website.