OAK PARK, IL – In advance of its March 1-3 weekend of environmental film screenings, One Earth Film Festival will host free pre-Fest screenings in conjunction with local organizations.
“These pr
e-screenings will give viewers a sampling of the depth, breadth, and quality of the One Earth Film Festival’s offerings this year,” said Ana Garcia Doyle, festival founder and leader of the film selection team. “We believe the festival will be inspiring to those new to the concept of sustainability, as well as to the long-time environmentalist. The films tell the human story behind the issues and they highlight solutions that real people are implementing.”
A screening of “Chasing Ice” will take place at 7 p.m., Feb. 11 at Dominican University in the Priory Campus auditorium, 7200 W. Division St., River Forest. “Chasing Ice” is the story of one man’s mission to provide visual evidence of Earth’s changing climate. The film uses still photographs and revolutionary time-lapse photography to capture the rapid disappearance of ancient mountains of ice across the Arctic.
In partnership with the South East Oak Park Community Organization (SEOPCO), the locally produced film, “Food Patriots” will be shown at 7 p.m., Feb. 12 at Washington Irving School, 1125 S. Cuyler, Oak Park. In "Food Patriots," Chicago-based filmmaker, Jeff Spitz, weaves one family's experience into a tapestry of stories about people who are changing the way Americans eat, buy and 
educate the next generation about food. Spitz will be on hand to discuss his film following the showing.
An excerpt from the award-winning “Black Gold,” along with “Fair Trade Africa” and “For the Price of a Cup of Coffee” will be screened at 7 p.m., Feb. 21 at Whole Foods Market, at Lake & Harlem, River Forest.
The second annual One Earth Film Festival, sponsored by Green Community Connections, the weekend of March 1-3, will feature nearly 40 sustainability-themed films and facilitated discussions at sites throughout Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park.
For more information about the “Chasing Ice,” “Food Patriots,” and “Black Gold” screenings and the One Earth Film Festival, visit www.oneearthfilmfest.org.