In This Newsflash:
1. Mixed Greens – Friday, May 30, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Ontario
2. PIF wins a Green Toronto Award!
3. Our 2008 Co-Programmers Announced
4. YCA applications now available online
5. Submissions open, submit your film now.

1. Mixed Greens, Friday, May 30, 2008, 6:45pm - Pay What You Can

Join us at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, 111 Queen’s Park on the last Friday of each month as we celebrate the best environmental films from our 2007 festival! Selected straight from our 2007 festival line-up, here is your chance to experience again or for the first time this rare and note worthy collection of films from around the country and around the world!

Screening Friday, May 30, 6:45pm:

The Islands Project
Michael Stadtlander
Canada, documentary, 2007
102 mins.

During the summer of 2006, chef Michael Stadtlander journeyed on his biodiesel/solar powered kitchen bus, The Liberator, with his family and a group of apprentices from his farm in Ontario heading west to Vancouver, Quadra and Cortes Islands, in British Columbia. He was returning to the province that nurtured and inspired his early days as a chef in Canada. In each locale he encounters artists, farmers, oyster cultivators, environmentalists and loggers dedicated to environmentally sustainable business practices and the bounty of their islands. In plein-air dinners made with locally raised and foraged ingredients he lavishes his local guests with the delectable creations of his edible art. You will wish you were there.

2. PIF wins a Green Toronto Award

Planet in Focus has been awarded a Green Toronto Award in the environmental awareness category by the City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro. The Green Toronto Awards were presented Friday, April 25 at the Green Living Show, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario.

“This award acknowledges that we are making a difference in our community,” said Planet in Focus Artistic Director Candida Paltiel. “The environmental stories that local, national and international filmmakers have to tell capture the hearts and minds of our audience.”

Planet in Focus was nominated in the Leadership category in 2006 and was thrilled to be nominated in 2007. The other finalists in the environmental awareness category included: Cathy Nesbitt of Cathy’s Composters and greenTbiz. Mayor David Miller and Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone were on hand to present the awards. Award winners are given $5000 to be presented to a charity of their choice.

PIF shares this award with our funders, sponsors, donors and volunteers. Without their support we would not be able to present our various programs.

3. Welcome Co-Programmers Guillermina and Caroline to our 2008 Planet in Focus Team.

We are pleased to announce our 2008 co-programmers, Guillermina Buzio and Caroline Habib. Please join us in welcoming them to the team. Caroline and Guillermina will be screening the 2008 submissions and will develop the 2008 program with Artistic Director, Candida Paltiel. We are thrilled to have them on board.

Guillermina Buzio
Guillermina Buzio is a visual artist who has worked in a diverse range of media, including painting, performance, film, video and installation. More recently, her work focuses on human rights and identity. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally: A Space, XSpace, Centro Cultural Recoleta, Museo de Arte Moderno in Buenos Aires and Bogotá, Sao Paulo Film Festival, among others. Currently she works as a programmer and curator. Guillermina facilitates video workshops of self-representation for latin@youth in conflict in Toronto, Caracas and Cali, Colombia. Originally from Argentina, Guillermina completed a degree in Fine Arts in Buenos Aires and a Bachelor of Media Arts at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. She has her own website at: www.guillerminabuzio.com

Caroline Habib
Caroline Habib originally hails from Montreal. She has worked with major Canadian distributors in acquisitions and development. At Seville Pictures, she selected and acquired Canadian and foreign documentary and fiction films. She currently works for Maximum Films newly formed distribution arm in addition to CBC Radio Canada. She also advises as a script consultant. Caroline earned a B.A. in Film Studies and Art History at the Université de Montreal and completed a graduate diploma in arts management at HEC.

4. YCA applications now available online

Youth Camera Action! - Environmental Video Production Camp
August 11-27, 2008

Unique to Toronto, Youth Camera Action is a two-week camp that combines the exciting world of film and video production with the environment. Geared toward youth between the ages of 14 – 18 from the GTA, participants will explore important environmental issues through the camera’s lens and have the opportunity to create their very own video. This program is designed to encourage creative exploration and expression while developing fundamental awareness of global environmental issues.

All videos will screen at the Green Sprouts Youth Filmmakers’ Showcase at the Planet in Focus Film Festival in October!

Eligible applicants accepted on a first come first serve basis

For more details about YCA and Planet in Focus visit:
www.planetinfocus.org/yca

5. Submissions open. Submit your film to be considered for the 2008 festival.

Planet in Focus is now accepting submissions for the 2008 Festival which runs October 22 - 26.

Download the entry form here: www.planetinfocus.org/festival/submissions

Early-Bird Deadline: May 23, 2008
Final Deadline: June 20, 2008

Green Sprouts! Showcase
Back for 2008, the Green Sprouts! Youth Filmmakers' Showcase gives voice to filmmakers 18 years old and younger. The Showcase will run alongside the Youth, Camera, Action! program during the 2008 Festival.

Download the entry form to apply
Deadline: June 27, 2008

Return completed entry forms to: submissions@planetinfocus.org

Mailing Address:
Planet in Focus: International Environmental Film & Video Festival
55 Mill Street, Case Goods Warehouse
Building 74, Studio 402
Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
Canada