PIF'ed Newsletter July 23, 2010

PIF'Ed Newsletter July 23, 2010

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE
HAVE A GREEN COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION?
BOOK AN ADVERTISEMENT IN OUR FESTIVAL PROGRAM GUIDE or ONSCREEN SLIDE!

The Planet in Focus Program Guide is a keepsake used by festival-goers year-round. Book now to secure a Premium.

Rate card or email Guru Thirugnanasampanthar guru@planetinfocus.org

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE! We work hard to ensure a high-quality festival experience for our audiences. If you represent a green company or organization, we’d be delighted to speak with you about how we might work together this year.
Email Natalie Martens, Sponsorship and Promotions Coordinator Natalie@planetinfocus.org

Registration Open – Spaces Still Available in our Youth, Camera, Action! Summer Video Production Program

Check out last year’s videos – now online!

Camp takes place August 9th to Friday, August 20, 2010 – Subsidies Available
Registration Deadline July 23, 2010

Camp takes place at Innis College, University of Toronto and Charles Street Video (65 Bellwoods Ave)

Youth Camera Action! is a two-week program that combines the exciting world of film and video production with the environment. Geared toward youth between the ages of 13 – 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.

Thanks to our sponsors WWF-Canada, ING Direct, Charles Street Video and the W. Garfield Weston Foundation: Trustee Initiated Grants Programme.

Mixed Greens Screenings at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art- Friday, July 30th 6:45pm

111 Queen’s Park, Toronto
pay-what-you-can admission

A Blooming Business
52 min, Netherlands/ Kenya

An Official Selection from our 2009 Film Festival. The roses we enjoy may come with more thorns than we realize. Delving deep into the heart of the global flower industry, A BLOOMING BUSINESS shows us the difficult reality behind the pretty flowers. In Kenya, giant flower factories use massive amounts of pesticides and chemicals to keep their flowers alive and then pollute the local water supply, harming the very same people they employ. An investigation reveals the horrific working conditions and sexual abuse that the workers must endure in order to keep their job. A BLOOMING BUSINESS explores the human and environmental repercussions of the floral industry. A rose may no longer smell as sweet.

“It’s time to wake up and smell the imported roses.” -Edinburgh Int’l Film Festival

“Part poetry, part explosive exposé.” -Newport Int'l Film Festival

“A quietly formidable film.” -Vancouver Film Festival

Come early and enjoy 2-for-1 admission to the Museum, or come only for the screening and pay what you can. Mixed Greens happens the last Friday of every month, 6:45pm.

Kids Mixed Greens at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art

111 Queen's Park, Toronto
Sunday, August 8th 2:00pm
Come join us at for another screening program for children at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art. Enjoy family-friendly activities, free admission to screening but donations are accepted. Museum hours are 10am-5pm, free for children under 12.

Varmints

Directed by Marc Craste UK, 2008
24 min, animation

Varmint is a term applied to animals considered pests or associated with disease. However, in this beautifully rendered animation based on Helen Ward’s award winning picture book, an innocent creature tries to save a world in danger of being lost forever through heartlessness, recklessness and indifference. Created with rich earth tones, an imaginary world is also the known world in which we can all recognize ourselves. Varmints is a cautionary tale for children of all ages.

Warming

A Film by Colleen MacIsaac,
Canada, 2007, 4 min, animation

Warming attempts to address the issue of climate change in a lyrical and visually contemplative manner. Focusing on the interconnected nature of the ecosystems and societies in which we live, it explores the causes and effects of global warming across the planet through an ever-shifting montage of painted watercolour images.

The True Cost of Food

Directed by 
Tate Hausman, 
USA, 2005, 15 min, animation


A short animation made to alert people about some of the serious problems of producing and eating food using dangerous synthetic chemicals, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), and more. This film highlights how producing and buying organic food from smaller and more ethical stores is the best solution for many of these problems.

OTHER EVENTS HAPPENING:

SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL OPENS THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Green Screen Toronto Initiative is a pan-industry effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and “green” film productions. Planet in Focus has been spearheading this Initiative in collaboration with other industry partners, and we are very pleased to report that our first production Score: A Hockey Musical, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF takes place September 9-19, 2010.

If you are interested in learning more about this Initiative, be sure to check out our website (www.greenscreentoronto.com), and be sure to attend our Green Screen workshop taking place on October 15, 2010 at the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre during the Planet in Focus International Environmental Film & Video Festival. Contact Anne Mark for details annem@planetinfocus.org

TORONTO - LIFT’s Summer 2010 Film and Digital Workshops: July 13 – 29

Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)
SUMMER 2010 FILM AND DIGITAL WORKSHOPS

LIFT has over 45 workshops this season on Super 8mm, 16mm and 35mm filmmaking.

Registration CONTINUES at our facility located at
1137 Dupont Street (at Gladstone Avenue), Toronto ON
Space is limited! Register early!

A complete workshop schedule is available at http://www.lift.on.ca/mt/workshops.html

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS (July 13 – 29): 35mm Filmmaking: An Overview, Introduction to Final Cut Pro 6, Documentary Field Production, Final Cut Studio, Optical Printing with the Oxberry 1700, Costume Design for Independent Films, HD Production, Intermediate Final Cut Pro 6 ... and many more!

The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) is Canada's foremost artist-run centre for independent filmmakers. LIFT s supported by its membership, Canada Council for the Arts (Media Arts Section), the Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Toronto Arts Council. http://www.LIFT.on.ca

NFB/Mediatheque: Special workshop: REMIXING OUR WORLD
August 4 at 7 PM @ NFB Mediatheque – 150 John St, at Richmond St W
FREE - REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Participants will arrange cut-out images from magazines to critically address environmental issues and superimpose them on an untouched landscape – remixing the portrayal of our environment and challenging how we think about it.
For participants 18 years of age and older.

For more information, contact the NFB at 416-973-3012.

BIXI Toronto the new bike-sharing initiative for our city has arrived!

The popular public bike sharing system launched in Montreal in 2009 has made its way to Toronto in the form of BIXI Toronto. BIXI’s aim is for Toronto to have its own bikeshare program as of Spring 2011. A membership provides you with unlimited usage of the system, 12 months a year. You can purchase a membership at the BIXI Toronto Bash on July 28th at The Gladstone, 7pm. If you cannot attend the event you may pledge online after the 28th at: http://www.toronto.bixi.com
For more information at: bixitoronto@toronto.ca