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Capturing the global backdrop
Philadelphia Film Society presents Green Screen: Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival
KC Wingert
This year’s roster of films consists of a mix of documentary and fiction films, many of which touch on the themes of youth activism, governmental corruption, and displacement of Indigenous peoples. The diverse array of stories invites Philadelphia audiences to connect with a global movement for change by exploring the impacts of environmental decline on people and cultures all over the world.
Beyond the screen
The festival will open and close with award-winning documentaries Fire of Love (dir. Sara Dosa) and The Territory (dir. Alex Pritz), respectively, both of which premiered at Sundance in January. Also included is director Ron Howard’s latest documentary We Feed People, which spotlights celebrity chef José Andrés’s nonprofit as it provides meals on the frontlines of humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Other notable films include documentary Animal (dir. Cyril Dion), which follows two teenage activists as they speak with experts around the world about how to reverse various ecological crises; coming-of-age drama The Horizon (dir. Emilie Carpentier), about a young woman who falls in with a passionate group of young environmentalists as she explores her life purpose; and documentary Nothing but the Sun (dir. Arami Ullón), which captures the oral histories of the Ayoreo people as they face displacement from their ancestral lands in Bolivia and Paraguay.
The festival will also offer family-friendly activities on Sunday, April 3, followed by a special 30th-anniversary screening of the classic animated film FernGully: The Last Rainforest (dir. Bill Kroyer), which will be presented at no cost to attendees.
Philadelphia Film Society senior festival programmer Trey Shields says the festival will include several speakers, including scientists and other environmental experts. Shields hopes that the roster of films and talks will inspire hope for the future, particularly for younger audience members, as well as empower Philadelphians to take action.
What, When, Where
Green Screen: Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival. March 31 through April 3, 2022. Philadelphia Film Center, 1412 Chestnut Street. (267) 239-2941 or filmadelphia.org.
Accessibility
Philadelphia Film Center is wheelchair accessible. The main lobby entrance is ramped, and restrooms are accessible in the lower lobby via elevator. For more information, visit their accessibility page or call (267) 239-2941.
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