Engaging, entertaining, educational - Environmental films in Athens, Georgia.

Terra Blight Screening with Filmmaker Discussion and E-Waste Collection

11/01/2012

Join us on Thursday, November 1st at 7pm for a night of film, filmmakers and environmental stewardship!

You’re ready to buy a new computer. Ever wonder where it goes when you upgrade? TERRA BLIGHT is a new 55-minute film exploring America’s consumption of computers and the hazardous waste created in the pursuit of the latest technology. Filmmakers Isaac Brown and Ana Habib will be in attendance for audience discussion. Snacks provided, and small prizes will be given to those who donate old laptops, cell phones, and charging cords for responsible reuse or recycling. And it's FREE and open to all. This is a NEW location for an EcoFocus screening, and we're excited about that! Join us at the Circle Gallery (Room 123) of the New Jackson Street Building at UGA (285 S. Jackson Street Athens, GA 30602). This is the former Visual Arts Building; now the College of Environment and Design.

This event is co-Sponsored by: Go Green Alliance, UGA Office of Sustainability, EcoFocus Film Festival, Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division, and the Willson Center for Humanities and Arts with community partners Free IT Athens and KP Surplus.

If you're excited about the prospect of recycling electronic items, also check out the ACC Recycling Happy Hour on November 15th. Items such as TVs, batteries, electonics, fluorescent bulbs, and styrofoam can be brought to ACC Recycling Division between 5 and 7pm. 699 Hancock Industrial Way.

Ripple Effect Film Project Call for Entries

09/27/2012

Can you make a 30-second video about water conservation? The Ripple Effect Film Project is seeking entries! Ripple Effect is a partnership between the Athens-Clarke County Water Conservation Office, the EcoFocus Film Festival, and FilmAthens. Filmmakers of all ages and levels of experience are invited to create original short films about water conservation and water stewardship. The finalists’ films will make a splash at the 2013 EcoFocus Film Festival to be held March 21-24, 2013 The winning film will be announced at the “Blue Carpet Premiere” and shown in select movie theaters. Films are welcome from all ages and all levels of filmmaking experience. The deadline for entries is December 5th, 2012, so it is time to get started! For more information, official rules, and entry form go to www.RippleEffectFilmProject.org, find us on Facebook, and/or contact the Athens-Clarke County Water Conservation Office at savewater@athensclarkecounty.com or 706-613-3729.

EcoFocus 2012 Wraps!

04/02/2012

The 2012 EcoFocus Film Festival wrapped up Saturday, March 31st in Athens. The 10-day, 20-event festival included screenings 42 films from 12 countries at 4 venues across Athens and the University of Georgia campus. We welcomed 15 filmmakers who presented and discussed their films at the festival, and 40 guest panelists who took part in engaging and inspiring post-film discussions with our enthusiastic audience members.

We are proud to announce our 2012 Audience Favorite Awards. The awards were generated through audience ballots throughout the festival, and announced at the closing party. In the EcoKids Short Film Category, Shark Riddle won top honors. In the Short Film Category, two films received the audience top pick: Song of the Spindle and Chasing Water. Honorable mention in the short film category goes to two films: Second Hand and 10,000 Trees. In the Feature Film category, the winner is Buck. Four feature-length films tied for Honorable Mention: The Clean Bin Project, Drying for Freedom, Semper Fi: Always Faithful, and You've Been Trumped. Congratulations!

Thank you to all our sponsors, partners, filmmakers, guests and volunteers for making this fourth year such a success. Thank you to our audience members for making the festival so memorable and inspirational. Please keep checking the EcoFocus website for information about year-round events and the 2013 festival.

EcoFocus Announces 2012 Audience Award Winners

04/01/2012

EcoFocus is proud to announce our 2012 Audience Favorite Awards! The awards were generated through audience ballots throughout the festival, and announced at last night's closing party. In the EcoKids Short Film Category, the winner is Shark Riddle! In the Short Film Category, two films received the audience top pick: Song of the Spindle and Chasing Water. Honorable mention in the short film category goes to Second Hand and 10,000 Trees. In the Feature Film category, the winner is Buck. Four feature-length films tied for Honorable Mention: The Clean Bin Porject, Drying for Freedom, Semper Fi: Always Faithful, and You've Been Trumped. Congratulations!

Last Day of EcoFocus!

03/31/2012

For our last day of EcoFocus, we'll be at Ciné all day! We'll get started with a 1pm screening of Food Stamped with a great discussion planned for afterward. At 3pm, we have an "Energy Double Feature" with a US PREMIERE screening of Drying for Freedom and Pipe Dreams. Filmmakers Steven Lake, Dan Pringle, and Adam Merrifield will be with us in person to talk about their film along with Dr. Chris Cuomo, who will be on-hand to talk about the Keystone XL pipeline issue. At 5pm, come and see a grouping of EcoFocus short films, and then get ready for the big closing night! At 7:30 PM, the festival will close with Athens - Raise Your Voice and You've Been Trumped followed by a Closing Night Party. Arrive early or buy tickets at Ciné ahead of time to guarantee a seat for the big night!

Friday at EcoFocus!

03/30/2012

On Friday we have three great events in store for EcoFocus. At 2pm, come for a free screening of Clean Bin Project at Ciné sponsored by the Athens Clarke County Recycling Division. At 7pm, see If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation front follwed by discussion with Dr. Chris Cuomo and Dr. Piers Stephens (UGA Philosophy Department) and local Occupy Athens activist Gretchen Elsner. At 9:30pm, see Revenge of the Electric Car! All at Ciné!

Night at the Museum! Sushi: The Global Catch

03/29/2012

Have you been meaning to go to the Georgia Museum of Art on the UGA campus?? This is a great reason to go! Join us for a reception and special screening of two films: eel*water*rock*man (short film), and Sushi: The Global Catch. Screening will be followed by live discussion with filmmaker Mark Hall, local restaurateur Peter Dale of The National, and fisheries biologist Dr. Duncan Elkins.

Arrive at 6pm for a free reception with music (by Pat Strawser), vegetarian sushi-inspired snacks, and beverages. You can have a look around at the museum, too!

Thursday, March 29th
Reception starts at 6pm, films start at 7pm!
Georgia Museum of Art (click here for map!)
FREE!

*We are thrilled to welcome Madeline Cantwell, Managing Director of Orion Magazine to the event. Audience members can pick up an issue of Orion and take advantage of a special trial subscription offer.

Free Screening of EcoFocus Selection from the Peabody Awards Archive: Paradise Saved

03/28/2012

For the first time at EcoFocus, we present an environmental selection from the George F. Peabody Awards Collection housed at the University of Georgia Special Collections Library. This year’s selection, Paradise Saved, is a Peabody award-winning documentary from 1982 produced by WAGA-TV Atlanta. Paradise Saved examines the complex issues related to increasing allowed attendance at Cumberland Island National Seashore. Audiences will be treated to a unique opportunity to experience what was then seen as a quality of visual beauty not often seen on television, and have a chance to see how issues of natural heritage and natural resource preservation were viewed and documented in 1982.

Screening to be followed by a discussion with Dr. Gary Green, associate professor of Natural Resources, Recreation and Tourism in UGA's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and Jennifer Smith, filmmaker and associate professor of telecommunications in UGA's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Free! This event is a UGA Blue Card event.
Richard B. Russell Special Collections Library, room 271 (auditorium), 7pm Wednesday, March 28th.

Free Blood in the Mobile Screening on the UGA Campus

03/27/2012

Join us for this very special free screening of an unforgettable film. Screening will be followed by discussion with Dr. Peter Brosius, professor and director of the Center for Integrative Conservation Research, Graham Pickren, PhD candidate in the UGA Geography Department, Dr. Amy Ross, associate professor of Geography at UGA, and Dr. Rebecca Moore, assistant professor, Natural Resource Economics at UGA's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Free screening! Also a UGA Blue Card event!

Miller Learning Center (UGA Campus), room 171, 7pm.

Sunday at EcoFocus

03/25/2012

It's a great day for EcoFocus! EcoKids films (for younger kids) and Solartaxi (for older kids and adults) at 1pm. Free for kids, $5 for adults. Eco-themed musical crafts (instrument making!) and snacks after the films! Free screening at 3pm of The Clean Bin Project with Skype conversation with filmmaker Jen Rustemeyer to follow the film. At 5pm, This Way of Life - one of our favorites - don't miss it, and finishing off the evening with The City Dark at 7:15pm. All at Ciné! See you there!

Saturday at EcoFocus

03/24/2012

Where do we start? Saturday March 24th at EcoFocus is going to be a fantastic, don't-miss day at Ciné! We'll start at 2pm with a screening of Urban Roots folllowed by a conversation with Riding Bikes with the Dutch filmmaker Michael Bauch, David Berle (that's the UGArden guy, amongst lots of other great things), and Heahter Benham of the Athens Land Trust. Sponsor Heirloom Market and Café will have snacks for audience members after the screening. At 5pm, the film many of been eagerly anticipating - Semper Fi: Always Faithful - will screen followed by discussion with the two primary subjects of the film, Jerry Ensminger and Mike Partain. At 7:30pm, join us for the first EcoFocus Bike Night with three bike films, a discusison with a group of great people after the film, and an afterparty at Little Kings with local musical act Hope for Agoldensummer! Don't forget about the Earth Fare bike raffle! Tickets will be on sale all day Saturday - you can enter to win a bike donated by Earth Fare!

Opening Night Films and Party!

03/23/2012

Help us launch our Fourth Annual Film Festival in style with the EcoFocus Opening Night Film and Party! Join us at 7pm for a festival welcome and screening of the award-winning film Buck and short film Anna, Emma and the Condors. Filmmakers Toby Shimin and Joy Reed (Buck) and Katja Torneman (Condors) will host a question-and-answer session with the audience, followed by the Opening Night Party in the CinéLab!

Filmmakers Toby Shimin and Joy Reed (Buck), Katja Torneman (Condors), Michael Bauch (Riding Bikes with the Dutch), Mark MacInnis (Urban Roots), and Jerry Ensminger and Mike Partain (Semper Fi: Always Faithful) will be on-hand on opening night to mix and mingle with EcoFocus enthusiasts.

The opening night party is produced by Swoon Events with food by The National and music by DJ Electrophoria and Free Money. Plant materials generously donated by James Greenhouses.

Get your tickets early to reserve your spot! Tickets available at Ciné box office and on-line. On-line sales close at 1pm on Thursday.

EcoFocus Kicks Off with YERT!

03/21/2012

EcoFocus kicks off Wednesday, March 21st with a FREE screening of YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip. Everyone is welcome to this free event with pizza, door prizes, and filmmaker Ben Evans in attendance to take questions and talk about his journey!!

Fifty states. One year. Zero garbage? Join us for YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip, a film about three friends hitting the road with hope, humor, and all of their garbage - to explore every state in America (the good, the bad... and the weird) in search of the extraordinary innovators and citizens who are tackling humanity's greatest environmental challenges.

Wed, 3/21
7pm
Miller Learning Center (UGA), room 171
FREE!

This event is a UGA Blue Card event.

EcoFocus Seeks 2012 Fest Volunteers

03/14/2012

EcoFocus Fans, we need your help! EcoFocus seeks volunteers for the 2012 festival. Please see file with available volunteer shifts below and e-mail us your availability! All volunteers receive a free EcoFocus t-shirt. If you volunteer for a second shift, you receive a free EcoFocus water bottle. Plan to attend the volunteer meeting on Wednesday, March 21st at 6pm at the UGA Miller Learning Center, Room 171. We need to have all volunteers lined up ASAP, so please e-mail your shift availability as soon as possible to amyrjohnson123@gmail.com.

Festival Preview Party Friday!

03/02/2012

Dear EcoFocus Fans! We're doing something new and fun this year. This Friday, March 2nd, from 5-7pm, join us at our main festival venue - Ciné - for our EcoFocus 2012 Festival Preview Party! Enjoy drink specials, snacks, and a sneak peek at the EcoFocus festival trailer. This is a great chance to visit with fellow film and environmental enthusiasts as we anticipate the great films we have in store for this year's festival!

We'll also be set up for you to purchase or pick up your EcoFocus passes, tickets and merchandise. Tickets to most EcoFocus events are either free or only $5. And you can save 20% on this already discounted price by buying a pass. We hope this inspires you to come on down to see what we've got in store for you!

We look forward to seeing you! We hope you're ready for March 23-31, when we bring you over 40 fantastic environmental films and inspiring events!

Don't forget to join the conversation about EcoFocus on Facebook and Twitter!

contact

02/22/2012

EcoFocus Film Festival
Odum School of Ecology
140 E. Green Street
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
USA

Submit your film suggestion, event idea, sponsorship opportunity, or general inquiry below.

Announcing Our 2012 Film Line-Up!

02/18/2012

EcoFocus is proud to unveil its 2012 films and schedule! We're just five weeks away from our fantastic event featuring 19 feature-length and 22 short environmental films from around the world. We pair our films with inspiring and dynamic post-film discussions with filmmakers, experts, and members of our local and statewide environmental organizations to bring you an unforgettable nine days of inspiration and fun.

Mark your calendars and make your plans for March 23rd-31st. All film, schedule, and ticket information can be found at our website.

We are happy to announce that tickets to most EcoFocus events this year are either free or only $5. And you can save 20% on this already discounted price by buying a pass. We hope this inspires you to come on down to see what we've got in store for you!

Over the next five weeks, we'll keep you updated about the upcoming festival. In the meantime, join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter!

Sponsor Deadline Extended!

02/02/2012

It's not too late! EcoFocus seeks your support for the 2012 festival! In seven weeks, EcoFocus will present its fourth annual film festival! We still need your help to make this happen. If you have been enjoying EcoFocus for the past three festivals, and are in a position to support the festival with a donation, please download this sponsor packet and send in your gift today! It's also a great way to get free tickets to the special events at the festival.

All gifts are tax-deductible. Come back soon for our full festival line-up, schedule and ticket information. Thanks for your support!

You will find the link to download the sponsor packet below!

Support the 2012 EcoFocus Film Festival!

01/09/2012

EcoFocus seeks your support for the 2012 festival! In just under three months, EcoFocus will present its fourth annual film festival! We need your help to make this happen. If you have been enjoying EcoFocus for the past three festivals, and are in a position to support the festival with a donation, please download this sponsor packet and send in your gift today! It's a great way to get free tickets to the special events at the festival!

All gifts are tax-deductible. Come back soon for our full festival line-up, schedule and ticket information. Thanks for your support!

You will find the link to download the sponsor packet below!