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

2014 Festival Highlights

04/12/2014

The 2014 EcoFocus Film Festival was the best festival yet. We presented 25 films to 2,300 audience members over 11 days at Ciné and on the University of Georgia campus. Our per-event audience numbers have increased in a way that is exciting and inspiring; it feels great to sit in a room with a big group of fellow movie-goers and be inspired about important issues. We're very proud to be a part of that. We're particularly grateful for the filmmakers, many of whom attended the festival, who make the insightful films featured at EcoFocus.

An important part of EcoFocus is the people and institutions - filmmakers, guest speakers, panel discussion participants, organizational partners, and sponsors - who contribute their time, resources, and enthusiasm toward EcoFocus. On behalf of our presenting partners - the UGA Odum School of Ecology, Ciné, Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, and the UGA Office of Sustainability - thank you for making this event a success. We couldn't do this without you.

For those who wish to experience highlights from EcoFocus, we have put together a Facebook Highlight Album here. The Athens Clarke County Water Conservation Office, with whom we partnered for the Ripple Effect Film Project local water conservation video competition, has also created an album of the Ripple Effect events (you will need to follow Lily Ann Phibian on Facebook to view the album) and a playlist of the Ripple Effect film entries.

Nearly all of the short films from the festival are now available for on-line viewing. If you missed the shorts or would just like to see them again, check out our EcoFocus 2014 Films page.  If there's a film you missed at the festival, keep track of that film's progress and availability by following the film through their website or social media sites. You can find the film's web page at the EcoFocus 2014 films page. If this was your very first EcoFocus and you're curious about the films we've shown in the past, have a look at our film archive.

Please keep in touch with us throughout the year by following us on Facebook and Twitter, where we will keep you up to date with additional events, film screening opportunities, and developments with our favorite films and our festival!

2014 EcoFocus Line-Up & Schedule Announced!

03/01/2014

We are pleased to announce the 2014 EcoFocus film line-up and schedule! Our programming committees have selected twenty-five films to inform and inspire you about Planet Earth and its inhabitants. We're covering a lot of ground this year: urban agriculture, genetically-modified foods, climate change, marine debris, coastal development, rivers and dams, reducing our footprint, re-connecting with nature, and more. And that's just to name a few. You can learn about all of the films and schedule at our newly re-designed website! Tickets and passes are on-sale now. We are proud to be able to offer free admission to UGA students courtesy of the UGA Office of Sustainability. Mark your calendars, make your plans -- we can't wait to see you there!

EcoFocus Presents 2nd Jekyll Island Green Screen on March 1st

02/15/2014

Fans of EcoFocus are invited to leave the snow and ice behind and relax on a beach with other Georgians while watching two environmental documentaries at the Jekyll Island Green Screen. Showing on Saturday, March 1, 2014, the second annual event will highlight two thought-provoking films that illustrate the beauty and fragility of our coastal regions. The double-feature will be held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center and is free and open to the public.

This year, DisneyNature's Wings of Life and Into the Gyre will be shown beginning at 3 p.m. Between the two films, the audience will enjoy a reception that includes presentations by University of Georgia researchers working on Jekyll Island and throughout the Georgia coast. Following the viewing of “Into the Gyre,” a panel of experts will discuss the film and answer questions. For more information about the films and to view trailers, click on the images below. For further event details check out the Jekyll Island Authority website and/or join and share the event on Facebook.

This event is made possible through the generous support and engagement of Georgia Sea Grant, EcoFocus Film Festival, Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve – Coastal Training Program, the Jekyll Island Authority, One Hundred Miles, the Southeast Atlantic Marine Debris Initiative, Surfrider Foundation – Atlanta Chapter and Keep Brunswick – Golden Isles Beautiful.

Jekyll Island hotels are offering discounts for Green Screen attendees through the duration of the weekend, including Days Inn & Suites and Jekyll Island Quality Inn & Suites.

Become an EcoFocus 2014 Sponsor!

01/06/2014

We are excited to bring you the sixth EcoFocus Film Festival on March 20-29, 2014! Each year since 2008, EcoFocus has brought quality films and meaningful discussions to Athens audiences to inform and inspire our community about important environmental issues. EcoFocus is an initiative of the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia, in partnership with the UGA Office of Sustainability, the UGA Willson Center for Humanities and Arts, Athens Ciné, and many partners and participants from the Athens community.

We rely primarily upon contributions from foundations, individual donors, and companies/organizations who support our mission. Opportunities to support the 2014 festival are now available. By making a financial contribution, you have the unique opportunity to directly support a homegrown, local event that supports environmental stewardship. If your support is a business or organizational sponsorship, you can gain increased exposure for your company or organization through our website, social media, and print media campaigns.

Several sponsorship levels are available and all contributions are tax-deductible. Donating to EcoFocus is a great way for individuals to buy a festival pass, and a great gift for a friend or loved one!

Donations can be made via check or on-line. Please see our Donate page to download sponsorship forms and more information.

Thank you - as always - for your enthusiasm and support!