EcoFocus @ UGA

Kick off the EcoFocus weekend with Switch, a balanced, solutions-based and inspiring film about energy. Panel discussion highlighting student-led energy conservation initiatives on the UGA campus will follow the film. Panelists include: Duncan Elkins (moderator, UGA post-doctoral associate, and steering committee member of the Georgia Climate Change Coalition), and students Allie Brown, Jacob Spaulding, Tyler Faby, Will Grant, and Mathew Tyler. Everyone is welcome to this free event! Free snacks, drinks and door prizes! This event is a UGA Blue Card event.

Associated Films:

• Switch directed by Harry Lynch
• The Artificial Leaf directed by Jared P. Scott
• The Man Who Lived on His Bike directed by Guillaume Blanchet

Added Screening: Chasing Ice (with The Last Ice Merchant)

Adam LeWinter from the Chasing Ice film and the Extreme Ice Survey will join the audience after the film for a question and answer session!

Associated Films:

• Chasing Ice directed by Jeff Orlowski
• The Last Ice Merchant directed by Sandy Patch

Opening Night Reception and Films: Chasing Ice

Help us launch our fifth festival in style with the EcoFocus Opening Night reception and award winning film Chasing Ice! Join us at 6pm for the reception. Films start at 7pm. Panel discussion participants include Adam LeWinter (Chasing Ice), Dr. Thomas Mote (UGA Geography), Dr. Patricia Yager (UGA Marine Sciences), Dr. Rob McDowell (UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government) and Mr. Paul Wolff (Tybee Island City Councilman).

The opening night party is produced by Swoon Events with food by The National and plant materials and design generously donated by James Greenhouses.

Get your tickets early to reserve your spot!

Associated Films:

• Chasing Ice directed by Jeff Orlowski
• The Last Ice Merchant directed by Sandy Patch

Added Screening: Chasing Ice (with The Last Ice Merchant)

Adam LeWinter from the Chasing Ice film and the Extreme Ice Survey will join the audience after the film for a question and answer session!

Associated Films:

• Chasing Ice directed by Jeff Orlowski
• The Last Ice Merchant directed by Sandy Patch

Free Screening of Trash Dance (Sponsored by Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division)

This event is free due to the generosity of the Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division who – for the fifth year – has supported the mission of EcoFocus. Free popcorn!

Associated Films:

• Irish Folk Furniture directed by Tony Donoghue
• Trash Dance directed by Andrew Garrison

Ripple Effect Film Project Showcase & Last Call at the Oasis

Meet the filmmakers and judges who participated in the inaugural Ripple Effect Film Project at a reception in the Ciné Lab at 6pm. At 7pm, audiences will enjoy the Ripple Effect Finalist Showcase that includes several locally-made films about water conservation followed by the EcoFocus feature film, Last Call at the Oasis. Contest winners (including audience favorites) will be announced after the feature film. This evening is sponsored by the Athens-Clarke County Water Conservation Office and the Broad Street Coffee Vegan Restaurant.

Associated Films:

• Last Call at the Oasis directed by Jessica Yu
• Ripple Effect Film Project Finalist Showcase directed by Various

Music and Advocacy: Dear Governor Cuomo (screens with Living Tiny)

Associated Films:

• Dear Governor Cuomo directed by Jon Bowermaster
• Living Tiny directed by Paul Donatelli and Paul Meyers

Double Feature: Culture and Memory

A community discussion with filmmaker Deborah Dickson and sculptor Todd McGrain will follow The Lost Bird Project. Many thanks to the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society for their support of this event. Discussion will be moderated by Dr. Richard Hall of the Odum School of Ecology and the Oconee  Rivers Audubon Society.

Associated Films:

• Quagga directed by Olga and Tatiana Poliektova
• The Lost Bird Project directed by Deborah Dickson
• The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom directed by Lucy Walker

Environmental Activism: Persistence, Consequences & Hope

Please join us for a community discussion following the films, including filmmakers Beth and George Gage of Bidder 70.

Associated Films:

• Among Giants directed by Ben Mullinkosson, Sam Price-Waldman, and Chris Cresci
• Bidder 70 directed by Beth Gage and George Gage

Wind Power Night: Films and After Party

Enjoy two fun films and a community discussion about alternative energy and wind power. We welcome our event partners and 2^nd Annual Ticket to Ride participants. The Firefly Trail is a proposed regional 39-mile multi-purpose rail-trail through Athens Clarke, Oglethorpe, and Greene Counties. Register for the ride (to be held on Saturday March 23^rd at 9pm) and learn more about the Firefly Trail at www.facebook.com/fireflytrail.

After the films, head across the street to Little Kings for the After Party with musical guest Rand Lines Trio Your EcoFocus ticket stub will get you in to the party for free. Non-ticket-holders pay only $5 cover charge at Little Kings. 

Associated Films:

• Cape Spin! An American Power Struggle directed by John Kirby, Robbie Gemmel, Daniel Coffin, and Libby Handros
• The Man Who Lived on His Bike directed by Guillaume Blanchet

Chasing Ice (screens with The Last Ice Merchant)

If you missed our opening night film, here's another chance!

Associated Films:

• Chasing Ice directed by Jeff Orlowski
• The Last Ice Merchant directed by Sandy Patch

EcoKids Screening and Activities

Fun for all ages! Kids (and parents) will enjoy this 45-minute film about the effects of plastic on our planet, and what we can do about it. Film is appropriate for ages 6 and up. After the film, participate in child-oriented hands-on activities that will help you reduce your use of plastics! Many thanks to our event partners from the Athens Montessori School. AMS is a county-designated “Green School,” and recently installed solar arrays to become the first solar school in the state of Georgia! Snacks generously provided by Earth Fare.

Associated Films:

• Bag It (2013 EcoKids Presentation) directed by Suzan Beraza

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities: Cafeteria Man & Community Discussion

Please join us for a community discussion to follow the film with Stacy Smith, School Garden Coordinator for ACC for the Community Garden Network; Jan Kozak, Manager of the Athens Farmers Market; Teri Hamlin, Georgia Organics NE Georgia Farm to School Coordinator; Tad MacMillan, Principal at Clarke Middle School; and Hilary Savage, CCSD School Nutrition Coordinator.

Associated Films:

• Cafeteria Man directed by Richard Chisolm and Sheila Kinkade
• Cafeteria Man: Memphis Schools Makeover directed by Richard Chisolm and Sheila Kinkade
• Gaia Soil directed by Directed by Philip Buccellato and Jesse Ash

Trash Dance Screening with Special Guest Underground Dance Society

Films will be preceded by a brief special performance with the Underground Dance Society! UDS is an Athens-based collective of artists experimenting with traditional and site-specific performance for the community.

Associated Films:

• Irish Folk Furniture directed by Tony Donoghue
• Trash Dance directed by Andrew Garrison

Closing Night: What's Next for Downtown Athens?

It’s the last night of EcoFocus 2013! Films will be followed by a community discussion with the Downtown Athens Master Plan developers and dessert in the Ciné lobby. 

Associated Films:

• Living Tiny directed by Paul Donatelli and Paul Meyers
• The Human Scale directed by Andreas Møl Dalsgaard