Celebrate the Month of the Environment with the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival

New York, June 5, 2012

In celebration of the Month of the Environment, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), is organizing screenings of films that relate to good waste and soil management practices, in various locals throughout the city of Santo Domingo.

DREFF reminds us to remember the Planet not just during the month of June, but every month. Following us on Facebook and Twitter and keep informed of the film screenings and programs DREFF realizes throughout the year.

The Second Edition of the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF)
is scheduled to take place September 5-9, 2012.

Schedule of screenings:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6
Universidad APEC (Leonel Rodríguez Rib Auditorium, Campus I: Dr. Nicolás Pichardo)
5:15 pm – 6:45 pm: Screening of Journey to Planet Earth: Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization
USA, 2011 - 83 min, Director: Hal Weiner

Called "one of the world's most influential thinkers" by The Washington Post, environmentalist Lester Brown is the recipient of a MacArthur Genius Award, the United Nations Environmental Prize and Japan's Blue Planet Prize. Shot on location in Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, New Delhi, Rome, Istanbul, Ankara and Washington, D.C., the film features Lester Brown's recent visit with world leaders to discuss ways to respond to the challenges of climate change. It begins with a dramatic portrayal of a world where there is a mounting tide of public concern about melting glaciers and sea level rise and a growing sense that we need to change course in how we react to emerging economic and social pressures.

The film also spotlights a world where ocean resources are becoming scarce, croplands are eroding and harvests are shrinking. But what makes Plan B significant and timely is that it provides audiences with hopeful solutions – a road map that will help eradicate poverty, stabilize populations and protect and restore our planet's fisheries, forests, soils and biological diversity.

FRIDAY, JUNE 8
Universidad APEC (Leonel Rodríguez Rib Auditorium, Campus I: Dr. Nicolás Pichardo)  
5:15 pm – 6:00 pm: Screening of Chocolate Country
USA, 2010-- 30 min, Director: Robin Blotnick

Chocolate Country tells the story of the cacao farmers of the rural Dominican community of Loma Guaconejo. The film brings to life their quest to earn organic certification and the ability to market their cacao directly to markets in the United States. This uplifting chronicle of a community coming together to beat the odds is set to the soundtrack of local folk musicians and highlights the process of organic cacao cultivation from seed to powder.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9
Universidad APEC (Leonel Rodríguez Rib Auditorium, Campus I: Dr. Nicolás Pichardo)
12:15 am – 1:45 pm: Screening of Dirt! The Movie
USA, 2009, 86 min, Directors: Bill Benenson, Gene Rosow

Dirt! The Movie tells the story of Earth's most valuable and underappreciated source of fertility--from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation. The opening scenes of the film dive into the wonderment of the soil. Made from the same elements as the stars, plants and animals, and us, "dirt is very much alive." Though, in modern industrial pursuits and clamor for both profit and natural resources, our human connection to and respect for soil has been disrupted. "Drought, climate change, even war are all directly related to the way we are treating dirt." DIRT! the Movie--narrated by Jaime Lee Curtis--brings to life the environmental, economic, social and political impact that the soil has. It shares the stories of experts from all over the world who study and are able to harness the beauty and power of a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship with soil.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9
Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña
9:00 am – 11:00 am -- Screening of Bag It!
USA, 2000, 74 min, Director: Suzan Beraza

Bag It! tells the story of Jeb Berrier's decision to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store. Little does Jeb suspect, this simple decision will completely change his life.  He comes to the conclusion that our consumptive use of plastic has finally caught up to us, and looks at what we can do about it. Today. Right now. The film delves into the detrimental environmental impacts of plastic on waterways, oceans and the human body.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23
PUNTACANA Resort & Club
Screening of Vanishing of the Bees
USA, 2009, 90 min, Directors: George Langworthy and Maryam Heinen

Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet, literally vanishing from their hives.

Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, this phenomenon has brought beekeepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing apples, broccoli, watermelon, onions, cherries and a hundred other fruits and vegetables. Commercial honeybee operations pollinate crops that make up one out of every three bites of food on our tables.

Vanishing of the Bees follows commercial beekeepers David Hackenberg and Dave Mendes as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. The film explores the struggles they face as the two friends plead their case on Capital Hill and travel across the Pacific Ocean in the quest to protect their honeybees.

Filming across the US, in Europe, Australia and Asia, this documentary examines the alarming disappearance of honeybees and the greater meaning it holds about the relationship between mankind and mother earth. As scientists puzzle over the cause, organic beekeepers indicate alternative reasons for this tragic loss. Conflicting options abound and after years of research, a definitive answer has not been found to this harrowing mystery. 

DREFF also partners with institutions and nongovernmental institutions to raise awareness of environmental challenges and sustainable practices among employees. To fulfill this goal, DREFF is coordinating special screenings of the film Bag It! for employees of Asociación Popular de Ahorros y Préstamos (APAP) and the Ministry of Environment in celebration of Ocean Day, on June 5 and June 8 respectively.

About the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF)
DREFF raises awareness and deepens understanding of environmental issues among Dominican audiences, while celebrating the beauty and diversity of the country's natural heritage. Through screening a diverse selection of high-quality films on matters of environmental concern, and organizing panel discussions with environmental experts, filmmakers and other stakeholders, the Festival seeks to foster dialogue and to inspire Dominican audiences to adopt practices that will ensure for the health and environmental sustainability of the country.

By bringing together youth, scholars, experts, activists, filmmakers, representatives of public, private and nongovernmental institutions and the general public, the Festival promotes programs and projects that contribute to environmental protection, conservation and sustainability.

Related links:
http://unapec.edu.do/CONCURSO%20Medio%20Ambiente%20(2).pdf
http://www.unphu.edu.do/
http://www.unapec.edu.do/Noticias/Eventos/23/semana-de-medio-ambiente
http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth/plan_b/index.html
www.chocolatecountryfilm.com
www.dirtthemovie.org
www.vanishingbees.com
www.bagitmovie.com