Recently, South Korean filmmaker, Bong Joon Ho, swept the 92nd Academy Awards, opening the door for a cross-cultural vision in cinema. Meanwhile, the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest had a parallel surprise. Suzie Kang took the top prize at the post grad level for her animated film "Vandals." From South Korea originally, she graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts last spring.
Festival audiences expect to leave screenings with information that will guide them in taking the next steps on their sustainability journey. That is the Power of We. When people feel connected to others by a common passion or commitment, much gets done. Problems are solved. Communities become healthier. The Earth gets healed.
Chicago is fortunate to have many advocates on the front lines of climate action and environmental and social justice.
Betsy was inspired by this year’s OEFF’s theme, The Power of We, to unite people across differences, to collaborate for the planet and future generations. “The theme line really offers a point of view for the direction of the film fest, and one that speaks to me personally,” she said. “I love the grassroots flavor and the way it challenges us. What’s better than empowering us as individuals to work together on important issues facing our planet?”
This year, One Earth is looking to the power of collective action to make the change we need. Participation without cooperation will only get us so far, and far is where we need to go, fast! We are witnessing the necessity of collaboration, as seen in campaigns like “ban the straw” and global climate strikes.
Educators across the country are turning to the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest (YFC) as a teaching tool for their students. YFC can teach valuable lessons in science, art, communications and enhance the overall learning experience, they say.
“This contest was a great way for [my students] to translate their research into something interesting for a lay audience,” Nancy Landrum, who teaches sustainable business management at Chicago’s Loyola University, said.
Picture this. A former drug dealer and inmate living in crime-ridden southeast Washington, DC, becomes a trained falconer. Picture the heavy leather glove, the majestic bird perched on his wrist, his eyes fixed on its eyes. Imagine he uses the connection he feels with these animals to connect with neighborhood children.
This is the film “The Falconer,” one of 137 films evaluated by 130 judges to prepare for the One Earth Film Festival, taking place March 6 to 15, 2020, at venues throughout the Chicago region.
