After the Spill

After the Spill

Jon Bowermaster/2015/62 min/Health-Environment

Wednesday, March 7, 6:30 p.m. [North]
Institute of Cultural Affairs, Chicago

Thursday, March 8, 7 p.m. [Dupage County]
College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn

FILM DESCRIPTION: When the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded, it spilled more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in the worst ecological disaster in North American history. Now, activist and filmmaker Jon Bowermaster takes stock and asks hard questions: What is the current health of the Gulf and its marine life? How sick are the fish, and how sick are the people? How has the oil industry changed since the spill … and how have we changed?

Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston, VA

Another Way of Living: The Story of Reston, VA

Rebekah Wingert-Jabi/2015/69 min/Architecture

Wed., March 7, 6:30 p.m. [W Suburbs]
Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park

CHICAGO-AREA PREMIERE. FILM DESCRIPTION: What are the conditions in which nature and social equity can flourish together? As communities across Chicago – and America – try to answer this question, this film provides a blueprint. Another Way of Living explores the vision of Robert Simon (1914-2015). While 1950s suburban sprawl fostered individualism and homogeneity, Simon dreamed of another way: one that integrated citizens across racial, economic and religious divides. The result? Reston, Virginia. Despite early challenges, the town became an international sensation and continues to inspire us today.

Chasing Coral

Chasing Coral

Jeff Orlowski and Larissa Rhodes/2017/91 min/Water

Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m. [W Suburbs]
Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre, Oak Park
Admission $6

Wed., March 7, 5:30 p.m. [Downtown]
Reception at 5:30 p.m. Film at 6:30 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago

FILM DESCRIPTION: Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out on a thrilling ocean adventure to discover why. Chasing Coral was filmed over three years, capturing more than 500 hours of underwater footage from 30 countries, and with the support of 500 people around the world. This film won the U.S. Documentary Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Teens and young adults encouraged to attend.  May contain heavy themes or graphic images.

Searching for the Gold Spot: The Wild After Wildfire

Searching for the Gold Spot: The Wild After Wildfire

Maya Khosla/2017/31 min/Conservation

Saturday, March 3, 2 p.m. [Lake County]
Prairie Crossing School, Grayslake

Wednesday, March 7, 6 p.m. [West]
Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

CHICAGO-AREA PREMIERE. FILM DESCRIPTION: Nature has a secret power for rejuvenating itself: wildfire. This film showcases the rapid and amazing comeback of forests after wildfire. Follow teams of scientists and firefighters through the post-fire areas in the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range and beyond. They find rare black-backed woodpeckers, goshawks, spotted owls and their young, and many other animals flourishing. Their presence offers a new sense of hope for all.

Urban Nature

Urban Nature

Dan Protess/2017/5 to 10 min/Wildlife & Conservation

Wednesday, March 7, 6 p.m. [West]
Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

CHICAGO-AREA PREMIERE. FILM DESCRIPTION: If you know where to look, you’ll find the most surprising slices of nature thriving in America’s largest cities. We will screen several episodes of WTTW’s digital series Urban Nature, in which University of Chicago evolutionary biologist Marcus Kronforst leads audiences on tours of overlooked ecosystems in Chicago, New York and San Francisco. He’ll hop on a bike, grab a kayak, and even take the subway, to seek out unlikely habitats hidden among the skyscrapers. We’ll discover how these havens are essential to the health of our cities—and the future of our planet.

Wasted! The Story of Food Waste

Wasted! The Story of Food Waste

Nari Kye and Anna Chai/2017/90 min/Waste

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m. [North]
Loyola University, Chicago
SOLD OUT!

VIEW AND BREW [Downtown]
Sunday, March 4, 3 p.m. 
Haymarket Pub & Brewery, Chicago
Admission $7
SOLD OUT!

Tuesday, March 6, 7 p.m. [Dupage County]
College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn
SOLD OUT!

Wed., March 7, 6:30 p.m. [Lake County]
College of Lake County, Grayslake

Saturday, March 10, 11:30 a.m. [South]
Covenant United Church of Christ
South Holland, Film at 12 p.m.
Action Fair/refreshments at 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, March 10, 12 p.m. [West]
Loretto Hospital, Chicago

FILM DESCRIPTION: WASTED! shows us how each of us can make small changes to solve one of the greatest problems of the 21st Century.

What Lies Upstream

What Lies Upstream

Cullen Hoback/2017/89 min/Social Justice/Economic Justice

Wednesday, March 7, 7:30 [South]
Beverly Arts Center, Chicago
Admission $6


FILM DESCRIPTION: In this riveting film, investigative filmmaker Cullen Hoback travels to West Virginia to uncover the truth behind a massive chemical spill that left 300,000 people without drinking water for months. The investigation spirals in a surprising and disturbing direction, and we learn the truth about what lies upstream of us all.  Teens and young adults encouraged to attend.