PHOTO CREDIT: KEITH LADZINSKI FOUNDER Flo Stone WELCOME TO THE STAFF 25TH ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL! Executive Director Maryanne Culpepper 2017 has brought many new faces and families to Washington, so whether you’re a recent arrival Managing Director Christopher Head or a longtime resident, we hope you’ll join us for two weeks of engaging films, talented filmmakers, Director of Programming and insightful speakers to keep you entertained and informed as we celebrate our amazing planet Brad Forder and explore the challenges that lie ahead. As Ronald Reagan said more than 30 years ago, Director of Development “Preservation of our environment is not a liberal or conservative challenge, it’s common sense.” Jessie Brinkley Director of Public Relations Helen Strong Our Opening Night kicks off with Water and Power: A California Heist from executive producer Director of Digital Communications Alex Gibney, who’s been called “the most important documentarian of our time.” A great lineup of provocative Saaret Yoseph environmental films follows, examining topics ranging from the Zika outbreak to the water crisis in Flint and the Director of Special Projects Standing Rock protest. A signature evening of science films and panels will be presented in partnership with Howard Owen Davies Hughes Medical Institute and the National Academy of Sciences; and we’re excited about our screenings at the Director of Educational Outreach Arjumand Hamid magnificent Oprah Winfry Theater in the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. Development Manager Heidi Hermisson DC’s new flagship REI store co-presents a special program of adventure films that take us from Norway to French Programming Manager Polynesia. And our Embassy program is richer than ever with films from many nations, including France, Colombia, Molly Berg and Singapore. Look out for our award-winners and our closing night program featuring Seasons (Les Saisons) with Festival Coordinator Samantha Plakun Jacques Perrin, Oscar-nominated filmmaker of Winged Migration. Festival Producer Jon Gann See a film, join the conversation, get involved, give us your feedback. Visit www.dceff.org for more information on Festival Interns the program, to volunteer your time and talents, or to become a Friend of the Festival. Patrick J. Foust, Daryl Gardner Jr., Lexi Gopin, Liv Gwynn, Eloise Hackett, Anna Hedlund, Yewon Koh, Adriane Nguyen A huge thanks to all our volunteers, sponsors, donors, and venue partners who have made this 25th Anniversary Festival possible. Hope to see you at a movie! BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair: Susan Vitka Vice Chair: Max Williamson Treasurer: John van D. Lewis Maryanne Culpepper, Executive Director Secretary: Elizabeth Berry Barbara L. Franklin, Caroline D. Gabel, Marion HOW TO FESTIVAL Guggenheim, Anita Herrick, Annie Kaempfer, First time attending DCEFF? No problem. We got you covered. Here’s everything Dan M. Martin, Josie Merck, Dane Nichols, Liz you need to know to Festival like a pro: TABLE OF CONTENTS Norton, Peter O’Brien, Nora Pouillon, Festival Welcome; E. William Stetson III, Flo Stone, Catherine Wyler READ the Festival Guide and the action around #DCEFF25. Trustee Emerita: Joan D. Murray learn all about the outstanding How to Festival . 2 Ex Officio: Maryanne Culpepper environmental films selected for the WATCH trailers for our 2017 films Opening & Closing Nights; ADVISORY COUNCIL 25th Anniversary Festival. Hold on and take a look at our growing to the handy inside, collection of #envirofilm selections, Awards Screenings . 3 Chair: Gregory McGruder pocket guide with a day-by-day breakdown of all available for streaming via our Wendy Benchley, Caroline Beresford Feature Films . 4-12 Katie Carpenter, Harriett Crosby our programs and a list of all our online film portal. Sarah Davidson, Alice Day, Lincoln Day venue partners. Pocket Guide . .13-16 Diana Lady Dougan, Sarah duPont, EXPERIENCE the 2017 Festival. Anne Emmet, Mark Epstein, Nelse Greenway, EXPLORE the Festival’s website Attend 1, 2 or 10 of our film Calendar . .14-15 Grace Guggenheim, Laurence Hausman, dceff.org to purchase tickets and screenings and events taking Venue Index . .16 Elizabeth Kucinich, Joseph Krakora, Gay register for our screenings and place at partner venues across Lord, Mary McCracken, Helen McNeill, Sally events, many of which are free. Washington, DC, Feature Films, Con’t . .17-18 Meadows, Gouri Mirpuri, Chris Palmer, March 14-26. Peggy Parsons, Gary Rahl, Susan Rappaport, Check back for daily updates. After the Festival, be sure to keep Short Film Programs . .19-23 Deborah Rothberg, Edith Schafer, Joan Shorey, a look out for our year-round Jonathan Steffert, Roger Stone, Mary Wallace, FIND out the latest Festival news programs (#DCEFF365). Clips & Conversations . .24 Georgiana Warner and announcements by subscribing Film Index. .25 to our newsletter dceff.org/subscribe. ENJOY special perks, like reserved seating, by becoming a Friend of the Donors. 26 Cover Photo: Keith Ladzinski FOLLOW the Environmental Festival dceff.org/friends. Ads/Sponsor List . 27-28 photographer, cinematographer, Film Festival at @dcenvirofilm on and documentary/adventure Facebook, Twitter & Instagram to sports filmmaker. His work has appeared in keep up and stay connected with all National Geographic, The New York Times, Outside, and others. Cover Design: Taylor Design Collective Frog Illustration: Ben Hillman & Co. 2 TICKETS & DAILY UPDATES at DCEFF.org OPENING NIGHT CLOSING NIGHT AWARDS X O B usic F M O ourtesy /C arguil G hilippe ©P Premiere Screening and Reception OPENING NIGHT CLOSING NIGHT Winner of the Polly Krakora Award for Artistry in Film for Thanks to The Reva and David Logan Foundation for its support of this evening. WATER & POWER: A CALIFORNIA HEIST J SEASONS (LES SAISONS) (USA, 2017, 86 min.) (France, 2015, 95 min.) Emmy award-winning director Marina Zenovich’s Water & Power: A California After traveling the world alongside migrating birds (Winged Migration) and diving the Heist, a National Geographic documentary film executive produced by Academy oceans with whales and manta rays (Oceans), Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud Award winner Alex Gibney and produced by Jigsaw Productions, unfolds like a return to more familiar ground: the lush green forests and megafauna that emerged real-life version of the 1974 film noir Chinatown, uncovering the ruthless exploits across Europe following the last Ice Age. Capturing exceptional footage of the wild, of California’s notorious water barons, who profit off the state’s resources while diverse, and wonderful animal life in Europe’s forests, this film explores the shared everyday citizens endure a debilitating water crisis. history that inextricably binds humankind with the natural world. Director: Marina Zenovich in person Directors: Jacques Perrin in person and Jacques Cluzaud. Tues, Mar 14, 6:30 PM $30 National Geographic Society Sun, Mar 26, 7 PM $10 Carnegie Institution for Science Eric Moe Award for Best Short on Sustainability William W. Warner Beautiful Swimmers Award Documentary Award for Environmental Advocacy Founded in 2013 by Julia and Richard Moe in Established by the Warner/Kaempfer family for Established for the 2014 Festival, this award memory of their son, Eric, to honor his strong interest the 2015 Festival in memory of William W. Warner, recognizes a film that inspires advocacy in response in film and commitment to sustainability, this award author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Beautiful to a compelling environmental challenge. The award recognizes a short film that best captures efforts to Swimmers, a study of the crabs and watermen of the includes a $10,000 cash prize. balance the needs of humans and nature. The award Chesapeake Bay, this award recognizes a film that Winning Director: Fisher Stevens includes a $5,000 cash prize. reflects a spirit of reverence for the natural world. The Winner: BEFORE THE FLOOD Presented with the National Wildlife Federation and award includes a $10,000 cash prize. (USA, 2016, 96 min.) the National Geographic Winning Director: James Gray Oscar-winning actor, environmental activist, and United Winning Director: Craig Norris Winner: THE LOST CITY OF Z Nations Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio Winner: KOKOTA: THE ISLET OF HOPE (USA, 2017, 142 min.) travels to five continents and the Arctic to witness (Canada/Tanzania, 2016, 29 min.) Special Advance Screening climate change first-hand. He speaks to scientists, The story of resilient people living on the front lines of A true-life drama about British explorer Col. Percival world leaders, activists, and local residents to gain climate change and how these unlikely heroes have Fawcett, who disappeared while searching for a a deeper understanding of this complex issue and managed to innovatively adapt and reforest their island. mysterious city in the Amazon in the 1920s, the film investigates concrete solutions to the most pressing Director: Craig Norris in person is based on David Grann’s best-selling book of the environmental challenge of our time. Producers: Finalist: ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND BEATING HEARTS same name. Director: James Gray in person Trevor Davidoski in person and Jennifer Davisson (USA, 2016, 15 min.) Director: Peter Byck in person Thurs, Mar 23, 7 PM $10 National Geographic Society Sat, Mar 18, 7 PM $20 Reception Mon, Mar 20, 7 PM $10 Carnegie Institution for Science National Geographic Society Features CLIPS & CONVERSATIONS SHORTS J WORLD, US AND DC PREMIERES Q&A DISCUSSION KID-friendly PROGRAMS 3 FEATURE FILMS