Otter 501 prepares to be groomed in the above scene from “Saving Otter 501,” that will be shown at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival on Feb. 8, 2014. The 60-minute film is about the Monterrey Bay Aquarium’s 501st attempt to save an orphan otter.
The film “Blackfish” will be shown on Feb. 8, 2014 at the Princeton Environmental Film fest. The 83-minute film, tells the story of Tilikum, a performing killer whale that killed several people while in captivity.
The Futaleufú River in Chilean Patagonia is the subject of “Fighting for the Futaleufú,” a film to be shown at the Princeton Environmental Film Festival on Feb. 1, 2014 about the plight of the river as it faces foreign mega dams and mining projects.
By Aliza Alperin-Sheriff
Princeton Environmental Film Festival scheduled for Jan.30 – Feb. 9 at Princeton Public Library
Kim Dorman recognizes that in some ways the Princeton Environmental Film Festival is just preaching to the choir. But Dorman, who is the associate director of the festival, thinks that reaching out to those who already care deeply about environmental issues is one of the most important aspects of the festival.
“People who are out there and doing things to benefit the environment need a place to be rejuvenated” and the festival, held annually at the Princeton Public Library, provides a space for that to happen, said Dorman a programming assistant at the library.
Although Susan Conlon, the founder and director of the festival, knew that environmental issues were very important to many members of the Princeton community, at first she wasn’t sure how successful the festival would be. She wondered whether the event would be able to draw an audience, particularly since it was being held during the cold winter months, and whether it would be able to keep people coming back year after year.
Despite her worries, the response to the event has been positive. Now in its eighth year, the Princeton Environmental Film Festival has come to be recognized as one of the preeminent environmental film festivals in the world, Conlon said. It continues to attract patrons not only from Princeton, but from further afield, with people willing to drive long distances in order to attend.
Dorman thinks that part of the reason the festival reaches a wide audience is because the films they show are not necessarily what everybody would consider “environmental.”
“For everybody, there’s something that they care about, whether it’s their pet, their stream, their forest,” she said. People come to the festival because they are interested in a certain topic, but when they show up they also see films that open their eyes to other things that fall into the category of environmentalism.
Not only are the members of the audience enthusiastic about the festival, so are the filmmakers and distributors whose works are screened there.
Conlon, who is the library’s youth services team leader, said that because the films have been so well received, filmmakers are very open to participating in the festival and are excited to have their films be part of it. She adds that filmmakers who have participated in past years’ festivals have often commented on the quality and thoughtfulness of the questions that members of the audience ask.
This year, the festival will run from Jan. 30 to Feb. 9. During that time, about 25 films will be screened at Princeton Public Library. Among those will be the premiere of “Invisible Ocean: Plankton and Plastic,” on Feb. 8.
The film mixes science and art by telling the story of a scientist who uses discarded plastic that she finds in the ocean to build sculptures that depict the threat that it poses to the environment. For a full schedule of the festival’s films and events, go to community.princetonlibrary.org/peff/schedule.
One theme that runs through several of the films in this year’s festival is a sense of risk. Conlon said that the people whose stories are told in the films all have very strong convictions, but also “don’t have all the answers, have self-doubt, and make mistakes.” However, despite their foibles, they take enormous risks to act on their beliefs.
Conlon said that these stories raise questions and lead to discussions about what happens in our world if there are no risk takers and what we risk collectively when people feel that they should leave it to someone else to solve the world’s problems.
On each of the two Saturdays of the festival, there will be special programs geared toward children and families. On Feb. 1, wildlife educator Travis Gale will host “Wallaby Tales,” a program where Gale brings live animals for children to see and experience up close.
He uses this as a gateway to discuss the environmental hazards that the animals face and what can be done to protect their habitats. Conlon said that Gale has presented at the library before and his programs are always well-attended and well-loved.
On Feb. 8, Sarah Miele, the outreach coordinator for the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, will talk about how her organization responds to animals in distress. In a presentation entitled “Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles of New Jersey,” she will address how the animals are rehabilitated with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into the wild.
On February 5, in conjunction with a screening of “Slow Food Story” at the Princeton Garden Theater, local restaurants Mediterra and Teresa’s Café will be hosting a three-course meal with a slow food inspired menu. These types of events allow people to learn about volunteer opportunities, get to know more about local business, and discover what makes our community special, said Conlon.
Dorman explains that every year when she and Conlon are planning, they look to put on an event that will exceed expectations. To that end, every year they need to tinker with the festival to see what works and what doesn’t. “It’s good not to be afraid to try new things,” said Conlon.
This year, the biggest change is that they are putting a greater emphasis on short films. Although the festival has included short films in the past, it has been difficult to integrate them into the schedule. In order to be able to incorporate more short films in this year’s festival, a block of 20 to 25 films will be screened on Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.
Conlon and Dorman, who liken short films to poetry, believe that they can be just as powerful as their longer counterparts, if not more so. Dorman said that occasionally filmmakers will produce a longer and shorter version of the same film and that the shorter film is often better because “people are getting to the very essence of what they want to portray.”
The short films at this year’s festival have been gathered from three different sources. Some will come from the collection of unsolicited films that are sent to the festival every year. Others are films that Conlon and Dorman discovered and then asked if they could include.
The third source of short films is a student contest held in conjunction with the Princeton University Office of Sustainability. This contest asked children, teenagers, and college students to create a film about sustainability that is three minutes or less. The winner of the contest will receive a GoPro camera. Conlon said that they are very pleased with the entries that they have received and hope that the contest will become a regular part of the festival.
Even while preaching to the choir, the Princeton Environmental Film Festival has a significant impact on the community. Dorman notes that she frequently hears filmgoers express that the festival has changed the way that they think about things.
“Speaking personally,” she said, “my life has changed because of the Princeton Environmental Film Festival. My husband has changed a lot of the way he does things. Each year, I’m revitalized to do one more thing.”
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Sustainable Princeton will kick off the festival on Jan. 29 by recognizing its 2013 Sustainable Princeton Leadership Awards winners. This years’ honorees include:
Christopher Albrecht, executive chef of Terra Momo restaurant for his passion for talking about food and sustainability to students, teachers and parents in Princeton public schools.
Bill Cirullo, principal of Riverside Elementary School, for creating and sustaining a school community through its gardening education program and other sustainable initiatives.
Lauren Gully, student at Princeton Theological Seminary, for initiating and coordinating sustainability efforts at the seminary, and inspiring other individuals and institutions.
Callie Hancock, of the Princeton Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby, for organizing and inspiring others to take action on climate change.
Sandy Moskovitz, co-chair of the Go Green Committee at Community Park School, for inspiring students, parents, staff and teachers to undertake sustainable practices.
Mountain Lakes Holding Corporation for its work to preserve of the Mountain Lakes House.
Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart for its conversion to the use of geothermal energy in 100 percent of its academic spaces and other energy efficient actions.
Kurt Tazelaar and Sally Curtis of Friends of Herrontown Woods for their work in clearing trails in 2013.
Anthony Teng, a student at Princeton High School for leadership in building compost bins at Princeton schools and homes, and advocating the municipal compost program.
Gail Ullman, of the Princeton Environmental Commission, for her long-term role as a liaison between the Princeton Environmental Commission and the Princeton Planning Board.
The following day, Sustainable Princeton is hosting a breakfast featuring talks by members about the organization’s goals. The next day, several locals who have careers that involve a strong connection with the land, such as farmers and naturalists, will be participating in a panel discussion about their experiences.
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