Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival by OBXEFF

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Thank you so much for joining us for this Inaugural Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival. I’m proud to present this festival as an educational outreach of the Peace Garden Project, a nonpro t working at the intersection of food justice and environmental justice. peacegardenproject.net Growing up here in my family’s ancestral home where the Algonquin-speaking Roanoac people (now Dare County) once thrived, I learned to read subtle weather changes and appreciate the earth and sea for their nourishment. As part of a community with a strong history connecting to and caring for creation, it is exciting to bring the Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival to this beautiful place. My background in lm, religion/spirituality, and the environment inspired me to develop a venue to highlight lms in these areas to help spread understanding about our responsibility to protect and preserve the environment. Our inaugural competition attracted 47 entries from 20 countries, including several debuting in the United States and North America during our festival. Jurors will select the best among 11 shorts and four feature-length submissions in categories about the Outer Banks and Religion/Spirituality/Environment. In this and future years, the festival will recognize the work of Black and Indigenous lmmakers in their respective categories. It is important to highlight the stories of the world’s cultural and natural resources and the disproportionate impact on communities su ering ecological challenges. These lms also introduce and elevate the committed people seeking environmental justice as they care for creation. You’ll have the opportunity to take part in juror presentations and conversations with lmmakers. It is my hope the lms presented inspire us to continue working together across race, class, ethnicity, and borders to conserve and grow the cultural and natural resources in our communities. We have so much to look forward to in the courage, humor, heartache, and beauty we will experience during the festival and afterward in our work ahead. See you in the Lobby! Michelle Lewis Festival Director Executive Director, Peace Garden Project

obxe .com fi

peacegardenproject.net

Our Sponsors and Donors This year’s lead sponsor is the Jones/Lewis Fund. The Jones | Lewis Fund The Fund's mission is to support the creation of visual art projects that educate, inspire, and motivate all humanity to protect and preserve the environmental integrity and natural beauty of the Outer Banks. For more information, please visit Jones/Lewis Fund for OBX Visual Arts Established at Outer Banks Community Foundation - Outer Banks Community Foundation (obcf.org).

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

The Bryan Cultural Series strives to inspire, educate and challenge through presentations of the visual, literary and performing arts.

The North Carolina Arts Council is a Division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, a state agency.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation empowers coastal residents and vcisitors from all walks of life to protect and restore the water quality and critically important natural habitats of the North Carolina Coast. Dare Arts’ Mission is to Encourage Arts on the Outer Banks Through Advocacy, Enrichment and Opportunity.

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Karfs & Family Stephen S. And Karen O. Sawin

Kalliopeia Foundation

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival Schedule

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Alexis Joyner & Hanna Jubran The Artists who shaped “Hawa.” “I often address social issues and concerns, and I like to gently remind young folk that they don’t need to reinvent the wheel.” A native of Southampton County, Virginia, Alexis Joyner created his rst threedimensional pieces at age 12 by carving faces on walking sticks and canes. His rst large wood piece, Cherry, a depiction of Nat Turner’s wife rendered in black walnut, is an homage to the legendary slave revolt of 1831 that occurred in the county where Joyner was born. His graduate studies at Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University earned him a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture in 1984. Following a decade as a public school educator, Professor Joyner retired from Elizabeth City State University, serving for a time as department chair during his 29 years there. We are honored Professor Joyner conceptualized and sculpted the “Hawa” award statue for the Outer Banks Environmental Film Festival. He said, “I’ve been thinking about this piece for a while,” and aptly named the statue “Hawa,” which means Eve in Arabic, Hebrew, and Swahili. In English, “Hawa” means atmosphere, air. The gases surrounding the Earth or any astronomical body. The air in a particular place (wikipedia).” Hanna Jubran cast the “Hawa” statue in bronze. Of Palestinian origin, born in Jish in Upper Galilee, he holds an MFA in sculpture from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Professor Jubran teaches Sculpture at East Carolina University, where he sculpted ] the school’s mascot, Pee Dee “The Pirate.” Jubran also sculpted “A Monument to A Century of Flight” in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Alexis Joyner

Hanna Jubran

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Do you want to understand the evolutionary story in which we nd ourselves? Journey of the Universe is scienti cally rigorous and woven with the wisdom of Indigenous traditions and the world’s religious and philosophical systems. This is a collaboration of Thomas Berry, Brian Thomas Swimme, Mary Evelyn Tucker, John Grim, and many others. Join us on the journey and see how people are contributing to this epic story in creative ways.

9 fi

peacegardenproject.net ff

Journey of the Universe

obxe .com

Keeper of the Bay A documentary lm about marine conservation through the eyes of a native Hawaiian woman as she struggles to continue a family baykeeping legacy. On a 2018 trip to Hawaii, Ashley learned about the negative impact of chemical sunscreens on local coral reefs. Diving head rst into educating herself further, Ashley was connected to Cindi Punihaole who detailed a myriad of other factors impacting local marine life and the people who depend on its health. It was a story Ashley could not shake and she is here now to document it for global audiences in the hopes that travelers and locals alike will follow Cindi's extraordinary example of living in harmony with the natural environment. Director- Ashley LoFaso Writer- Sean Arena Producer-Dear Ocean Producer- Robert Milazzo Run Time – 1 hour, 33:03 minutes

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

This National Park Service lm follows two biologists’ ght to save a bird species so rare that only 200 remain on the planet. The extinction event of our lifetime is unfolding inside Haleakala National Park's remote backcountry. Discover what will be lost if humans do not take action to save these rare birds of the Maui forest. Director- David Ehrenberg Producer-David Ehrenberg Run Time- 7:30

peacegardenproject.net ff

Heart of Maui

obxe .com

The Story of the Leatherback An account of the Leatherback Sea Turtle, the largest species of turtle on Earth, through the eyes of a 12-year-old Prin Uthaisangchai, who has been studying their plight and journey for six years. He began his project to share his concern about the Leatherback Turtles’ future in Thailand and the impact of global warming on many of the world’s endangered species. The lm documents the turtles’ declining population and e orts to save a sanctuary to ensure the turtles a protected place to lay their eggs. “If all of us do our best, we will be able to preserve their home,… our home.” Director/Producer-Alongkot Chukaew Writer/Key Cast-Prin Uthaisangchai

Run Time- 11:04 minutes

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Tides Andre is an Associate Professor of Film Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington where he has been teaching classes in lm production for 14 years. He received his BS in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin and his MFA in Film & Video Production at the University of Iowa. His lms have screened at festivals internationally including the Ann Arbor Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, SXSW and Black Maria Film Festival. He is also the founder of the Cape Fear Environmental Film Forum in Wilmington, North Carolina. Director - Andre Silva Producer - Shannon Silva Run Time - 8:00 minutes

obxe .com fi

peacegardenproject.net

Connected by Water Humans are natural storytellers and that is how we make connections. Join Will Freund on a journey to hear perspectives on climate change from nine people living along the coast of the United States’ southeastern coast. Kayaking more than 1,000 miles alone along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Miami, Florida to Norfolk, Virginia, John meets people from so many di erent backgrounds and learns more than he ever thought possible.

Director- Will Freund

“I chose to make this lm, Connected By Water, to try to understand how people living in coastal communities feel about climate change. In previous years, I had worked as an intern at serval conservation and research organizations as well as a couple of years as an environmental educator along the southeastern coast of the United States. During that time, I saw rsthand the impacts of climate change on our coastal ecosystems as well as the divisive rhetoric that comes with it. Through my conservation and education work, I realized that there was a major disconnect between the scienti c community and the public. At our core, everyone is a storyteller and that is how we are going to build bridges and make progress on addressing climate change. Rather than asking people what impacts of climate change they see, I asked how they felt about it. That is why I set out on a solo kayaking trip to traverse 1000 miles of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to meet, connect, and share conversations with people from all walks of life and background to get a better understanding of where we are as a country. I hope that it sparks a conversation.”

Run Time-1 hour, 15 minutes

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Fire and Flood The rural community of Seven Springs, North Carolina has a long history of survival. After being nearly destroyed during the Civil War, a re swept through the town in the early 1920s, almost wiping it out entirely. More recently, hurricanes are pushing the already struggling small town to the brink of collapse, as severe ooding has left it virtually beyond repair. Seven Springs‘ demise would mean a loss of identity, culture, and community for those who still call it home. Fire & Flood paints a video portrait of this charming place and the community that is ghting to keep it a oat against all odds. Madison Cavalchire is a North Carolina-based documentary lmmaker focused on telling stories in the American South. A former journalist, Madison strives to create character-driven work that promotes understanding among neighbors, nds resolution to community issues, and even brings victims long-awaited justice. While she loves collaborating with other artists, Madison primarily produces, shoots, and edits the projects she directs. Director - Madison Cavalchire Run Time - 27:29 minutes

obxe .com fi

peacegardenproject.net

Sentient Souvenirs An educational, short documentary that explores tourist-shop hermit crabs and how detrimental, widespread, and unregulated the hermit crab industry really is. “The day I turned eighteen I got my rst job working as an associate in a local pet store. In addition to dog and cat supplies, we also sold sh and hermit crabs as well as live animals. We kept about a dozen crabs at a time in a small, square cage that t on a standard shelf. They were mainly bought by parents as a “ rst time pet” for their ve or six-yearold. I saw this “kids pet” mentality taken to the extreme when I moved to Wilmington NC and started visiting beach shops where hermit crabs are marketed as kids' toys with bright colors and cute accessories.

Fast forward to a year ago. I had worked in a few more pet stores to pay my bills and started a career in lm. I always felt that something was missing from my work, something that I was truly passionate about. Then it hit me – why not make animal advocacy lms? This would allow me to marry my love of animals and lm to create art to educate and inform audiences.”

Writer/Director-Pearl Elizabeth Marley Producer-Caroline Amelia Daughtry Run Time-17:17 minutes

16 fi

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

The Box of Life After leaving his Data Analytics job in Boston and moving to Ottawa, Canada to be with his wife, Akil found himself faced with unemployment. The solution? Worms. An at home composting experiment now turned full-time occupation. Director Ben Cheer states “[w]hile working on this project, I couldn't help but be reminded of being a young boy, splashing through puddles on a rainy day and nding worms on the sidewalk. It’s that youthful feeling of curiosity and excitement that I hoped to capture in Akil’s contagious fascination for one of earth’s simplest yet most incredible creatures. The Box of Life is a short documentary entirely made possible by changing “What if?” to “Why not.” For Akil, that was a home-based vermi-compositing experiment, now turned full-time business venture. For Manuel and me, it was a quick text message, “Hey, I’m in town for a few days, we should shoot something!” After having previously mostly chatted online, this project nally gave us the opportunity to work together.” Director/Editor-Benjamin P.W. Cheer Director - Manuel Baechlin Run Time - 6:30 minutes

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

When the largest dam removal project in history begins, a group of indigenous youth learn to whitewater kayak in hopes of becoming the rst people to paddle the restored river from source to sea. Paul Robert Wolf Wilson (Director and Producer) bases his work in his ancestral homelands of Southern Oregon and Northern California to focus on the connections between peoples and the lands and waters they steward, as well as the cultures that tie them together. A Leader in Environment, Access, and Diversity (LEAD) Ambassador for Northwest River Supplies (NRS), Paul works to provide opportunities for indigenous youth to strengthen and grow relationships with their rivers through whitewater recreation. As an alumnus of Ríos to Rivers, where he and his sister Ashia co-founded the Maqlaqs Paddle program to help bring access to paddling to their tribal community. Paul has also actively worked to change policy around dams and endangered rivers worldwide, attending and speaking at UNFCCC COP events and serving as an advisory member for Water Climate Trust. Director/Key Cast-Paul Robert Wolf Wilson Director - Rush Sturges Producer - Weston Boyles Run Time - 9:05 minutes

peacegardenproject.net ff

Paddle Tribal Waters

obxe .com

Eskawata Kayawai In the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, the Kaxinawá people (self-claimed Huni Kuin, "true people") are experiencing their cultural and spiritual renaissance after decades of slavery on rubber plantations when they were captured in forests with dogs, marked with numbers, and forbidden to speak their language or live their culture. The Kaxinawás’ revival has taken more than 20 years of hard work, prayers, and cultural strengthening by spiritual leader Ninawá Pai da Mata, who is dedicated to empowering his people to return to their ancestral way of life. In this feature lm, we are taken by the villagers to the cacophony of the forest, the beauty and the simplicity of everyday life, the enchantments of forest medicines, and the e ort of what it takes for a tribe to rediscover themselves in communion with nature. Such a powerful return home is an example for the world, especially in the critical moment in which we live, proving that it is possible to rescue ancestry and revolutionize everyday life to be in harmony with the planet.

Writer - Lara Jacoski Directors - Lara Jacoski and Patrick Dequech Belem Producer - Oona Chaplin Key Cast - Ninawa Pai da Mata Run Time -1 hour, 10:26 minutes

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

The Invisible Forest In a time of advanced deforestation in the Amazon, we delve into the stories of struggle and resilience of individuals who view the forest as an inseparable part of their lives. These are people who shield the forest, confront the harassment of invaders, and safeguard the transmission of their knowledge and culture in the pursuit of caring for the planet's largest tropical rainforest. This documentary uncovers their journey and dedication to preserving the Amazon's vital legacy. Andy Costa holds a degree in administration and project management, but since 2018, he has been fully devoted to the lm industry and video production. He has worked in various roles such as producer, editor, and director. He is a founding partner of Dot Films, a production company that focuses on social and humanitarian causes, while also maintaining a substantial portfolio of corporate and educational clients. Director/Writer/Producer - Andy Costa Editor - Celio Roberto Director of Photography -Thiago Borazanian Run Time - 27:28 minutes

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Redlined Reimagined De ning "redlined communities" cannot be accomplished through geographic maps alone. In fact, redlining is more about the things we cannot see, a collective experience that impacts 11 million Americans in 11 million di erent ways. Street interviews with residents of historically redlined communities will help de ne such communities and provide a federal solution to a national problem. Christopher J. Gillespie is a 5th-year doctoral candidate with a focus in soil ecology and soil biogeochemistry at North Carolina State University. He received a bachelor’s degree in Crop and Soil Science from Michigan State University, and an M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from Oklahoma State University. Chris is interested in using an ecosystems approach to design and implement policy that holistically addresses systemic discrimination (e.g., loan discrimination, redlining, etc.) and increases economic productivity. Director/Producer - Christopher Jorelle Gillespie Producer - Melissa Roberts Chapman Key Cast - Historically Redlined Communities Run Time - 46:16 minutes

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

A century after her grandfather claimed his freedom from slavery, Elsie Herring and her rural North Carolina community ght the world's largest pork corporation for their freedom to enjoy fresh air, clean water, and a life without the stench of manure. “North Carolina has the highest concentration of factory farms in the country, possibly the world, and at the center of it all is Elsie Herring, a granddaughter of a freed slave, ghting for her family's land. Elsie has been standing up to the pork industry for polluting her home and com munity for over three decades when almost no one else would. I knew going to Duplin County would be emotionally and mentally challenging, but I was never prepared for the next three years of lming with Elsie and her community. Elsie changed me as a lmmaker and as a person. She made me recognize that people must set aside their di erences and work together to make the world a better place. We must ght for basic human rights, stand against racism, and ght for the environment at the same time because these issues are systemic.” Director/Producer - Shawn Bannon Writer/Producer - Jamie Berger Executive Producers - Kate Mara and David Lowery Run Time- 1 hour, 24 minutes

Elsie Herring

peacegardenproject.net fi

The Smell of Money

obxe .com

Save Our Soil Ayush is a rising junior in the magnet program Montgomery Blair High School. He created a documentary highlighting the great risk to global soil health within the next 50 years and the need for legislation to address the issue. He has deep interest and experience in not only STEM, but also Media and content creation, which he explored in a humanities program at Eastern Middle School. As a strong advocate of soil health, Ayush is an active volunteer at the Healthy Climate Initiative organization. Director/Producer - Ayush Talukder Writers - Ayush Talukder and Shreya Talukder Run Time- 6:33 minutes

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Salted Earth Salted Earth plunges us into the heart of an invisible and creeping crisis transforming the Mid-Atlantic – the inexorable rise of sea levels. This hard-hitting yet tenderly woven 20minute documentary paints a vivid picture of an escalating environmental catastrophe. The threat is not just the swelling sea but the encroaching salt that kills forests and decimates arable land. Could this development also signal a return to the natural order of the Atlantic Coast? Not only a saga of scienti c discovery, Salted Earth is also a story of human resilience and ingenuity. We venture into the heart of communities, the lifeblood of the Mid-Atlantic, whose existence is at stake. We see rsthand the farmers struggling to preserve their livelihoods, community leaders forging ahead with audacious resilience strategies, and everyday individuals battling the rising tide. Director/Producer - Ben Hemmings Producer - Joseph Coppolino Executive Producers - Jon Cox, Jeanette Miller, and Holly Michael Run Time-19:30 minutes

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Longleaf Forever Longleaf Forever is a short documentary lm that plunges viewers into one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet. Home to hundreds of rare plants and animals, longleaf pine forests once covered 90 million acres in the American South. Today, conservationists and land managers are turning a history of habitat loss and decline into a hopeful environmental story of renewal. We hear from women and men who care passionately about these landscapes and the species which live within them: a forester in rural Georgia, a Native longleaf needle basket maker, a young Black botanist, and re ecologists who study the essential role of regular cycles of re in the health of longleaf forests. Made with assistance from the GA Dept of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division, The Longleaf Alliance, and The Environmental Resources Network (TERN). Director/Writer - Laura Albritton Producers - Shan Cammack, Carol Denhof, and Reese Thompson Director of Photography Zickie Allgrove Run Time- 16:38 minutes

25 fi

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

The Peace Garden Project Growing Healthy Food and Healthy Community

We plant seeds, but we don't just grow food, we grow hope. Food Justice is an environmental justice and community health issue affecting more than 42 million people in the United States plagued by food insecurity. Our community garden seeks to address the problem and we welcome your help during our garden workdays, which is one of the primary ways we build community. We plant seeds together, work the land together, and donate all the food we produce to local families in need. peacegardenproject.net

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

The Jury Colin Harden- Colin is the Founder of Featherweight Elephant. He holds an MFA in Film/Media/Video Studies from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He has a background in audio storytelling with more than a decade of experience in the recording industry. He is known for A Seat at the Table, Phoenix Beyond, and Gesualdo. Bill Hayes- Bill is the Founder and CEO of Figure 8 Films and Thunder Mountain Media. Hayes has been the executive producer for over 1,300 programs for the Discovery Networks and numerous other networks worldwide. These shows include the hit series Sister Wives, 19 Kids and Counting, Salvage Dawgs, Jon & Kate Plus 8, and Bringing Up Bates. Derek Haynes- Derek has been featured in The Guardian, Lifehacker, and has been a guest on renowned podcasts like Black in the Garden and In Defense of Plants. He has also worked with the North Carolina Botanical Gardens in developing educational workshops on botany and plant science. Jeri Hilt- Jeri is a former lecturer of African Studies and International Development issues at Tennessee State and Dillard Universities. She has worked with research, development, and teaching projects in South Sudan, Kenya, Burundi, the United Kingdom, New Orleans, and [most recently] the North Louisiana Civil Rights Coalition's Oral History Project. Chad Martin- Chad is the Environmental Justice Policy Strategist for North Carolina Black Alliance. He recently became a private grant reviewer for the USDA and Virginia Food Access Investment Fund (VFAIF) grant evaluation committee. Chad has served on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Food System Council and recently was appointed to The State of Virginia Commission on Food Insecurity. Gaye Morris- Gaye is the founding curator of the Outer Banks Film Society. She is a co-editor of three books and a published author of articles in books and journals, mainly on lm, theology, and biblical and religious studies. She has served on lm juries for renowned festivals around the world. Cathy McConnell- Cathy is an Emmy award-winning environmental and natural history lmmaker. As a writer and producer for the NATURE series on PBS, she became a series editor. Then, she produced National Geographic specials and headed Natural History Co-Productions for National Geographic TV. Besides Emmys, her lms have won the Ark Trust Genesis Award, Best Documentary at the NY Film and Television Festival, and many other awards. She produced and wrote the lm that kicked o the 2019 Climate Summit at the UN.

27 ff

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com

Special Thanks Peace Garden Project Youth Leadership Institute Jurors Aniyah Gibbs, Payton Houseknecht, Harry Lipchak, Lily McAvoy, Wil Reed Elizabeth City State University Professor Clarence Goss Odis Gadson Donovan Mullin Amari Prescott Mckenzye Smalls College of the Albemarle Hotel Manteo Outer Banks Community Foundation Outer Banks Visitors Bureau Print Plus, Outer Banks Thank you to all the volunteers who helped in planning, executing, and promoting this event. To the steering committee, your behind-thescenes work and heavy lifting have made this event possible. Steering Committee Casianne Beckford Karen Freeman Garry Harris Ed Jones Maureen Lewis Michelle Lewis Karen Sibert Josie Walker Thanks to Evan Tillett and all our conversation partners.

Save the Date- November 1-3, 2024, 2nd Annual OBXEFF We hope you keep this souvenir program. Should you decide not to, please recycle.

peacegardenproject.net

obxe .com