ONEOTA FILM FESTIVAL (OFF) MEMBER FILM LENDING LIBRARY COLLECTION
April 2, 2019
abUSed: The Postville Raid
“…an epic story of survival, hope, and humble aspirations, of triumph, defeat, and rebirth. The face of immigration is revealed through the gripping personal stories of the individuals, the families, and the town that survived the most brutal, most expensive, and the largest immigration raid in the history of the United States.” IMDb (International Movie Database). Director: Luis Argueta
2010. 97 min. 2 copies
Follow three racers (Bonnie Moebeck on bike, John Storkamp on foot and Mark Scotch on skis) as they attempt to cross the finish line of the Arrowhead 135 Ultra race across the frozen and remote wilderness of Minnesota. Filmmaker: Brenda Piekarski
2014. 28 min.
“An African Election is a political documentary that exposes the never-before-seen, nitty-gritty of political electioneering in Africa. It captures the intrigues of political campaigns; the almost carnival like atmosphere that is laced with fear of the unknown and the danger that lurks behind-the-scenes.”IMDb
2011. 89 min.
This film follows teachers and students at the Mel Johnson School in Northern Manitoba in a season of planting, harvesting and celebrating their labor in a community display and feast.
2010. 57:41 min. 2 copies
“Step into our world, as we bring you a raw look at the talents of the next wave of free-style bike riders ... and photographers. ARRIVAL is all about what is happening now. Bringing viewers into the reality of a new generation of freeriders and racers.”IMDb
2013. 35 min. 2 copies
“Arctic Cliffhangers is the story of the cliff-dwelling inhabitants of the North, the prolific seabirds that represent some of Canada’s most spectacular wildlife. The film spotlights and interprets aspects of the biology and life history of seabirds, providing insights into the impacts of industrial pollution and the role that climate change plays in the transformation of marine ecosystems.”
2010. 60 min.
“…a snowboarding adventure of epic proportions. Filmed on location in Jackson Hole, Alaska, Chile, Aspen, Patagonia, British Columbia and more, “The Art of FLIGHT” brings the viewer along for the perfect blend of adventure/travel drama and high-energy snowboarding action.” IMDb
2011. 60 min. 2 disc set.
AURORA AUSTRALIS: Douglas Mawson’s Antarctic Trek
Based on the Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson’s and the Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-1914. The film is a tale of survival, life and death, inspiration and will power.
2011. 16 min.
Iskander, a young man living on the Kazakh steppes, finds French astronaut Julie after her capsule crashes. Julie now has amnesia, but Iskander convinces her they are engaged.’ IMDB 2011. 94 min. Russian with English subtitles.
“The film tells the ultimate animal story - how the earth's most charismatic and majestic land animal today faces market forces driving the value of its tusks to levels once reserved for gold….goes undercover to expose the criminal network behind ivory's supply and demand. It also demonstrates how the elephant, with its highly evolved society, keen intelligence, ability to communicate across vast distances and to love, remember and even to mourn, is far more complex than ever imagined.” IMDb 2013. 56 min.
BEIJING TAXI; 3 Beijingers’ bumpy ride on China’s road to modernization
The film portrays modern-day China in an era of transitions, connecting a changing city and a journey of society on the road to transformation.
2010. 78 min. Subtitled in English.
“BHOPAL! documents the experience of second generation children affected by the Union Carbide gas disaster of 1984, the worst industrial disaster in history, and subsequent contamination of groundwater by Union Carbide Corporation (an American company now owned by Dow Chemical, the second largest chemical company in the world).”
2011. 90 min.
BRINGING IT HOME: Industrial hemp, healthy houses and a greener future for America
“…tells the story of hemp: past, present and future and a global industry that includes textiles, building materials, food products, bio-plastics, auto parts and more”
2013. 52 minutes.
BUYER BE FAIR: the promise of product certification
How can retailers and consumers use their purchasing power and market choice to make the world better for people and the environment? What is the promise of product certification and labeling?
BUYER BE FAIR looks at two major trade goods -- timber and coffee -- to find out how certification works and whether it helps the world's poor, and their lands.
2014. 73 min.
BUSTED
One-woman show, written and performed by Nancy Heerans-Knudson about her decision to have a prophylactic mastectomy based on the history of breast cancer among the women of her family. Funny, poignant and heart-warming. Heerens-Knudson said the one-hour play, "Busted," has provided validation for some breast cancer survivors and understanding for others. Even though the play is about her 17 years with breast cancer, the story is universal, she said. "The emotions are those of everyone dealing with breast cancer," Heerens-Knudson said. "Survivors have told me it felt so good to laugh during the play, and then they tell me their funny stories. Humor helped me deal with the fear, and I think this play is healing." 2000 57 min.
“Exposing her role behind the camera, Kirsten Johnson reaches into the vast trove of footage she has shot over decades around the world. What emerges is a visually bold memoir and a revelatory interrogation of the power of the camera.” IMDB 2016 102 min.
“CARBON NATION is a film that celebrates the solutions that are out there, the inspiration that exists and the action that people are taking. It’s a movie that has no political affiliation, is purely non-partisan and quite frankly, inspiring enough to think about a career change - “going green” is good for business as the film points out. Green is good and Green is profitable.” ondemandweekly.com 2011 . 82 min.
CHASING WATER
An intimate look at the Colorado River watershed by raft, on foot and by plane by photographer Pete McBride.
2011. 18 min.
THE CITY DARK: A Search for Night on a Planet That Never Sleeps
“THE CITY DARK chronicles the disappearance of darkness. The film follows filmmaker (and amateur astronomer) Ian who moves to New York City from Maine and discovers an urban sky almost completely devoid of stars. He poses a deceptively simple question, "What do we lose, when we lose the night?" IMDb
2011. 4 DVDs: 55 min. & 84 min. Note: There are two versions of this program.
CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap
CODE exposes the dearth of female and minority software engineers and explores the reasons for this gender gap and digital divide. CODE asks: what would society gain from having more women and people of color code, and how do we get there?
2015. 78 min.
CONNECTED: A Little Perspective on the Big Picture
“A film about sustainability and the notion that the earth is a single living organism and relatively unnoticed changes can create a chain reaction leading to much bigger problems. It has an engaging narrative structure and will serve as a good discussion starter on sustainability and stewardship of the earth’s resources.” Educational Media Reviews 2011. 80 min. Set includes DVD, companion book and conversation cards.
Decoding the Driftless
A wild ride of adventure through the air, across rugged landscapes, on and under water, through a secret underworld, and across time itself to explore and decipher ancient clues of the Driftless Region, with its captivating scenic beauty. 2018 (1 hr 1 min) directed by Jonas Stenstrom. (WI).
DISTURBING THE PEACE
In a world torn by conflict—in a place where the idea of peace has been abandoned—an energy of optimism emerges. When someone is willing to disturb the status quo and stand for the dream of a free and secure world, things can change. Who will stand with them? A group of former enemy combatants from Israel and Palestine embark on a transformational journey from soldiers to non-violent peace activists, calling themselves “Combatants for Peace.” 2016. 87 min.
DOC OF THE DEAD
The definitive zombie culture documentary, brought to the screen by the makers of THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS … delves deep into the evolution of the zombie genre in film, television and literature, as well as its impact and influence on pop culture. But don't be fooled...
2014. 81 min.
“DRIFTLESS”: Stories From Iowa
“This is an unsentimental view of Iowans struggling to survive the economic changes that have devastated rural towns across the state.”
30 minutes. 2 copies
The Eagle Huntress follows Aisholpan, a 13-year-old girl, as she trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her Kazakh family to become an eagle hunter, and rises to the pinnacle of a tradition that has been handed down from father to son for centuries. Set against the breathtaking expanse of the Mongolia steppe, THE EAGLE HUNTRESS features some of the most awe-inspiring cinematography ever captured in a documentary, giving this intimate tale of a young girl’s quest the dramatic force of an epic narrative film. 2016. 87 mins.
Eating Animals
Filmmaker Christopher Quinn examines the environmental, economic, and public health consequences of factory farming. Topics include animal rights, pollution, and the use of antibiotics and hormones. 2018. (1 hr 35 min) directed by Christopher Quinn.
“Elemental follows three outsiders who are obsessed by nature and driven by a deep desire to change the status quo. Separated by continents, each character is part of a global story about water and climate change that goes beyond the issues to reveal the public triumphs and emotional scars of life on the front line.”
2012. 95 minutes 3 copies
END OF THE LINE: Where have all the fish gone?
The film reveals troubling truth: that the oceans are increasingly empty of fish due to our love affair with fish as food. It argues that without action from governments, the restaurant and food industries and the public as consumers, wild fish will disappear.
2009. 82 min. Note: there are 3 different lengths included.
“Exploring the art of aging in the company of six extraordinary, stylish women with an average age or 80, determined to squeeze the pips out of life.”
2013. 60 min.
FARMER AND THE HORSE
“New Jersey farmland is expensive and it’s not easy to start a new career as a farmer but for a new generation inspired by sustainability everything is possible. Even a farm powered by draft horses. Follow filmmaker Jared Flesher as he follows farmers Tom, Matt, and Aubrey out of the suburbs and back to the land.”IMDB
2010. 77 min.
The film “tells the story of the credit bubble that caused the financial crash of 2008 and clearly explains how excessive income inequality leads to economic instability.” Bullfrog Films “This is the best film ever on the flaws in America's post-industrial capitalism." Dr. Joseph A. Soares, Professor of Sociology, Wake Forest University.
2010. 82 min.
FORBIDDEN VOICES; How to Start a Revolution With a Laptop
“Their voices are suppressed, prohibited and censored. But world-famous bloggers Yoani Sánchez, Zeng Jinyan and Farnaz Seifi are unafraid of their dictatorial regimes…FORBIDDEN VOICES attests to the Internet's potential for building international awareness and political pressure.”WMM
2012. 96 min.
“Hear from a frac sand expert and concerned families; witness complete hill removal and examine the issues surrounding frac sand mining.”
2012. 2 copies.
FARMAGEDDON: The Unseen War on American Farms
“The movie tells the story of small, family farmers providing safe, healthy foods to their communities who were forced to stop, often through violent action, by agents of misguided government bureaucracies.”IMDB
2011. 90 min.
Touched by their teenage son’s battle with a foodborne superbug, filmmakers Jeff & Jennifer Spitz document their family’s struggle to raise backyard chickens, grow food, and transform into Food Patriots. Food Patriots features people from all walks of life who are trying to change the way Americans eat and buy food, and educate the next generation of consumers.
2014. 74 mins.
“Academy Award-winning filmmaker and lifelong activist Haskell Wexler takes a personal look at Chicago over four days in May 2012 -- four days filled with politics, protest and police. The Occupy movement, …and others converged on Chicago to tell President Obama and Mayor Emanuel to stop the insane spending on wars around the world, and bring the money home for housing, schools and healthcare. “ IMDb
2013. 82 min.
THE 4TH R: the aRt of education
How do you solve a problem, when the problem is you don’t know how to solve problems?
How are we teaching our children to solve the problems they will face for the rest of their lives?
2015. 56:30 min
FUTURE FOOD:
v.3 USA: BIG OR SMALL? “What’s the best method of growing food for a hungry population?
v.4 INDIA: FAT OR SKINNY? “With so many people to feed, is it possible to eat in ways that are nutritionally and environmentally sustainable?”
v.5 NIGERIA: NEAR OR FAR? “What impact do food policies have on the local economy and local diets?”
2013. 29 min. each.
A documentary that declares the gas industry's portrayal of natural gas as a clean and safe alternative to oil is a myth, and that fracked wells inevitably leak over time, contaminating water and air, hurting families, and endangering the earth's climate with the potent greenhouse gas methane.” IMDB
2013. 125 min.
“THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE illuminates the lives of individual animals living within and rescued from the machine of our modern world. Through the heart and photographic lens of animal rights photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur, audiences become intimately familiar with a cast of non-human animals.” IMDb 2013. 92 min.
“A woman faces tragedy and hardship as a young girl in Depression-era Kansas…through her compelling story of becoming a lawyer and then one of the first state supreme court judges in the country, we witness an example of how women all across the country came together to fight the battle for equality.”IMDb
2012. 57 min. B&W
Directed by Jeremy Seifert and produced by Elizabeth Kucinich, GMO OMG follows Seifert's search of answers: how do GMOs affect people and the planet. These and other questions take Seifert on a journey from his family’s table to Haiti, Paris, Norway, and agra-giant Monsanto. 83 min.
“…two seasoned adventurers take the cumulative skills learned over years of Alaska wilderness travel and apply it to a dramatically different natural wonder: the River Ganges, population 400 million. Living and traveling like the locals, they experience this river like it's never been done before.”IMDB
2012. 90 min. 3 copies
THE GOOD SOLDIER: what is courage?
“Follows the journeys of five combat veterans from different generations of American wars as they sign up, go into battle, and eventually change their minds about what it means to be a good soldier.”IMDb
2009. 79 min.
“This character driven documentary follows the highly dramatic and ever controversial story of vaccines -- where parenting meets modern medicine and individual rights collide with politics; all the time striving to offer parents, doctors and policy makers a safe space to actively listen and learn.”IMDB.
2011. 84 min.
“…follows 6 young Maya in Guatemala and Chiapas through their daily and ceremonial life. They reveal their determination to resist the destruction of their culture and environment. The believe they are the guardians of the earth.”
2012. 98 min. German with subtitles in English, Spanish or French.
“How the infamous McDonald's hot coffee lawsuit and similar cases were exploited as part of a right wing crusade to weaken civil justice.” IMDb
2011. 86 min.
How to Let Go of the World and Love All The Things Climate Can't Change
Oscar-nominated director Josh Fox (Gasland) continues in his deeply personal style, investigating climate change —the greatest threat our world has ever known. Traveling to 12 countries on six continents, the film acknowledges that it may be too late to stop some of the worst consequences and asks, “What is it that climate change can’t destroy? What is so deep within us that no calamity can take it away?” (127 min) Josh Fox
“What makes a country a country? What makes a state a state? …In a globe-hopping search for an answer to these fundamental but little understood questions of sovereignty, How To Start Your Own Country visits six micronations – unrecognized self-declared sovereign entities that you will not find on a political map…And what’s to stop you from starting your own? “howtostartyourowncountry.com
2010. 72 min.
More than 65 million people around the world have been forced from their homes to escape famine, climate change, and war—the greatest displacement since World War II. Filmmaker Ai Weiwei examines the staggering scale of the refugee crisis and its profoundly personal human impact. Over the course of one year in 23 countries, Weiwei follows a chain of urgent human stories that stretch across the globe, including Afghanistan, France, Greece, Germany, and Iraq. Directed by Ai Weiwei. 2018. 2 hr 20 min.
“A panicked young man runs towards his fellow missionaries as a gun shot interrupts a normal day of spreading the Gospel door-to door.”
2010. 24 min.
“A married couple attempt to walk, paddle and ski under their own power from Seattle to the Aleutians along the wild and remote northwest coast of North America. This documentary was filmed with a tiny handheld video camera. This expedition demonstrates that the most significant aspect of a trek is not reaching the final destination but how the journey changes the trajectory of the rest of a person's life.” 2010. 2 copies.
“How could we possibly be throwing nearly 50% of our food in the trash? Food lovers Jen and Grant dive into the issue of waste from farm, through retail, all the way to the back of their own fridge. After catching a glimpse of the billions of dollars of good food that is tossed each year in North America, they pledge to quit grocery shopping and survive only on discarded food. “ IMDB
2015. 50 & 73 min.
“Women are a fast-growing demographic in American agriculture and they are doing things differently. Many choose organic and natural methods, in contrast to the highly mechanized and chemically dependent farming that dominates the rest of the agricultural industry. And many women strongly value their relationships with the community. … Ladies of the Land profiles four women who once never thought they'd be in charge of a farm, but today raise cattle, sell goat cheese and harvest organic vegetables.”
2007. 29 min.
“Renato Zucchelli is the last traveling shepherd left in a metropolis, and he has a dream: to lead his flock of sheep to the inaccessible city center to meet the children who have never seen him,...who conquered back his city together with only his sheep and the power of imagination.” Wikipedia
2012. 76 min. Italian with English subtitles.
“A couple embarks on a journey home for Chinese new year along with 130 million other migrant workers, to reunite with their children and struggle for a future. Their unseen story plays out as China soars towards being a world superpower.”
2009. 85 min. In Mandarin and Sichuan with English subtitles.
Finnish Riitta and Ugandan Catherine have something in common; work, a shared home and a sense of humor. Riitta has been working in aid work in Uganda for more than 25 years, and soon it is time for her to retire and to return to Finland. Before that, Riitta and Catherine will invite religious leaders to a course in which they challenge the priests and the imams to a straightforward, taboo breaking discussion on women’s rights to their bodies, sexuality and life. However, soon Riitta and Catherine will hear of serious allegations made against them. These allegations will jeopardize their entire life’s work.
2015. 84 mins version & 58 min version.
“Owen Suskind was a boy of considerable promise, until he developed autism at the age of 3. This film covers the life of Owen and how he manages to become as functional as possible with the help of Disney animated films and his family to the point of having his own life. However, Owen soon learns as well that there is more to real life than what Disney can illustrate in animation even as his family prepares itself for an uncertain future with him.” IMDb
2016. 92 min.
“Based on the acclaimed book by ecologist and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., Living Downstream is an eloquent and cinematic feature-length documentary following Sandra during one pivotal year as she works to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links.” IMDb
2010. 85min.
In Iowa, more than 92 percent of school districts have closed since 1950 as rural areas become less populated. Vacant school buildings now shadow the landscapes in every Iowa county, leaving communities in search of solutions to the tough economic realities they face. This documentary, produced by the Des Moines Register LOST SCHOOLS: (continued) and presented by Iowa Public Television, follows two Iowa districts and their communities for one school year as they wrestle with the monumental consequences fo these changes.
2016.
Lost Nation: The Ioway "tells the dramatic true tale of two brothers' struggle to save their people from inevitable American conquest, and the Ioway's current fight to reclaim and maintain their unique history and culture.” IMDb
2013. 2 films: Ioway 2 & Ioway3. 55 min.each.
“What can people do to change a world full of violence and hate? Is nonviolent revolution possible? 'Love and Solidarity' addresses these questions through the life and thought of Rev. James Lawson, an African American Methodist minister who worked with Martin Luther King, Jr., to initiate civil rights struggles in the South in the 1960s, and in recent years taught nonviolence organizing to poor Black and Latino workers in coalitions that have remade the labor movement in Los Angeles.” IMDb 2014. 38 min.
The film by Director Mimi Chakarova “is a poignant and at times unforgettable dark comedy that revels a deeper understanding of maleness, sexuality and gender performance in America today.”
2016. 80 min. 2 copies.
“The tale of two sisters living in the shadow of two Chinas, thrust into the worldwide economic downturn when they lose their jobs in Beijing. Left with few options, they return home to their remote village in the foothills of the Himalayas. Determined to keep their family out of poverty, one sister sacrifices her dream of an education and stays home to farm, while the other leaves to try her luck in city-changes in fortune that test each sister in unexpected ways.” IMDb
2013. 80 min.
“At an altitude of 18,000 feet, Alaska's Mount St. Elias is the destination for a trio of mountaineers determined to reach the mountain's summit, and to ski back down as well. Mount St. Elias documents their journey as they trek the fine line between bravery and madness.” 2009. 110 min.
“A documentary film about the philosophy, lifestyle, movement, and world of Pilates. Told through the eyes of elders, world renowned Pilates instructors, and everyday people who have been transformed by the Movement” IMDb
2013. 72 min.
Directed by Morgan Neville. Featuring Yo-Yo Ma, From the director of the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom and the critically acclaimed Best of Enemies, The Music of Strangers tells the extraordinary story of The Silk Road Ensemble, an international musical collective created by legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Follow this group of diverse instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, arrangers, visual artists, and storytellers as they explore the power of music to preserve tradition, shape cultural evolution, and inspire hope. Music, diversity, world cultures. 2016. 96 min.
“What strange forces saved one isolated section along the Upper Mississippi River from the repeated crushing and scouring effects of glaciers during the last two million years? And what pre-Ice Age throwbacks survived here in this unique geologic refuge that holds more Native American effigy mounds, petroglyph caves, strange geological features, and rare species than anywhere in the Midwest?” IMDb
2013. 27 min. bonus selections.
“ In 2012, the Winneshiek Energy District, partnered with local contractors to convert a common 1950s home into a net-zero home. The home is considered a “net-zero home” because it’s carbon emissions from energy use will be avoided or offset – leaving the home with a net-zero carbon footprint. An average Midwest home creates about 17 tons of carbon emissions per year. The Net-Zero home achieves it’s zero carbon goal through a combination of energy-efficiency, on site power production and the purchase of Oneota Tags – a local carbon offset program managed by the Winneshiek Energy District.”
2012. 15 min.
The film examines the organic food movement and “looks at a number of new and old organic corporations and shows how they are managing, or in some cases, failing to live up to the idealistic dreams first espoused by the back-to-the land folk of the late sixties and early seventies.”
2012. 47min.
“The story of the Syrian revolution as told through the experiences of two young Syrians, a male rebel fighter and a female journalist, as they fight an oppressive regime for the freedom of their people.” IMDB
2013. 15 min. 2 copies.
“Inge Wegge (25) and Jørn Ranum (22) spent nine months of cold, Norwegian winter in the isolated and uninhabited bay of a remote, arctic island by the coast of Northern-Norway, facing nothing but the vast Atlantic Ocean… the boys brought with them two items of utmost importance: Their surfboards - perhaps their biggest motivation for the arctic adventure. Because the remote bay holds a well kept secret; some of the worlds finest surfing waves.” IMDb
2012. 46 min.
“The Other F Word follows Jim Lindberg, 20-year veteran of skate punk band Pennywise, on his hysterical and moving journey from belting his band's anthem, 'Fuck Authority', to embracing his ultimately pivotal authoritarian role in mid-life, fatherhood.” IMDb
2011. 100 min.
Established in 1988, the non-profit Raptor Resource Project specializes in the preservation of falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls. Luther College student Emily Tope has been working on cataloging the video from the RRP Eagle Cam, which began in 2009. (continued)
As a filmmaker, Emily recognized that the video footage told a story beyond the nests above the Decorah Trout Hatchery, where the Decorah Eagles live.
With the encouragement and underwriting of Raptor Resource Project, Emily created this fun and touching short film!
“Two best friends, J.J. Kelley and Josh Thomas, build their own kayaks and paddle alone for 97 days in the wilderness over 1,300 miles from Alaska to Seattle and survive to talk about most things. What's most unexpected are the surreal encounters with unexpected marine life. The film presents these interactions, in addition to interviews from peoples of the region. The driving force is the friendship and humor of the two friends.” IMDb
2009. 86 min.
“A documentary about a singular parking lot in Charlottesville, Virginia. The film follows a select group of parking lot attendants and their strange rite of passage… If the intersection between the status quo and the quest for freedom is their ultimate challenge, could a slab of asphalt be an emotional way station for The American Dream?” IMDb
2010. 74 min.
“This feature documentary based on Margaret Atwood’s bestselling book Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth offers a fascinating look at debt as a mental construct and traces how it influences relationships, societies, governing structures and the fate of the planet itself. Baichwal investigates the disparate ways in which the idea of indebtedness has come to define everything from blood feuds to labor practices, prison terms to environmental clean-up efforts.”
2012. 86 min.
“The story of three men's life-long search for a diet which is good for our health, the environment and the future of our planet - showcasing some of the best food you have ever seen.” IMDb
2010. 87 min.
“A search for meaning, companionship and the perfect ingredients… In a picturesque garden on a grand country estate, two long-time friends, an 85 year-old pruning master and the gardener, tend to the espaliers… Capturing one year in the life of this historic garden, the magnificent documentary Portrait of a Garden is a beautiful, transcendent viewing experience.” Grasshopper films
2015. 98 min.
Examining the influence of corporate globalization and exposing the destructive nature of our modern financial system, Poverty, Inc. offers a sobering look into how the predatory economic policies instituted by America’s new elite class have contributed to the nation’s descent into Third World status. Poverty, Inc. is a timely wake-up call for those seeking hard-hitting answers on the economic realities facing our country and world today. 2014. 111 mins.
“This is the fourth film in the light-hearted yet authoritative series…Saga 4 introduces the places and people in the Upper Midwest that draw on Scandinavian traditions to create arts and craft of practical beauty.” Note: includes Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa.
60 min.
“An Iowa State University research team has discovered that strategically adding a little bit of prairie back onto the agricultural landscape can result in many benefits – in water and soil quality, habitat for wildlife and pollinators, as well as opportunities for biomass production.” VIMEO
2014.
The Price of Sand is a documentary about the frac sand mining boom in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Due to a rapid increase in demand, pure silica sand has become a valuable commodity, and mines are opening at a rapid rate.
The silica used in hydraulic fracturing (aka : “fracking”), has other uses– glass manufacturing and toothpaste, for instance — and a few established mines have been in operation for decades. But now, new companies have arrived, and land with accessible silica deposits is selling for high prices. In addition to a bonanza for a few lucky landowners, the new mines promise jobs and economic stimulus for the small towns and rural areas nearby. Jim Tittle • St. Paul, MN • director. 2013. 60 min. 2 copies
“…why are some of our government’s most basic policies, like food and energy, so out-of-date . . . and can anything be done about it? Sharing the suspicion of fellow-citizens, …that campaign money is involved, the filmmakers set out on a spellbinding — and at times hilarious — ride from rural America to the halls of Congress to find out more, because democracy is a precious resource. In fact, it’s PRICELE$$.” Pricelessmovie.org
2011. 2 versions: 58min., 25 min.
“Racing To Zero is a quick-moving, up-beat documentary that presents new solutions to the global problem of waste. Although waste may create garbage, garbage is in itself a RESOURCE, and that is the key.” IMDb
2014. 55 min.
REEL ROCK FILM TOUR 2010
“The film tour travels the globe year-round bringing audiences these exciting outdoor adventure films. Reel Rock is an inspiring international event that brings together local outdoor enthusiasts to revel in the sport of climbing.” IMDb
2010 100 min.
RESTORING THE BALANCE: PRAIRIE CONSERVATION STRIPS
“An Iowa State University research team has discovered that strategically adding a little bit of prairie back onto the agricultural landscape can result in many benefits – in water and soil quality, habitat for wildlife and pollinators, as well as opportunities for biomass production.” VIMEO
2014.
REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR
“As more models of electric cars than ever before start to arrive in showrooms and driveways across the world, Chris Paine's film offers an inspiring, entertaining and definitive account of this revolutionary moment in human transportation.” IMDb
212. 90 min. 3 copies
“Reveal the Path is a genre-defying adventure film that contemplates what it means to live an inspired life using the bicycle as a mechanism to explore, dream and discover.” IMDb
2012. 74 min. (2 copies + 2 Soundtrack CD/DVD packs)
A REVOLUTION IN FOUR SEASONS
“This seminal film tells the story of two women with opposing political views fighting for their different versions of a democratic future for Tunisia, the country that sparked the Arab Spring…. On a public level, both women must navigate how females are treated in their society, while in their own homes they must make difficult choices to balance their public political roles with marriage and motherhood.”
2016. 84 min. 2 copies
“Sidney Rittenberg (whose Chinese name is Li Dunbai) arrived in China as a GI Chinese language expert at the end of World War II. Discharged there, he joined the Chinese Communist Party, and was an active participant in the Chinese communist revolution and its aftermath… But in the convulsions of a giant country constantly reinventing itself, he twice ran afoul of the leadership, and served a total of 16 years in solitary confinement. He returned to the United States in 1980.” revolutionarymovie.com
2012. 92 min.
“Room to Breathe is a surprising story of transformation as troubled kids in a San Francisco public middle school are introduced to the practice of mindfulness meditation… Confronted by defiance, contempt for authority figures, poor discipline, and more interest in 'social' than learning, can a young meditation teacher succeed in opening their minds and hearts?” IMDb
2013 76 min.
Score: A Film Music Documentary
This documentary brings Hollywood's premier composers together to give viewers a privileged look inside the musical challenges and creative secrecy of the world's most widely known music genre: the film score. 2017 (1 hr 30 mins) Directed by Matt Schrader
“No classroom for these kindergarteners in Switzerland’s Langnau am Albis, a suburb of Zurich, This eye-opening film follows the forest kindergarten through the seasons of one school year and looks into the important question of what it is that children need at that age. There is laughter, beauty and amazement in the process of finding out.” Bullfrog films
2013. 36 min.
“Amidst the American hunger for instantaneous news and up-to-date "facts," this unflinching film uncovers the vast, invisible world of government secrecy.” IMDb
2008. 85 min.
“A film about the importance of heirloom seeds to the agriculture of the world, focusing on seed keepers and activists from around the world.” IMDb
2016. 94 min.
“A compelling portrait of a poor and mainly African community living in the shadow of Texan industries. With the ongoing release of millions of tons of toxic pollutants into the air from the oil refineries and petro-chemical plants, residents follow Shelter in Place procedure by staying in their homes and taping up their windows and doors.”
2010. 48 min.
“In 2013 news channels around the world reported an ugly brawl at 6400 m (21,000 ft) as European climbers fled a mob of angry Sherpas…. Determined to explore what was going on, the filmmakers set out to make a film of the 2014 Everest climbing season, from the Sherpas' point of view…At 6.45am on 18th April, 2014, a 14,000 ton block of ice crashed down onto the climbing route through the Khumbu Icefall, killing 16 Sherpas….SHERPA tells the story of how, in the face of fierce opposition, the Sherpas united in grief and anger to reclaim the mountain they call Chomolungma” IMDb
2016 96 min.
“The film visits the 50-year-old network of cooperative businesses In Mondragon, Spain…Employee-owned businesses compete successfully in today’s economy while providing dignified jobs in democratic workplaces and growing healthy communities.”
1012. 69 min.
“The siblings Magnar and Oddny have never left their childhood home. They run the family farm as it has been run for several generations. Time seems to be standing still even as it runs out.
Siblings Are Forever is a warm and poetic documentary about a brother and sister. Magnar (73) and Oddny (70) live like many Norwegians did 50 years ago: far from wealthy but close to the nature surrounding them.” UCCA
2015. 75min. Norwegian with English subtitles.
“Magnar and Oddny Kleiva have led their entire lives on their small mountain farm in Norway, seemingly unaffected by the riches of modern society. One day relatives from the US come to visit, and invite them to see where their grandmother’s sister emigrated to in 1890. A film rich in contrast, portraying the subtle reflections the siblings do on this extraordinary journey.” VIMEO 2016. 75 min. Norwegian with English subtitles.
16 TO LIFE
“On her 16th birthday, never-been-kissed Kate decides to play cupid for two people she works with, pairing her boss with a paraplegic customer and setting up short-order cook Rene with an oversexed co-worker. But in the process of matchmaking, Kate learns some surprising lessons about love and the mechanics of romantic relationships.” IMDb 2010. 89 min.
A SMALL ACT
“A young Kenyan's life changes drastically when his education is sponsored by a Swedish stranger. Years later, he founds his own scholarship program to replicate the kindness he once received.”IMDb
2010 88 min. 3 copies.
“SOMETHING VENTURED uncovers the ups and downs of the building of some of the greatest companies of the twentieth century, and the hidden dramas behind some of the most famous names in business.” IMDb
2011. 85 min.
“After her family attempts to sell her into marriage, a young Afghan refugee in Iran channels her frustrations and seizes her destiny through music. Grabbing the mic, she spits fiery rhymes in the face of oppressive traditions.” IMDb 2015. 90 min. 2 copies
“Pure sound unaltered by human hands is becoming increasingly difficult to find. Gordon Hempton is an Emmy Award-winning sound recordist who has spent the last 30 years trying to find and record the vanishing sounds of nature in an attempt to capture a disappearing sensory experience.” IMDb 2010. 82 min.
SOURLANDS weaves a provocative tale of ecology, energy and agriculture, told from a deep forest surrounded by sprawl. 2012 75 min. 2 copies.
Still Dreaming documents Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as performed by a group of retired actors, dancers, and musicians at the Lillian Booth Actors Home just outside New York City. These former Broadway stars embark on a journey through the magical play at the urging of the LBAH’s administrators, who see this as an opportunity to boost quality of life for the residents. As the rehearsal process unfolds, the actors find themselves experiencing both the pain and exhilaration of re-immersion in their life’s work amidst the difficulties of old age. At the same time, the troupe’s young co-directors struggle to maintain forward momentum with this ensemble of octogenarians coping with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and minor issues such as sight and hearing loss. The final stirring performance serves as a vital reminder of the value of engaging in our dreams and creative pursuits no matter the circumstances. 2015. 94 min.
“Strength in Numbers is a rally call to connect all mountain bikers, regardless of location or language or discipline. Tire to ground, foot to pedal, hand to bar - communities drawn together by trails of dirt.”
2012. 52min.
“David Suzuki and his daughter, Sarika, set out on a cross Canada road trip to discover whether Canada's biggest cities are ready for the challenges of the future.” IMDb 2012. 60 min.
“Filmed on four continents, featuring esteemed scientists and working farmers and ranchers, Symphony of the Soil is an intriguing presentation that highlights possibilities of healthy soil creating healthy plants creating healthy humans living on a healthy planet.” IMDb 2012. 104 min.
“The story of the worst environmental disaster you’ve never heard of: the Tar Creek Superfund site. Once one of the largest lead and zinc mines on the planet, Tar Creek is now home to more than 40 square miles of environmental devastation in northeastern Oklahoma…As TAR CREEK reveals, America’s Superfund sites aren’t just environmental wastelands; they’re community tragedies, too. Until the community fights back.” http://tarcreekfilm.com. 2010. 95 min.
“Follow a handful of diverse hikers as they walk 2,663 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail. They begin in April at the U.S. Mexico border and battle their way through bone-dry deserts in Southern California, icy mountain passes in the High Sierra and the torrential rains of the Pacific Northwest. 5 months later, they may reach their final destination in Canada.” IMDb. Filmmakers: Lisa Diener and Shaun Carrigan
2013. 122 min.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Filmed over 211 shoot days in nine countries and five continents over four years, THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING is an epic attempt to re-imagine the vast challenge of climate change. Inspired by Naomi Klein’s international non-fiction bestseller This Changes Everything, the film presents seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines, from Montana’s Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing and beyond. Interwoven with these stories of struggle is Klein’s narration, connecting the carbon in the air with the economic system that put it there. Provocative, compelling, and accessible to even the most climate-fatigued viewers, THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING will leave you refreshed and inspired, reflecting on the ties between us, the kind of lives we really want, and why the climate crisis is at the centre of it all. 2015, 89 min.
THIS WAY OF LIFE
“Peter Karena, his wife Colleen, their six children and many horses live almost wild in the stunning beauty of New Zealand's rugged Ruahine Mountains. Until, that is, Peter's escalating battle with his own father has profound consequences for the whole clan.”
2009. 84 min. 2 copies
“After traveling and working in Africa, Chloe Chick, a native Australian, witnessed extraordinary hardship and wanted to help. She held a fund raiser to address three peak issues affecting Africa: environmental degradation, lack of formal education, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Chloe formed a team of ten women from Australia and the U.S and presented them with a monumental challenge: climb three of Africa's highest peaks in just three weeks.” IMDb
2008. 52 min. 2 copies.
“I (the filmmaker, Maggie Beidelman) learn that the way we grow and mill wheat and ferment bread has changed significantly in the past couple of generations, and that these changes could be making us sick. Let's just say that bread as you know it, is not what you think. ” IMDb
2013. 27 min.
“Troubled Waters is a documentary that delves into the issues of water pollution in the Mississippi River, Lake Pepin, the gulf coast, as well as other bodies of water along the Mississippi River caused from fertilizer runoff.” University of Minnesota
2010. 57 min.
“Truck Farm' is a whimsical, musically-narrated, documentary film about urban agriculture. Filmmaker Ian Cheney planted a 1/1000th-acre farm in the back of his 1986 Dodge pick-up-truck in the spring of 2009, after coming to New York City and lacking any other place of his own to grow food. IMDB 2011. 48 min. 2 copies.
“This is a story about clothing….The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who really pays the price for our clothing?” IMDb
2015. 92 min.
“Jeremy Irons sets out to discover the extent and effects of the global waste problem, as he travels around the world to beautiful destinations tainted by pollution. This is a meticulous, brave investigative journey that takes Irons (and us) from skepticism to sorrow and from horror to hope.” IMDb
2012. 98 min. 2 copies.
Valentino’s Ghost exposes how U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East is the driving force behind the mainstream media's portrayals of that region and its people, resulting in injustice, bigotry, hatred and wars. Director: Michael Singh. 2015. 100 mins.
“This documentary takes a piercing investigative look at the economic, political and ecological implications of the worldwide disappearance of the honeybee.” IMDb
2010. 90 min.
The Viking Battalion story: Early in World War II, a separate U.S. Army unit was activated at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. Composed of Norwegian nationals and Americans of Norwegian descent, the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) trained in winter warfare at Camp Hale, Colorado’s 9,000-foot elevation for a planned Allied invasion of Nazi occupied Norway. That invasion never came. But the highly trained soldiers of the 99th fought in five major battles across Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. Directed by the renowned Norwegian-American filmmaker, Steinar Hybertson, The Viking Battalion reveals their once-secret story, as told by the veterans themselves, combined with never before seen films and photos of the war in Europe.
2013. 120 mins.
“The Waiting Room is a character-driven documentary film that uses extraordinary access to go behind the doors of an American public hospital struggling to care for a community of largely uninsured patients.” IMDb
2012. 2 versions: 82 min. & 62 min.
“After an encounter with Walter Breuning, the World's Oldest Man, Hunter Weeks and his fiancé Sarah Hall take an adventure to meet the oldest people in the world, including some of the last people born in the 1800s. Capturing the extraordinary lives of people 110 years or older, the couple's journey sheds light on what is truly important in life.” IMDb
2013. 83 min. 6 copies.
“As the most dammed, dibbed, and diverted river in the world struggles to support thirty million people and the peace-keeping agreement known as the Colorado River Pact reaches its limits…Can we meet the needs of a growing population in the face of rising temperatures and lower rainfall in an already arid land?” IMDb
2012. 56 min. 2 copies.
WE ARE NOT GHOSTS
“WE ARE NOT GHOSTS tells the stories (of people in and neighborhoods in Detroit): from community businesses, to place-based schools, to thriving urban gardens and spoken word artists. These are the tales of Detroiters remaking their city with vision and spirit.”
2012. 52 min.
“The title refers to what the filmmakers have dubbed "The Second American Revolution"—a battle not against a foreign power, but against corporate power. "We the People 2.0 confronts its viewers with the ravages of mine tailings and leaky containment ponds, of sludge and ooze and grue, all of which, the film documents, are killing people, particularly in the cancer-blighted small towns of North America.”
wethepeople2.film
2016. 91 min.
“WE’RE NOT BROKE tells the story of U.S. corporations dodging billions of dollars in income tax, and how seven fed-up Americans take their frustration to the streets…and vow to make the corporations pay their fair share.”we’renotbrokemovie.com
2012. 81 min.
“Dave Batker presents a humorous, edgy, factual, timely and highly-visual monologue about the American economy today, challenging the ways we measure economic success--especially the Gross Domestic Product--and offering an answer to the question: What's the Economy for, Anyway?” bullfrogfilms
2009. 40 min.
Where the Yellowstone Goes follows a 30-day drift boat journey down the longest undammed river in the contiguous United States. Intimate portraits of locals in both booming cities and dusty, dwindling towns along the Yellowstone River, illustrate the history and controversies surrounding this enigmatic watershed leading to questions about its future. Connect with colorful characters, get lost in the hypnotic cast of a fly rod, and experience silhouetted moments of fireside stories on this heartfelt river adventure. Soundtrack of the film by Hunter Weeks. 2012. 89 min.
“… feature documentary film that follows unaccompanied child migrants, on their journey through Mexico, as they try to reach the United States…These are stories of hope and courage, disappointment and sorrow. They are the children you never hear about; the invisible ones.” IMDb
2009. 90 min.
A quirky story about a competition between two Midwest American farm towns and the values their Twine Balls represent. … [T]his documentary is both thoughtful and funny, leaving us with a nostalgia for an America gone by, and a sense that, somewhere along the way, we may have left behind some of the simpler values that made this country great.
2013. 81 mins.
“Public school teacher John Hunter and his students participate in an educational exercise that he created entitled the World Peace Game. This interactive experience triggers a transformation of the students from children of a neighborhood school to citizens of the world.” IMDb
2010. 60 min. 2 copies.
“…an adventure and a celebration of the American spirit in the face of adversity - a thought-provoking, inspiring, and sometimes hilarious, documentary about the courageous and creative individuals, groups, businesses and leaders of this country who are tackling the greatest environmental threats in history.” IMDb 2011. 113 min.
YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED
“In this David and Goliath story for the 21st century, a group of proud Scottish homeowners take on celebrity tycoon Donald J. Trump as he buys up one of Scotland's last wilderness areas to build a golf resort.”
2011. 79 min. 2 copies.