March 2-10: CLC hosts two of nine films in One Earth Film Festival
The eighth annual One Earth Film Festival will present nine thought-provoking films in Lake County March 2-10, with two films shown at the College of Lake County's Grayslake Campus. This year's theme, "All In," underscores how everyone can commit to taking decisive action for the planet, from promoting water conservation to fighting climate change.
All Lake County film showings are free unless otherwise noted. Attendees also will learn of opportunities to support or register for local environmental efforts. The Lake County screenings will take place at the following dates and locations:
March 2 at 1 p.m.: "Living the Future's Past" at Prairie Crossing Charter School, 1531 Jones Point Rd., Grayslake. Academy Award® winner Jeff Bridges shares the screen with scientists, thinkers and a dazzling array of Earth's living creatures to reveal eye-opening concepts about ourselves and our past. The film provides fresh insights into our subconscious motivations and their unintended consequences.
March 3 at 2 p.m.: "Into the Okavango" at Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest. Produced by National Geographic Documentary Films, "Into the Okavango" chronicles a team of modern-day explorers on their first epic four-month, 1,500-mile expedition across three countries to save Africa's threatened Okavango River system. It provides water to about 1 million people and, among hundreds of bird and animal species, the world's largest population of African elephants. Admission: $10 for adults; $5 for students.
March 3 at 5 p.m.: "The Human Element" at Gorton Community Center, Lake Forest. Renowned photographer James Balog uses his camera to reveal how environmental change is affecting the lives of everyday Americans. Following the four classical elements-air, earth, fire and water-to frame his journey. Balog explores wildfires, hurricanes, sea level rise, coal mining, and the changes in the air we breathe. He takes it further by examining the effects of the fifth element-the human element-to tell an urgent story while giving inspiration for a more balanced relationship between humanity and nature. Admission: $10 for adults; $5 for students.
March 6 at 6:30 p.m.: "Dirt Rich" at the College of Lake County's Room A011 Auditorium, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. The film shifts the focus from greenhouse gas emissions to carbon drawdown, a viable solution for reversing the effects of runaway global warming in a timely manner. "Dirt Rich" explores strategies designed to return Earth's atmosphere to safe levels of carbon while growing soil, Earth's most precious resource. Methods include regenerative farming practices, reforestation of abandoned land, protection/restoration of carbon rich wetlands and keystone species. Following the screening, the film's maker, Marcelina Cravat, will speak about the film and offer more tips on regenerating soil health.
March 8, 6:30 p.m.: "Paris to Pittsburgh" at the College of Lake County in Grayslake. The Paris Agreement was monumental in uniting all nations in the fight against climate change. With the United States' withdrawal from the agreement, citizens around the country are taking matters into their own hands. The film explores the very real social and economic impacts of climate change-fueled disasters and features voices from local leaders and everyday Americans from Pittsburgh to Puerto Rico.
March 9, 10 a.m.: "Protecting the Boundary Waters" at Warren Township High School's Blackbox Theatre, 34090 Almond Rd., Gurnee. Four short films tell personal stories of youth and their efforts to advocate for permanent protection of northern Minnesota's Boundary Waters, where sulfide-ore copper mining has been proposed by a Chilean conglomerate.
March 9, 1 p.m.: "River Blue" at the Catlow Theatre, 116 W. Main St., Barrington. The film explores one of the world's most polluting industries: fashion. Narrated by actor and clean water advocate Jason Priestley, this documentary examines the destruction of rivers, the effects on humanity and the solutions inspiring hope for a sustainable future. Through harsh chemical manufacturing processes and the irresponsible disposal of toxic chemical waste, a favorite iconic clothing items has destroyed rivers and impacted the lives of people who count on these waterways for their survival.
March 9, 2 p.m.: "The Guardians" at the Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County St., Ray Bradbury Room (lower level), Waukegan. A visually dazzling meditation on the delicate balance between human and nature, "The Guardians" interweaves the lives of the iconic monarch butterfly with an indigenous community in Mexico. Shot over three years, this documentary takes viewers on a cinematic journey through the butterfly dense mountaintops of Michoacan as the community works to build a sustainable path forward. The film leaves viewers with a new perspective on the ecological challenges facing Earth.
March 10, 2 p.m.: "Call of the Forest: The Wisdom of the Trees" at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Koenig Center, 121 E. Maple Ave., Libertyville. The film follows scientist and author Diana Beresford-Kroeger as she explores the most beautiful forests in the Northern Hemisphere, from the sacred sugi and cedar forests of Japan to the great borealforest of Canada. She shares the compelling stories behind the history and legacy of these ancient forests while also explaining the science of trees and the irreplaceable roles they play in protecting and feeding the planet.
View film descriptions, ratings and links to trailers at www.oneearthfilmfest.org/lake-county-films-2019.
For more information, call David Husemoller, CLC sustainability manager, at (847) 543-2643 or dhusemoller@clcillinois.edu.
About College of Lake County:
College of Lake County is an innovative community college in Lake County, Ill. that transforms lives with its variety of accessible, quality education options. Offered at three campuses in Grayslake, Vernon Hills and Waukegan or online, College of Lake County provides affordable options in a state-of-the-art setting close to home. A large student network, with small class sizes,
provides advantages to our students on a career-related program or a path toward a transfer degree. We're proud to serve the diverse needs of our community and student body. Connect to your future today at College of Lake County. For more information, visit www.clcillinois.edu