2022 Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival: Tickets and Information
The fourth annual Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival (EFEFF) will take place from April 24-29, 2022. The festival will kick off with a special, invitation only Opening Night in-person screening of the documentary film Zero Gravity at Pasadena’s Carnegie Observatories followed by a panel discussion with filmmaker Thomas Verrette and additional guests.
Following the opening night screening, the Festival will transition to virtual screenings for the next five days with Q&A discussions following each screening encouraging a better understanding of and dialogue on environmental issues. The virtual 2022 film festival aims to inspire positive change and engage viewers of all ages while raising funds to support public media’s future environmental programming.
General admission tickets for the Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival are now available . Ticket options include a $45 all-access pass to attend all of the virtual film screenings April 25-29 and post screening discussions taking place on the Eventive platform. Alternatively, $15 individual screenings can be purchased below.
Opening Film | In-person Event
"Zero Gravity"
Sunday, April 24 (Invite Only)
In this uplifting documentary film from director, editor and producer Thomas Verrette, a diverse group of middle school students in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley compete in a nationwide tournament to program free-flying satellites aboard the International Space Station. Featuring NASA astronauts Candy Coleman, Jack Fischer and Steve Smith. Watch the trailer.
Virtual Film Screenings
"Bring Your Own Brigade"
Monday, April 25 at 7 P.M. (PDT)
A gripping documentary capturing the horror and heroism of the 2018 raging wildfires that forced the frantic evacuation of thousands of residents from Malibu and Paradise, two very different California communities. Two-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lucy Walker investigates the reasons California has become increasingly dangerous and what can be done to lessen the staggering death and destruction that wildfires cause.
Immediately following the screening, a pre-recorded conversation with filmmaker Lucy Walker. Moderated by chief film critic for Deadline, and host of the KCET Cinema Series and KCET’s MUST SEE MOVIES, Pete Hammond. Watch the trailer.
"Inhabitants: An Indigenous Perspective"
Tuesday, April 26 at 7 P.M. (PDT)
For millennia, Native Americans have successfully managed their natural resources despite discrimination and forced colonization. This collaborative documentary takes us across deserts, coastlines, forests, mountains, and prairies to witness how various Indigenous communities are restoring their ancient relationships with the Earth. It also reveals that their time-tested practices are increasingly essential in our rapidly and dangerously changing world. Directed by Costa Boutsikaris and Anna Palmer.
Immediately following the screening, a pre-recorded conversation with the subject of the film, Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson of the Hopi Tribe Fund (NAAF), co-director/cinematographer, Costa Boutsikaris, and co-director, Anna Palmer. Moderated by Michele Garza, producer of the Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival, and KCET Cinema Series. Watch the trailer. Watch the trailer.
"Exposure"
Wednesday, April 27 at 7 P.M. (PDT)
An expedition to the North Pole by eleven women from the Arab World and Europe, led by British explorer Felicity Aston, is determined to succeed against all odds. Award-winning filmmaker Holly Morris and an all-women crew document this daring group during one of the most chaotic polar seasons in history — in what may be the last-ever, over-ice expedition to the top of the world.
Immediately following the screening, a pre-recorded conversation with filmmaker Holly Morris. Moderated by DC EFF’s director of programming, Brad Foder. Watch the trailer.
"Understory: A Journey Through the Tongass"
Los Angeles Premiere! | Wednesday, April 27 at 7 P.M. (PDT)
Three intrepid women set sail on a 350-mile expedition through the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, the largest temperate rainforest remaining intact on the planet. This journey tells the story of this unique and non-renewable place, as well as the impact that clear-cut logging could have on diverse wildlife, and the cultures and livelihoods of local communities and our planet’s climate. Directed by Colin Arisman and produced/narrated by Elsa Sebastian.
Pre-recorded introduction by the film’s producer and narrator Elsa Sebastian. Watch the trailer.
"The Ants and the Grasshopper"
Thursday, April 28 at 7 P.M. (PDT)
This documentary, ten years in the making, weaves together the most urgent themes of our times through the story of one farmer. Anita Chitaya has a gift; she can help bring abundant food from dead soil, make men fight for gender equality, and end child hunger in her village in East Africa. Now, to save her home from extreme weather, she faces her greatest challenge: persuading Americans that climate change is real. Traveling from Malawi to California to the White House, Anita will use all her skills and experience to help Americans recognize, and free themselves from, a mindset that is already helping destroy the Earth.
Immediately following the screening, a pre-recorded conversation with the film’s co-directors/co-producers, Raj Patel and Zak Piper. Moderated by Blanca Begert, digital producer, News and Environment at KCET | PBS SoCal. Watch the trailer.
"We Are Where We Live"
Friday, April 29 at 7 P.M. (PDT)
In the United States, health and longevity are more often determined by zip code than by genetic code. Following both the patients and doctors of a local community health organization, this episode from the new season of Earth Focus exposes the socio-environmental determinants of health in the primarily Latino city of South Gate, California.
Earth Focus is an original environmental series from PBS SoCal, KCET, Link TV and Thomson Reuters Foundation. Immediately following the screening, a pre-recorded conversation with director and executive producer, Nicky Milne, and director and producer Valeria Cardi, and the subjects of the film, Michael Granados, MD, family medicine, AltaMed Medical Group-South Gate, and Ana Karina Melgar MD, family medicine, AltaMed Medical Group-South
Gate. Moderated by Jon Christensen, Executive Producer of Earth Focus, and UCLA professor at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Luskin Center for Innovation, and Center for Digital Humanities.
"For the Love of the Land"
Friday, April 29 at 7 P.M. (PDT)
Discussing mental health has historically been taboo in rural communities where a mythology of pioneering, rugged individualism and self-reliance has prevailed. As climate change pushes farmers, homesteaders and herders to the edge, this film pierces the mental health taboo through personal, poignant stories of struggle, resilience, and hope.
This film is part of the new season of Earth Focus, an original environmental series from PBS SoCal, KCET, Link TV and Thomson Reuters Foundation. Immediately following the screening, a pre-recorded conversation with Director and Executive Producer Nicky Milne. Moderated by Jon Christensen, Executive Producer of Earth Focus, and UCLA professor at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Luskin Center for Innovation, and Center for Digital Humanities.
Inspire Positive Change
The Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival encourages better understanding of and dialogue on environmental issues, and motivates audiences to create and engage in positive change in their communities.
The 2022 film festival extends public media’s mission of strengthening communities through education, complementing KCET’s award-winning series Earth Focus, and Link TV’s curated environmental documentary program, Earth Focus Presents.
PBS SoCal, KCET and LinkTV’s Earth Month content and experiences are part of a commitment to addressing the global issues that impact the planet with a goal of opening people’s minds, lifting spirits and connecting people to each other and the world. For a full line-up of environmental-themed programs, please visit pbssocal.org/earthmonth, kcet.org/earthmonth and linktv.org/earthmonth.
