By Kristin Suratt on Tuesday, April 30th, 2019 in 2019, Crown Hall, Documentary, Festival Tent, Mendocino Village, News.
Politics and Environment: The River and the Wall
The River and the Wall follows five friends on an immersive adventure through the unknown wilds of the Texas borderlands as they travel 1,200 miles from El Paso to the Gulf of Mexico on horses, mountain bikes, and canoes. Conservation filmmaker Ben Masters realizes the urgency of documenting the last remaining wilderness in Texas as the threat of new border wall construction looms ahead. When Masters started filming The River and The Wall, he did not realize that “Build the Wall” would rage into one of the biggest polarizing political controversies in the nation and the world. Five friends are portrayed in this documentary about politics and environment, including Heather Mackey, an ornithologist/field biologist from upstate New York (and the only woman on the trip), three Texans and an immigrant from Brazil. The 1,200 mile trip down the Rio Grande is literally full of twists and turns as the intrepid travelers explore the possible impacts of the border wall on wildlife, immigration, land owners, and border security. Beto O’Rourke is among the politicians interviewed in the film along with farmers, ranchers, border patrol agents and people on both sides of the border. Other characters in the film include producer Jay Kleberg, a sixth generation Texan, and Associate Director for Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, river guide Austin Alverado, a first generation Guatemalan American who shares his touching personal experiences as the son of illegal immigrants, cinematographer and documentary filmmaker Phillip Baribeau, and Filipe DeAndrade, host of NatGeo Wild’s Untamed web series. Masters, a published author, National Geographic photographer, and cinematographer, has received dozens of domestic and international awards. His goal with the film is to create an accurate picture of the border and how it would affect wildlife and people, so that viewers have a realistic idea of what is at stake in the region, and can draw their own conclusions.
It’s a wild and exciting ride.
Don’t miss the interview as KGUA host Peggy Berryhill and co-host Leigh Anne Lindsey speak with producer Hillary Pierce, who began her documentary career at Maysles Films under the tutelage of Direct Cinema pioneer Albert Maysles.
Listen to the interview on Soundcloud here.
Click here for details and to purchase tickets for the film.
Politics and Environment: Guardian
In the depths of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest we meet Doug Stewart, the oldest member of a dwindling stock of stewards called “Guardians.” Part hermit, part biologist, guardians live on boats full-time in the wilderness to monitor salmon, the crux of the economy, culture and ecosystem along British Columbia’s coast. Guardian examines a decade of environmental legislative rollbacks that have crippled this century-old program while paving the way for oil and natural gas. Wildlife biologist turned documentary filmmaker and environmental journalist Courtney Quirin tackles the juxtaposition of politics and environment with sensitivity and artistic acumen.
Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s inaugural promise to reinvest in ocean science, restore the scientific capability of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and use scientific evidence in environmental decision-making, liquefied natural gas projects continue to be approved without the amendments to environmental legislation. However, hotly debated new amendments to the Fisheries Act and a newly-proposed Impact Assessment Act are currently under consideration by the Canadian government.
KGUA host Peggy Berryhill and co-host Leigh Anne Lindsey interview director Courney Quirin on Peggy’s Place. Listen to the interview here.
Click here for details and to purchase tickets for the film.
