Planet in Focus

Planet in Focus is Canada’s leading not-for-profit environmental media arts organization. Since 1999, Planet in Focus has played a significant role in helping to raise awareness about the state of our planet through the power of film. As the producer of Canada’s largest environmental film festival, Planet in Focus showcases a wide range of outstanding films and filmmakers from across Canada and around the world.  For thirteen years, our annual autumn film festival provides a forum for artistic and educational excellence, industry recognition, the discovery of new Canadian talent, and  has provided  funding via The Green Pitch to  award winning filmmakers such as   Yung Chang for his Gemini Award winning Up the Yangtze.

Planet in Focus is proud to bring our unique programming to Canadian and international audiences. Planet in Focus has an Archive of over 3,000 films and videos include hard-to-find films of all genres that  are not widely distributed. The Archive incorporates diverse and under-represented perspectives on our planet. Food, energy, Aboriginal perspectives, health, conflict are  some of the topics investigated by emerging and established filmmakers through the camera lens.

Planet in Focus continues to break new ground through our  leadership in Green Screen, an educational sustainability initiative for the film and television industry.  The Green Screen program supports our mission, which encourages the adoption of ecologically sustainable processes in film and television production.

Planet in Focus is run by a volunteer Board of Directors and has as Honorary Patrons Dr. David Suzuki and Vandana Shiva.  The Mark Haslam Award was created in honour of Planet in Focus founder, whose early vision inspires us still.

Planet in Focus gratefully acknowledges the important support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council along with other municipal, provincial and federal government agencies, in addition to our private sector supporters, individual donors and the Planet in Focus Foundation.

Planet in Focus collaborates with organizations to develop exciting, inspiring and educational film programs and welcome those that are working towards a healthier and more sustainable future.

Planet in Focus is a member of the international group the Green Film Network