NEWSFLASH – Monday, December 17, 2007

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US AT PLANET IN FOCUS!

Holiday Hours: Office Closed December 24 thru January 2
Regular Office Hours Resume Monday, January 7, 2008

In This Newsflash:
1. Winter Solstice Screening FRIDAY
2 Mixed Greens begins January 25, 2008
3 Support Planet in Focus

1. FREE Winter Solstice Screening on Friday in Toronto
Join Planet in Focus for a free film screening and hot chocolate in celebration of the Winter Solstice!

Friday, December 21, 8:15pm (THIS FRIDAY!)
Cecil Community Centre
58 Cecil Street
(One street south of College St., at the corner of Cecil St. and Spadina Ave.)

Call of the Hummingbird
By Alice Klein
62 minutes, Canada

Our natural world is cracking under the strain of human consumption. In the gorgeous setting of central Brazil, a rag tag of group of 1000 permaculture experts, Rastafarians, health care workers, Hare Krishnas, NGO executives and contact improvisational dancers work towards a do-it-yourself action plan to make the world a better place in 13 days. But how can you build utopia if no one is taking out the garbage? Welcome to "Survivor" for social change addicts where consensus is the only way to make any decision. Anyone can speak. For as long as they like about whatever they want. And they do. Out of the 400 who volunteered, only a quarter actually show up to work. Culture clashes abound in a group that can't even agree to go by the Gregorian or the Mayan calendar (significantly, the latter ends on December 21, 2012). But despite the seemingly unwieldy process, consensus slowly builds, dialogue happens, the garbage is dealt with and attitudes shift. A fascinating exploration of the challenges in organizing for social change.
Free Admission – Planet in Focus will gladly accept donations on behalf of the Salvation Army

Thank you Soma for donating the hot chocolate for this event.

2. Mixed Greens 2008

Join us at the Gardiner Museum on the last Friday of each month as we celebrate the best environmental films from our 2007 festival! Hand selected straight from our 2007 festival line-up, here is your chance to experience again or for the first time this rare and note worthy collection of films from around the country and around the world!
A special thank you to our 2008 Mixed Greens co-presenter, The Gardiner Museum!

View upcoming films and schedule

Pay-What-You-Can
Suggested Donation: $7.00

3. Support Planet in Focus

Planet in Focus produces Canada’s most acclaimed international environmental film and video festival, screening and promoting outstanding and compelling cinematic works covering a broad range of environmental themes by Canadian and International filmmakers. Our festival includes a Green Market for filmmakers, Filmmaker Workshops, a Green Pitch (a competition for development funding for a filmmaker’s project), panel discussions and a School’s Program.. Now entering its 9th year, Planet in Focus also presents year round programs including Mixed Greens monthly screenings in Toronto, a Cross Canada Tour, the Youth Camera Action Video Production Camp, and runs a vast environmental film Archive (now available online). These activities attest to our growing national reputation and increased demand for environmental cultural works.

Your one-time or monthly donation to the Planet in Focus Foundation will help us to expand our programs and continue to offer additional opportunities to our audience and filmmakers locally, nationally and abroad.

Your donations help Planet in Focus:

- Provide financial assistance to campers at our Youth Camera Action Video Production Camp
- Assist in covering artistic fees so that we can expand opportunities for presenting filmworks by Canadian and international artists year round and keep our admission rates down
- Travel assistance to our out of town filmmakers
- Outreach and financial support to schools for our school’s program
- Deliver vital workshops and training for emerging and established artists
- Green Market to provide additional exposure and support for emerging artists
- Develop and expand the archive and promote environmental education resources to students, teachers and the public

A donation to Planet in Focus is also a great gifting opportunity for friends and family:
Dedicate your donation "in memory of" or "on behalf of " and a donation card will be sent by mail or email to recipient or their family.

To donate online, please visit: https://www.canadahelps.org/DonationDetails.aspx
OR
To donate by cheque, please make the cheque payable to "Planet in Focus Foundation" and mail to:

Thank you and happy holidays.