What is Earth Day on the Big Screen?

To celebrate Earth Day, a series of environmental films will screen on April 22, 2016 in Cineplex theatres near you. The best environmental films have been selected to entertain and inspire elementary, junior and high school students.

Teachers select the film that best suits their students and curriculum, each program is paired with a post-screening activity!

EARTH DAY 2015 FILMS

ONCE UPON A TREE by Marleen van der Werf (15 mins)

– WINNER, Best Short Film, Planet in Focus 2014 – Watch the Trailer

Sitting in her favourite oak tree, 11-year old Filine encounters little wonders in the natural world around her. She sees the beauty and dramas of the life in and around a tree most people are not aware of. Then, as trees fall down in the forest, Filine starts to fear that one day she will lose the speical oak tree. The rebellious girl makes a plan to stop the tree chopping in the forest. But what if nothing changes anymore

THE MEANING OF WILD by Ben Hamilton (24 mins)

Watch the Trailer

The Meaning of Wild is a half hour documentary film that takes viewers on a journey through one of our nation’s wildest landscapes, the Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska. The film follows wildlife cameraman Ben Hamilton as he travels by boat, plane, kayak and foot to capture and share the true value of Wilderness. Along the journey, Ben encounters bears, calving glaciers, ancient forests, and harsh seas, but it’s the characters he meets along the way that bring true insight to his mission. Filmed in stunning High Definition, The Meaning of Wild highlights never before captured landscapes while provoking reflection about their importance to us all. Ultimately, the film celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the Wilderness Act and seeks to share these national treasures and inspire the next generation of wilderness advocates.

THE WATER BROTHERS: LAST HOME OF THE GIANTS by Alex & Tyler Mifflin (22 Mins)

Over 90% of the large fish in the ocean have disappeared. Lying 500 km off the west coast of Costa Rica, Cocos Island is home to one of the richest marine habitats on Earth. The Water Brothers join a research expedition to this UNESCO World Heritage site to dive with the sharks, whales and turtles of Cocos Island and learn why it is so important for the ocean to have protected hotspots.

The Water Brothers will be in attendance for a Q&A following the film!

Junior High & Secondary Program:

JUST EAT IT by Grant Baldwin & Jenn Rustemeyer (74 mins)

– WINNER, Best Canadian Feature, Planet in Focus 2014 –

Watch the Trailer

Filmmakers explore the issue of food waste from farm, through retail, all the way to the back of their own fridge by going on a dumpster diet. Food. Love it. As a society, we devour countless cooking shows, culinary magazines and foodie blogs. So how is it that we are throwing nearly 50% of it in the trash? Filmmakers, life-partners and food lovers Jen and Grant dive into the issue of waste from farm, through retail, all the way to the back of their own fridge. The couple pledge to stop buying groceries and compete for a year with each other by dumpster diving and seeking food security in other places. Who will be the first to break? What they find is truly nothing short of shocking.