Focus on Sustainability

Unity College Partners with Camden International Film Festival in Support of Sustainability Theme

Unity, Maine – September, 2008 — Unity College, known as America’s Environmental College, is supporting the 4^th annual Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) as a sponsor. The festival this year will focus on sustainability.

“Unity College is pleased to support the Camden International Film Festival,” noted Rob Constantine, Unity College Vice President for College Advancement. “We feel the sustainability focus of the festival is closely tied to a key interest of Unity College, and we wish to further sustainability awareness in all of its forms, including the arts.”

CIFF 08’s focus on sustainability begins with a premier of the Unity College sponsored film, The Greening of Southie. Directed by the producer of the 2007 hit documentary, King Corn, Ian Cheney’s new film details the construction of the first Leed certified high-end condominiums in Boston’s Southie district and asks what happens when you try and build the city of tomorrow, today?

Screen capture from The Greening of Southie

Set on the rugged streets of South Boston, The Greening of Southie is the story of a revolutionary Green Building, and the men and women who bring it to life. From wheatboard cabinetry to recycled steel, bamboo flooring to dual-flush toilets, The Macallen Building is something different––a leader in the emerging field of environmentally friendly design. But Boston's steel-toed construction workers aren't sure they like it. And when things on the building start to go wrong, the young development team has to keep the project from unraveling. Funny and poignant, and created by the co-producers and stars of King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, The Greening of Southie is a story of bold ideas, unlikely environmentalists, and the future of the way we live.

The film will screen Saturday evening, September 27 at 8:30 PM, and will be followed by a Q&A with Ian Cheney.

The Garden, a highly acclaimed, and multi award wining documentary is CIFF’s Official Closing night film and is also co-sponsored by Unity College. Fresh off a screening at the SeaChange Forum at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and making its New England premier, the film is filled with raw emotion, visceral energy, and nail-biting twists and turns. It unravels a complex and layered tale of the destruction of America’s largest urban farm in South Central L.A. that must not be forgotten. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director, Scott Hamilton Kennedy and will take place on Sunday, September 28 at 7:00 PM.

Screen capture from The Garden

The festival takes place over four days throughout Camden, Rockport and Rockland, Maine beginning September 25 and will feature nearly 20 international, independent feature documentary films, as well as 3 shorts programs, 2 panels and several Maine based films. This year’s festival is filled with award-winning films and high-profile premiers, with highlighted themes this year focusing on sustainability. Unity College is a proud supporter of two films at the 2008 Camden International Film Festival, and CIFF is honored to have their support.

Other films that focus on sustainability include Danielle Bernstein’s and Maine resident, Anne Slick’s When Clouds Clear, which delves into one remote community’s radical resistance to a proposed copper mine. Making its New England premier at CIFF, Red Gold filmmakers follow the world’s largest run of sockeye salmon as they move from tidal waters to their natural spawning grounds within the footprint of the largest proposed gold and copper mine in North America. The festival will also screen a special sneak preview of A Sense of Wonder about pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson. The film is an intimate and poignant reflection of Carson's life and she emerges as America's most successful advocate for the natural world and will screen on Saturday, September 27 at 2 PM at the Farnsworth Art Museum as part of the Spotlight: Maine Showcase.

The Camden International Film Festival is a grass-roots community based organization created in 2004 to sponsor annual documentary film screenings and interaction with filmmakers, panels and other events. The festival exists through community involvement and support and is dedicated to encompassing all that is independent. CIFF attracts an affluent local and regional consumer base, and expects an audience of 4,000 will view at least one of the 30 films showing this year over its four day run.

Tickets to the Camden International Film festival are $8.50 for individual screenings. The Spotlight: Maine Showcases at the Farnsworth tickets are $10 per person and include the reception at the Farnsworth library. An All Festival Pass is $100 (admits one to all screenings and panels). Tickets to individual screenings and events may be purchased prior to show time at the appropriate venues. To reserve tickets for screenings or for more information on the festival, visit www.camdenfilmfest.org.

Unity College is a small private college in rural Maine that provides dedicated, engaged students with a liberal arts education which emphasizes the environment and natural resources. Unity College graduates are prepared to be environmental stewards, effective leaders, and responsible citizens through active learning experiences within a supportive community.