Film festival focuses on environment

Green Masterton mayoral candidate Chris Peterson is to host the first Wairarapa Environmental Film Festival that kicks off next week.
Mr Peterson said his involvement with the 27-film festival, running over three nights from Tuesday at Reap Education Centre across from Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton, is "part of my commitment to community education about the major changes that will affect the region, and New Zealand, during the next decade and beyond".
"The region's first festival of films with an environmental emphasis will cover all aspects of genuine sustainability.
"As well as the more obvious climate change and global warming themes, there will be films dealing with social justice, economic development, cultural understanding, and living in balance with natural ecosystems."
Aotearoa Environmental Film Festival Society, a Palmerston North-based private organisation, developed the festival programme, he said.
"The organisation is committed to raising awareness on a range of issues through films not generally screened on the commercial cinema circuit.
"The festival, now in its third year, is showing in an increasing number of towns and cities around the country.
"The films we will be showing come from a number of sources in several countries, including New Zealand," he said.
"Although not usually made for the commercial circuit, they are of a high production and visual standard and several have won cinematic awards.
Mr Peterson said the inaugural Wairarapa festival has involved New Zealand Forest and Bird Society, Sustainable Wairarapa, Wairarapa Trade Aid and REAP and that with their support "it is hoped to make the festival an annual event".
He said that next year the film festival might be combined with an environmental art exhibition.
To cover some of the costs at the inaugural event, he said, a charge of $2 will be made on each festival evening.
The Festival runs over three nights, from Tuesday September 18 to September 20, with two two-hour sessions each night from 5.30 to 7.30 and 7.30 to 9.30.
In each two-hour slot there will be one longer film (40 to 60 minutes) and several short films (two to 20 minutes), Mr Peterson said.
"The films cover a wide range of topics and formats New Zealand and global, documentary and animation, serious and humorous, uplifting and hard-hitting, visually stunning and moving."
Free tea and coffee will be available throughout each evening, he said, courtesy of Trade Aid and festival-goers are invited to "bring your family and your tea" as plates and cutlery will be available, he said.