Film fanatics, environmental enthusiasts, and advocacy allies unite! The 7th annual Thunder Bay Environmental Film Festival is scheduled for next week, and the lineup is packed with 13 fascinating films for your viewing surprise and delight!
Organized by the Thunder Bay Environmental Film Network, the film fest is a much-anticipated highlight of the Film EFN’s ten-month season. The network identifies itself as an “incorporated not for profit volunteer organization that screens films from September to June for the public on environmental and social issues in order to inspire and empower the viewers. The network is a made up of individual audience members, supporting organizations, filmmakers and local experts.”
This year’s film festival is scheduled for Wednesday April 20th- Sunday April 24th, 2016. Wednesday to Friday, the festival holds evening screenings. The weekend admissions are full-day events, packed with fun for families and film buffs alike. All the films will be shown at the Maple Tops Activity Centre on 24 South Court Street. It is located in the Port Arthur Waterfront District, in the former Paramount Theatre building. The theatre’s concession will be open, and the film fest boasts organic popcorn as a prime snack. Festival admission is free, but donations are appreciated and help to fund current and future film fest costs.
Note: the EFN requests that attendees respect the festival as a scent-free environment, due to severe allergies of board and audience members. 
The lineup boasts a range of quality film-making talent and compelling narratives. Filmgoers will be treated to a kaleidoscopic perspectives: a young Dene lawyer’s struggle to reconcile environmental concerns with job prospects amidst fracking operations in BC; snowboarders and surfers exploring the impact of resource extraction for the first time; nine local youths documenting environmental concerns in their hometowns; a Paraguayan youth orchestra which performs on instruments made of recycled material and garbage. Of particular note is the opening night’s film, “After the Last River,” a visual journey through Attawapiskat reserve and its struggles in the shadows of De Beers a mining operation.
Click here for the festival’s website. (They have trailers for the films, if you’d like a sneak peek!)
There are 13 films to be seen over the course of 5 days. See the festival’s complete schedule and lineup can be seen below (click the image to enlarge):