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What are the possibilities when a community comes together to make change for the better? In the film Return of the River, First Nations, environmentalists, government, industry and community members work together to set a river free and bring hope for the future. Return of the River opens the spring season of the Green Film Series on Monday, February 2 at the Gibsons Heritage Playhouse with a second showing on Thursday, February 5 in Sechelt at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre, both showings at 7:30 pm. The Wood Duck Bus is scheduled to bring people from Madeira Park to the Sechelt screening.
With stunning photography and historical background, this film follows a community effort to bring down the dams on the Elwha River on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The river is the ancestral home of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, who witnessed firsthand the impact of two dams on the river and its legendary fish runs. The tribe led the campaign to take the dams down and a century later they are watching their dream come true.
Co-directors John Gussman and Jessica Plumb who spent four years filming this story state, "Return of the River offers a story of hope and possibility amid grim environmental news. It a film for our time: an invitation to consider crazy ideas that could transform the world for the better. It features an unlikely success story for environmental and cultural restoration.” A Skype interview with the director John Gussman and a discussion will follow the film including an update on Site C dam. The spring series has scheduled more films for March, April and May.
Admission is by donation. The Series is offering season passes for $40 for all of the spring films. The passes are a way to support the Green Film Series to make sure these great documentary films continue to be shown on the Sunshine Coast.
The Green Film Series is dedicated to using film as a tool for community engagement on environmental and sustainability issues and is produced by Rhizome Up! Media. The screening events are meant to foster the role of film as a catalyst for dialogue, networking and action. For more information or to reserve seats or buy a season pass go to: www.greenfilms.ca. To reserve a seat on the bus call the EarthFaire Store at 883-9006. A suggested donation of $5 will get you a ride on the bus.
Doors open at 7 pm with the film starting at 7:30 pm. The Gibsons Heritage Playhouse is located at 662 North Road in Gibsons, BC. The SC Arts Centre is located at 5714 Medusa at Trail Ave. in Sechelt.