EFFY 2013 Brings Environmental Films to Yale

April 8, 2013

April 8th marks the start of the 5th annual Environmental Film Festival at Yale (EFFY). The festival, named by the Academy of Motion and Picture Arts and Sciences as one of the Top Resources for Environmental Filmmakers last year, is an entirely student-run, week-long event based out of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. The exciting 2013 lineup includes nine feature films, 14 shorts, and four student films. Selections were chosen from roughly 300 submissions and vary in their environmentally minded topics and geographic scope. 

In addition to screenings, the program includes more than 25 speakers—ranging from directors to jazz musicians—as well as two art instillations. The Timothy Dwight Art Gallery (345 Temple St.) will host the festival’s photography exhibit, which features submissions to the Young Photographers Contest. The four student films scheduled for screenings were top entrants into the contest. 

Highlights of this year’s line-up include the U.S. Premiere of GMO OMG on Tuesday, April 9th at the Burke Auditorium (195 Prospect Street) at 7pm followed by a discussion with the filmmaker Jeremy Seifert. The film’s project was described by EFFY as “a father’s discovery of GMOs in relationship to his three young children and the world around him.”       

Several shorts will screen before each feature film, while others will appear in Shorts Programs I and II, scheduled for Saturday, April 13th at the Whitney Humanities Center on 53 Wall St. Shorts Program I features films dealing with New Haven and greater Connecticut along with a short produced by FES students titled, “Immigrant.” Shorts Program II features “Redemption,” a longer piece directed by a Yale Alum and nominated for the 2013 Academy Awards Academy. “Redemption” tells the story of New York City’s “canner” population.

In addition to on-site events, there will be a live stream broadcast of the opening night film Musicwood on Monday, April 8th at 6:45 pm followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker Maxine Trump and guests Nick Colesanti and Kathryn Dudley. Musicwood tells the story of a famous band of guitar-makers who travel into the primeval rain forest in an attempt to secure lumber from Native American loggers. In the process of their journey, a heartbreaking battle over natural resources is revealed.

For more information on the 2013 EFFY, running April 8th to 14th, visit: http://environment.yale.edu/film/2013/.