What do indigenous communities in the Amazon and a rather prosperous coastal town in North Carolina have in common? Not much you might think, and generally you would be right. There are certainly many differences, but it turns out that folks concerned about the environment and public health in Wilmington, North Carolina have much to learn from communities struggling for environmental justice in the Ecuadorian villages featured in the film Crude. A screening of Crude at the Cucalorus Film Festival in Working Films’ hometown of Wilmington, N.C. gave me the opportunity to make the connection between a powerful international David and Goliath story and local struggles to protect our health and environment.

Joel Bourne, and Andy Myers with me, Anna Lee

Crude is a real-life, high stakes legal drama that uncovers the infamous “Amazon Chernobyl” case in which indigenous communities are suing Texaco/ Chevron for the environmental, cultural, and medical devastation that the companies’ oil exploration have wreaked on their communities and land. We don’t have any oil exploration happening on the coast of North Carolina, but we do have a multi-national corporation called Titan America that has gotten 4.2 million dollars in tax incentives from our county commissioners to build the fourth largest cement plant in the country, right on the banks of the beautiful Cape Fear River.

For those of you that don’t know much about cement plants, they are coal fired kilns that spew particulate matter including mercury and other toxic chemicals into the air and water. In order to make the cement, companies have to quarry limestone, a process that has the potential to drastically deplete and pollute our local aquifer.

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Working Films is proud to be coordinating panel discussions after two films at the Cucalorus Films Festival in our hometown of Wilmington, NC. Named one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” by Movie Maker Magazine, Cucalorus runs November 11th-15th at venues across city.

Crude is a real-life high stakes legal drama that uncovers the infamous “Amazon Chernobyl” case against a backdrop of the environmental movement, global politics, celebrity activism, human rights advocacy, the media, multinational corporate power, and rapidly-disappearing indigenous cultures. Crude will screen at 10am Thursday November 12th.

In Off and Running, when adopted teen Avery’s curiosity about her African-American roots grows, she decides to contact her birth mother. This choice propels Avery into her own complicated exploration of race, identity, and family that threatens to distance her from the parents she’s always known. Off and Running will screen Sunday November 15th at 4pm.

For each film we aim to bring the issues home for the audience and make connections between the stories in the film and salient local issues.

The Cucalorus Film Festival in Wilmington, NC announces that they are accepting submissions for the Works-in-Progress program in the annual film festival.

The Works-in-Progress Category offers filmmakers at all stages of production an opportunity to showcase their films in a workshop-style setting. Films focused on social issues and justice are especially encouraged to apply. The workshop is intended to foster dialogue between filmmakers and target audiences, thereby providing critical feedback for final editing decisions. This will be an invaluable opportunity for those hoping to eventually screen their finished film in notable festivals, such as Sundance and South By Southwest, to discuss their film with a captive and strategic audience.

This new program furthers the Festival’s mission by encouraging the production of new work and creating a broader film community. Through this category, Cucalorus plays on the double meaning of progress – as politically/socially aware films will be linked to their relevant audiences through the workshop, including the addition of related non-for-profit community organizations. The Works-in-Progress program is open to shorts, features, docs and experimental films. This year’s festival will take place November 11-15 and we are currently seeking entries. Join us for five days of screenings, parties and collaborations.

HOW TO ENTER:
Entries must include a completed entry form (found at cucalorus.org), a rough-cut on a DVD, and an introductory letter outlining your interest in this program. Deadlines: regular August 13 ($20), late September 3 ($30). Accepted entries will be notified by September 26, 2009. Filmmakers must be able to travel to Wilmington from November 11-15, 2009.

Send stuff to:
Cucalorus, 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401. (910)-343-5995
Questions, notions, and dreams should be emailed to: dan@cucalorus.org