LATEST NEWS

"One of the most effective and expressive environmental films of recent years." - Variety "On the want-to-see- scale, GASLAND tops the list" - Washington Post "Riveting" - LA Weekly "GASLAND just might be the best film of the year." - The Huffington Post

The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a "Saudia Arabia of natural gas" just beneath us. The Reel Power film for March, Gasland, asks the important question- Is fracking safe?

Gasland started as a personal journey when filmmaker Josh Fox was asked to lease his family land in Pennsylvania for drilling. Determined to find the truth, Josh embarked on a cross-country odyssey with a camera and his trusty banjo, uncovering a trail of secrets and contamination. It was an odyssey that would change his life and culminated in a critically acclaimed and now Oscar-nominated documentary. Since it’s premier on HBO, Fox has been tireless in his campaign to raise awareness about the dangers posed by the natural gas industry. Recently he and Oscar-nominated actor and Gasland fan Mark Ruffallo held a press conference in Washington D.C. and spoke with members of Congress about the need for a National Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing to protect our nation’s drinking water. Get Involved!: 1) Tune In to the Academy Awards on February 27th on ABC at 8p.m. EST to cheer Gasland on and Take Action during the broadcast with your friends by writing President Obama a letter asking for his support of the FRAC Act and for a National Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing. 2) Spread the word by Hosting a House Party of Oscar-nominated Gasland in March. A house party is a great way to engage your community with the issue of hydraulic fracturing while providing important information about the recent boom in gas drilling across the nation. Use the home screening toolkit to help plan your party. 3) Stay Connected to the Reel Power Film series and plan ahead. Our April featured film will be Sun Come Up. And the Oscar goes to.... The Gasland team has put together a great how-to guide to help you plan and execute a stellar Oscar party that will lead to meaningful actions by your friends and community: At 8:00 P.M. EDT on February 27, 2011 Gasland will be among the nominees for Best Documentary Feature at the 83rd Academy Awards™ in Los Angeles. We want you to invite your friends and family over to watch the ceremony together and to take immediate action to urge Congress and President Obama to support the FRAC Act and a national moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing. Here are some ways to get started: 1) Invite your guests via email, phone or listserv. Tweet about it (our hashtag is #gaslandmovie) create a Facebook Event (& join our Facebook fan page). 2) The better the snacks, the better the party. In the spirit of supporting environmental sustainability, purchase ingredients from your local farmer’s market or plan a group potluck made up of dishes with local ingredients.  To cut down on waste, do not use disposable cutlery or plates and have a recycling bin visibly placed in your home. 3) At 8PM EST tune into the show on ABC and cheer on Gasland! 4) Have a computer accessible so your guests can immediately email the President, join the Gasland fan page on Facebook and sign up for our e-mail list. Hand out the pre-printed letter to President Obama to your guests, collect the completed letters and mail them right away. 5) The day after, send a thank you e-mails to your guests with links to our partner organizations.

How do you make your documentary film resonate with local audiences and issues? How do you build a bridge between community activist groups and the movements in your film? Watch how Deep Down’s film team is bringing together grassroots leaders from Appalachia with community leaders from across the country engaged in similar struggles. Deep Down’s protagonist Beverly May, co-director Jen Gilomen, and outreach director Lora Smith traveled to Chicago for an ITVS Community Cinema Screening partnered with members of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO). The group toured the Little Village neighborhood, a community known as “The Midwest Mexico,” to learn about their struggle to fight the abuses of several toxic industries including two massive coal powered power plant that are poisoning their air and people. IMPACT is a series of videos created by Working Films and The Fledgling Fund focused on building film campaigns that ignite social change. Previous videos include “No Impact Man: Activating Your Audience” and “IMPACT: A Funder’s Perspective.” For more information, go to workingfilms.org/impact and thefledglingfund.org/impact.

The Oscar-nominated film Sun Come Up follows the relocation of the Carteret Islanders, a peaceful community in the South Pacific, and now, some of the world’s first environmental refugees. Here's your chance to share the film with friends and family and get involved. Imagine one night, 50 parties in 50 different homes. Each home commits to raising at least $400 each, for a total of $20,000 for the Carteret Islanders by February 27th, the date of the Academy Awards! All donations will go directly to the Carteret Islanders' relocation program toward the building of new homes. Watch the trailer below and join up!

Working Films has played a part in the Full Frame Documentary Festival for the past five years by presenting an award to the film with the most potential for social change. In 2007, this award went to Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern for their film The Devil Came on Horseback. This year, Full Frame is recognizing these remarkable filmmakers with the 2011 Career Award. Annie and Ricki will also be presenting the US premiere of their latest film, Burma Soldier, at the festival. The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival takes place April 14-17, 2011 in Durham, NC. Get your passes now before they sell out!

February’s Reel Power featured film, Dirty Business: "Clean Coal" and the Battle for Our Energy Future, is an in-depth look at the coal industry, ‘clean coal’ technologies and the future of renewable technology. Produced by the Center for Investigative Reporting, and narrated by Rolling Stones reporter Jeff Goodell, the film takes audiences on a journey from MTR sites in Appalachia to the coal explosion in China. Dirty Business explores the true cost of our dependence on coal for electricity in the age of climate change. Politicians and corporate interests have mounted a formidable public relations campaign promoting "clean coal" as a solution to our energy/climate problem. Despite major concerns on the part of scientists and environmental groups, there has been little public education about this issue, which is a central element of President Obama’s energy policy. Dirty Business is the first major public media project to explain and demystify "clean coal" and to explore the extent to which increased energy efficiency and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar thermal power might make "clean coal" unnecessary and uneconomical. Take action with Reel Power and Dirty Business to educate your community about the truth behind “clean coal.” Here’s how: 1) Host a Community Screening or House Party of Dirty Business during the month of February.  Use our screening guide and other resources to help make your event a success. 2)  Join the conversation on Facebook to let your voice be heard on energy issues. 3)  Plan ahead for March and get ready to host a screening of the Oscar-nominated Gasland. For a solid piece of investigative, in-depth reporting on the full costs of coal, it really doesn’t get much better than Dirty Business. Interest in the film is truly amazing, as is the feedback that we have been getting from people who have shown the film. Here is a recent quote from the Northeast:

“Our Coal Night with Wellesley College was a great success in large part because of the screening of Dirty Business. The 45 students in attendance all enjoyed the film and asked incredible questions of our panel after. I have a few other campuses interested in screening the film, and I am excited to share it with them. Thank you for this opportunity!” - Drew Grande, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Organizer

People all over the country are screening Dirty Business to help educate their communities and to inspire audiences into action! In Kansas, community organizers hosted screenings to help build local awareness of the dangers of coal pollution in opposition to the construction of another coal plant in their area. In Iowa, students at Iowa State screened Dirty Business to inspire more students and administrators to get their campus off coal. In Georgia, Dirty Business was shown at the EcoFocus Film Festival.

During last night’s State of the Union, President Obama called for a clean energy future, but then rattled off a list of our dirty energy past with clean coal and natural gas leading the pack. The films involved with Reel Power: Films Fueling the Energy Revolution uncover the truth behind these so-called “clean” technologies, showing the damaging effects of climate change on populations across the globe, and offering real energy solutions.

And for their efforts and artistry the films are being recognized in big ways!

It was announced on Tuesday that Gasland and Sun Come Up have both been nominated for Oscars. Gasland, about natural gas drilling and the threat it poses to the Marcellus Shale region of the eastern United States, is nominated for Best Feature Documentary. Sun Come Up, a story that follows the relocation of some of the world’s first environmental refugees, is nominated for Best Short Subject Documentary. Congratulations to directors Josh Fox, Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger! Another Reel Power film receiving a distinguished honor this month is Deep Down: A story from the heart of coal country, which premiered on the Emmy-award winning PBS series Independent Lens in November. The filmmakers of Deep Down have received a major honor from the U.S. State Department in being selected for the American Documentary Showcase. The film’s participation in this prestigious cultural diplomacy program will draw international attention to the subject of mountaintop removal coal mining and community organizing in Appalachia. These films are extending their reach and receiving critical acclaim, exemplifying the important role documentary films play in social justice movements. Join us and help educate your community by signing up to screen a Reel Power film today. Our film for February is Dirty Business, an exploration into the science and politics behind “clean coal.”

Queen Noor of Jordan and Documentary Director Morgan Spurlock Join First Jury

Today PUMA.Creative and Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation announced the launch of the PUMA.Creative Impact Award, a major new annual award to honor the documentary film creating the most significant impact in the world. This 50,000 Euro award acknowledges the film's makers and will help the continuation of the film's campaign work. The PUMA.Creative Impact Award will be selected by a jury which includes Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; Morgan Spurlock, Academy Award nominated Director of Super Size Me; Orlando Bagwell, Director of the Ford Foundation Social Justice Media Initiative; and Emmanuel Jal, musician and activist. "Finally, an award which acknowledges the unique role documentary film plays in society" said Morgan Spurlock. "I am proud to be invited to join the first jury and I encourage documentary filmmakers everywhere to take a look at this initiative. It is really going to make a difference." "With a financial reward that encourages best practice in the filmmaking community, the aim of the PUMA.Creative Impact Award is to draw attention to the finest creative, social justice, peace and environmental filmmaking in the world" said Jess Search, CEO, Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation." Recent high profile releases such The Cove, Food Inc, Burma VJ, No Impact Man and The Age of Stupid will all be eligible to compete for the prize money as well as less well-known films that have had a large local effect. "As individuals and as organizations, we are faced with some serious challenges today such as ongoing conflict, climate change, loss of biodiversity. None of these issues will solve themselves without intervention," says Jochen Zeitz, Chairman and CEO of PUMA. "We, at PUMA, have chosen to intervene through film because it is the most powerful medium to reach mass audiences and influence opinion formers and will contribute to leaving a better world for generations to come." The call for the PUMA.Creative Impact Award opens on January 21 during the Sundance Film Festival. Anyone can put a film forward from any country-filmmakers, distributors, film festivals, partner organizations including NGOs and Foundations, film critics and journalists. Each filmmaking team must submit data demonstrating evidence of the film's social impact and if shortlisted additional data and verifications will be requested. Films can be put forward any time up to three years after release (where the release is defined as first film festival screening, TV broadcast, cinema release or internet release). Submissions close on April 1, 2011 when Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation will assess applications and produce a shortlist to be assessed by an international Peer Review Committee including: Carol Cone, Executive Vice President of Cone@Edelman; Diana Barrett, President and Founder of Fledgling Fund; Yvette Alberdingkthijm, Executive Director of WITNESS; Pat Aufderheide, Director of Center for Social Media, American University; Isabelle Schwarz, Head of Strategic Programmes at European Cultural Foundation; and Sarah Hunter, Head of UK Public Policy at Google. Five final nominated films will then be put forward to the Jury for consideration. The PUMA.Creative Impact Award will be given in London in October at the annual PUMA.Creative and Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation Gala and Awards Ceremony. "Music is one of the few things that has the power to touch your heart mind and soul without your permission. This is why I choose to use this tool to pass my message to the world," said says Juror Emmanuel Jal. "Film has the same power, moving pictures can tap into the senses, pull on the heart strings and communicate intense and detailed information to the viewer." Filmmakers interested in applying for the PUMA.Creative Impact Award should go to www.britdoc.org/impactaward

The Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation, in partnership with the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, are delighted to announce that the touring funding and networking forum the Good Pitch – will be returning in 2011 with expanded plans, including a third forum in New York City hosted by the Ford Foundation at their midtown headquarters. The call for entries for the Good Pitch NY 2011 is now open and will close on February 18^th. The call is aimed at filmmakers of any nationality working on feature-length or hour-long independent documentary film projects which tackle important global and national issues and enhance our understanding of the world. For more information and to apply go to http://britdoc.org/goodpitch.

“We are excited to be entering our 3^rd year of international Good Pitch events with a dynamic new supporter and venue. In addition, we see Good Pitch scalable globally and we intend to pilot that in 2011 and 2012,” said Jess Search CEO of the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation. “With the Ford Foundation’s support, Good Pitch can continue to grow, open doors for world-changing films, engage major stakeholders across multiple sectors and fast-track creative game-changing partnerships.”

The Ford Foundation joins the Tides Foundation, the Fledgling Fund, Chicken & Egg Pictures, Impact Partners, Crosscurrents Foundation and a number of anonymous donors as supporters of the Good Pitch. Working Films will continue to provide campaign development for the invited filmmakers.

"The foundation is committed to expanding the community of film and media makers who are creating compelling works, particularly around some of our most urgent social issues,” said Orlando Bagwell, director of the foundation’s social justice media initiative. “The Good Pitch is superb at bringing together key players from the nonprofit, government and business sectors to ensure that these powerful social justice stories reach audiences who can make change happen.”

The Good Pitch is an invitation-only event, starting with an intensive two-day campaign development workshop for the filmmakers, followed by a day-long live event which brings together invited foundations, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, broadcasters and other media to expand the resources aimed at maximizing the impact of social-issue documentary. Filmmaking teams pitch their project and its associated outreach campaign with the aim of creating a unique coalition around each film to accelerate its impact and influence.

“Sundance Documentary Film Program has been the creative partner for the Good Pitch since the beginning because we believe it offers new possibilities for increasing the resource and stakeholder pool for independent social issue documentaries,” said Cara Mertes, Sundance Institute DFP Director. “In a time when documentary resources are eroding and the independent media landscape is undergoing massive realignment, a new initiative that prizes independent storytelling of great skill with the potential for new partners is sorely needed, and the contagious enthusiasm that filmmakers and funders alike have shown for this approach has led us to continue its evolution.”

Since the first North American event in Toronto in 2009, Good Pitch has received over 1200 applications to events in North America and the UK. Over 60 films have now pitched to more than 700 organizations, with a vast range of positive results, including over $2 million leveraged in new funding. The Good Pitch NY 2011 is the year’s first Good Pitch event. Further events will be announced later in the year. You can sign up to our newsletter to receive updates on upcoming events or check back on our website.