Green Carpet Film Festival

Green Film Festival Features Movies, Live Music & Public Discussion Forum

The first ever Green Carpet Film Festival will feature 7 films, live music performances, a You Tube Video contest and local food over the course of two days at the Hollywood Theater on Main Street Montevideo on Friday November 16 and Saturday November 17th 2007. The public is invited to attend this educational event designed to raise environmental awareness, build community and explore the key issues of our time in the Upper Minnesota River Watershed. For more information visit www.greencarpetfilmfest.com or call toll free 1-877 269-2873.

Highlighting the Festival will be a showing of the movie Sweet Land with Spanish sub titles on Saturday November 17th at 1 p.m. This award winning love story filmed in the Montevideo area has been a favorite with audiences across the country. It has also been popular with Latino immigrants who resonate with the film’s subtle message about how we treat newcomers to this nation. A discussion of immigration issues facing the Minnesota River valley region will be led by staff members from the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom following the showing of the film at 2:30 p.m.

Sweet Land was the first independently produced “carbon neutral” film made in the United States, meaning that all of the greenhouse gases generated by making the film were mitigated by the purchase of carbon offsets. The film’s director Ali Selim wanted to show his concern for global warming when he made the film and his efforts to do so resulted in a full page ad promoting the film (paid for by environmentally conscious investors) in the New York Times.

The Green Carpet Film festival seeks to promote other popular award winning environmentally themed films such as Who Killed the Electric Car? (Friday, Nov. 16 at 9:30 p.m.) which explores the development of the electric car industry in the United States, The Real Dirt on Farmer John (Saturday Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m.) and King Corn (Saturday, Nov. 17 at 9:30 p.m.) address issues surrounding the sustainability of American agriculture. Both films have won numerous awards and critical acclaim in east coast and west coast film festivals – but ironically they have had few showings in Midwestern communities where they were filmed.

“We think it is important for people who live in small towns to be aware of what is being said about us in the national independent media,” stated Patrick Moore, Executive Director of Clean up the River Environment (CURE) the grassroots clean water and clean energy organization sponsoring the festival. “These movies are helping to shape Federal Farm Policy and Energy Policy in urban areas and we think it is in our self interest to watch them, discuss them and determine what they mean for our rural communities. ”

In addition to the films, the Festival will also feature several musicians who will play sets in between the movies. Jerry Ostensoe of Granite Falls will perform selections from his soon to be released album Just East of West on Friday night Nov 16 at 8:15 p.m. David and Patricia Cespedes-Schueller of St. Joseph will perform Latino music at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 17, and Lesley Freeman of Angelic Organic Farms will perform on Saturday Nov. 17 at 9:00 p.m. Freeman is flying in from Ohio to take part in the Film Festival and to answer audience questions about the making of The Real Dirt on Farmer John film.

Local food and grass fed beef burgers will be served at the festival along with Minnesota River beverages such as Schells Beer and Morgan Creek Vineyards wine.

The cost of showing the films is being underwritten by several businesses. Admission is being charged to help defray the cost of renting the Hollywood Theater and other expenses associated with sponsoring the educational event. Festival goers can purchase a wrist band for $12 that will allow them to come and go as they please during the course of the two day event. Admission for Friday night only is $5 and for Saturday night only is $10. Students will be able to purchase a weekend pass for $8. Advance tickets are on sale from the CURE office or by calling 1 -877-269-2873,

Everyone who attends the Festival will be given a ballot to vote for their favorite You Tube Video created by area citizens with environmental themes. The videos will be available for judging throughout the two day festival. The wining video will be announced at 9:15 p.m. on Saturday night Nov. 17 and will receive a $500 cash prize.

Friday Nite Schedule: Ongoing Citizen Judging of You Tube Video Contest 6 —11 p.m. Portable DVD player Stations will be set up to allow Festival goers to watch and vote for their favorite contest submissions at any time throughout the Festival according to their own schedule. Cry of the Marsh 6:15 — 6:45 p.m. Shot on a farm near Appleton, MN. in 1968, the film documents the destruction of the marshlands of America for roads, farms and housing developments. "Cry of the Marsh," won first place in many educational film festivals Kilowatt Ours 7 — 8:30 p.m. Kilowatt Ours reveals the consequences of our coal powered economy and explores practical answers to America’s energy problems through conservation and renewable energy. Video Contest Top 10 8:30 —9:30 p.m. Watch the judges’ Top 10 picks from all the contest submissions. See Contest rules on page 2 of this flyer. Who Killed the Electric Car? 9:30—11 p.m. An award winning documentary about electric cars, hybrids, hydrogen and the future of transportation.	Saturday Schedule: (tentative/subject to change) Citizen Judging of Video Contest 1 p.m.— 5 p.m. Sweet Land with Spanish subtitles 1— 2:30 p.m. (one of the first “carbon neutral” films ever made) This award winning love story filmed in the Montevideo area has been a favorite with audiences across the country, but did you know that it has also been popular with Latino immigrants who resonate with the film’s subtle message about how we treat newcomers to this nation? Come view the movie with Spanish subtitles and learn more about the issues facing our newest Minnesotans in the discussion that will follow. Live Music & Discussion 2:30—3:30 p.m. The list of musicians who will entertain between feature films is still being compiled. Latino musicians welcome! If you would like to play or entertain, call the CURE office toll free at 877-269-2873. Northern Lights 3:30—5 p.m. As we move toward our renewable energy and local food future, it behooves us to revisit the populist roots that guided the Scandinavian farmers who formed the Non-Partisan League in North Dakota in the 1915. Come see this Cannes Film Festival award winning documentary about this incredible story of local self reliance. Video Contest Finalists 6-7 p.m. See the You Tube Video short video finalists on the big screen. Help the judges make their final selection of the winning entry of the contest. For more details on the contest, see page 2 of this flyer. The Real Dirt on Farmer John 7-9 p.m. An award winning inspirational story of how one individual revolutionized his family farm and redeemed his own life through community supported agriculture. This is a story that farm families everywhere in the Midwest can relate to. Don’t miss this beautiful and hopeful film! Featured Film: King Corn 9:30—11 p.m. A humorous and compelling new documentary about two friends, one acre of corn and the subsidized crop that drives our fast food nation.
Admission: $5 Friday Night $10 Saturday Night $12 for Both Nights Admission price pays for Hollywood Theater rental & event expenses — movies are free and are sponsored by local businesses. Local Foods, Popcorn and Beverages will be on sale from Bootleggers Catering. Call CURE Toll Free at 1-877-269-2873 for more information. * Click here to Download more information and rules for "You Tube Video Contest"
Green Film Festival Features Movies, Live Music & Public Discussion Forum The first ever Green Carpet Film Festival will feature 7 films, live music performances, a You Tube Video contest and local food over the course of two days at the Hollywood Theater on Main Street Montevideo on Friday November 16 and Saturday November 17th 2007. The public is invited to attend this educational event designed to raise environmental awareness, build community and explore the key issues of our time in the Upper Minnesota River Watershed. For more information visit www.greencarpetfilmfest.com or call toll free 1-877 269-2873. Highlighting the Festival will be a showing of the movie Sweet Land with Spanish sub titles on Saturday November 17th at 1 p.m. This award winning love story filmed in the Montevideo area has been a favorite with audiences across the country. It has also been popular with Latino immigrants who resonate with the film’s subtle message about how we treat newcomers to this nation. A discussion of immigration issues facing the Minnesota River valley region will be led by staff members from the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom following the showing of the film at 2:30 p.m. Sweet Land was the first independently produced “carbon neutral” film made in the United States, meaning that all of the greenhouse gases generated by making the film were mitigated by the purchase of carbon offsets. The film’s director Ali Selim wanted to show his concern for global warming when he made the film and his efforts to do so resulted in a full page ad promoting the film (paid for by environmentally conscious investors) in the New York Times. The Green Carpet Film festival seeks to promote other popular award winning environmentally themed films such as Who Killed the Electric Car? (Friday, Nov. 16 at 9:30 p.m.) which explores the development of the electric car industry in the United States, The Real Dirt on Farmer John (Saturday Nov. 17 at 7:00 p.m.) and King Corn (Saturday, Nov. 17 at 9:30 p.m.) address issues surrounding the sustainability of American agriculture. Both films have won numerous awards and critical acclaim in east coast and west coast film festivals – but ironically they have had few showings in Midwestern communities where they were filmed. “We think it is important for people who live in small towns to be aware of what is being said about us in the national independent media,” stated Patrick Moore, Executive Director of Clean up the River Environment (CURE) the grassroots clean water and clean energy organization sponsoring the festival. “These movies are helping to shape Federal Farm Policy and Energy Policy in urban areas and we think it is in our self interest to watch them, discuss them and determine what they mean for our rural communities. ” In addition to the films, the Festival will also feature several musicians who will play sets in between the movies. Jerry Ostensoe of Granite Falls will perform selections from his soon to be released album Just East of West on Friday night Nov 16 at 8:15 p.m. David and Patricia Cespedes-Schueller of St. Joseph will perform Latino music at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 17, and Lesley Freeman of Angelic Organic Farms will perform on Saturday Nov. 17 at 9:00 p.m. Freeman is flying in from Ohio to take part in the Film Festival and to answer audience questions about the making of The Real Dirt on Farmer John film. Local food and grass fed beef burgers will be served at the festival along with Minnesota River beverages such as Schells Beer and Morgan Creek Vineyards wine. The cost of showing the films is being underwritten by several businesses. Admission is being charged to help defray the cost of renting the Hollywood Theater and other expenses associated with sponsoring the educational event. Festival goers can purchase a wrist band for $12 that will allow them to come and go as they please during the course of the two day event. Admission for Friday night only is $5 and for Saturday night only is $10. Students will be able to purchase a weekend pass for $8. Advance tickets are on sale from the CURE office or by calling 1 -877-269-2873, Everyone who attends the Festival will be given a ballot to vote for their favorite You Tube Video created by area citizens with environmental themes. The videos will be available for judging throughout the two day festival. The wining video will be announced at 9:15 p.m. on Saturday night Nov. 17 and will receive a $500 cash prize.

Friday Nov. 16 7 p.m.—Midnight Sat. Nov. 17th 1 p.m.—Midnight	Announcing the 1st Ever ‘Green’ Carpet Toward a Continuous Living Cover & Biomass Energy Infused Rural Future Film Festival & Short Digital Video Contest* at the Hollywood Theater In Beautiful, Historic Downtown Montevideo
Here is our Film Festival winner! and check out this review from the The Clara City Herald