NEWS RELEASE
Oakland Museum of California
www.museumca.org

10TH & OAK STREETS
OAKLAND, CA  94607

Contact:
Elizabeth Whipple
510/238-4740, MEDIA
510/238-2200 PUBLIC CALLS:
ewhipple@museumca.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2008

EarthDance Environmental Film Festival Returns!
Helping You See Green, Friday, April 4, 2008

The 5th annual EarthDance Short-Attention-Span Environmental Film Festival premiers Friday, April 4, at the Oakland Museum of California with separate programs at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Twenty-four films—from 30 seconds to 30 minutes—from Italy, India, England, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and the U.S. will be screened.

Both EarthDance screenings include a “fireside” chat with filmmakers, live music, and a Native American ceremony. The Festival opens with a wine, cheese, and chocolate reception at 7 p.m.

From For the Next 7 Generations: The Grandmothers Speak, by Carole Hart.

Festival director Zakary Zide has developed his one-night festival into a destination point for sustainability minded and cutting-edge filmgoers alike. “EarthDance is one of the best showcases for environmental media in the country,” he said. “It builds a bridge between art, nature, and science.”

The Festival’s juried compilation of comedies, documentaries, mockumentaries, animations, thrillers, and high adventure offerings prove that there is no need to sacrifice entertainment for ecology.

“EarthDance is the antithesis of dreary, politically correct polemics. Many of the films brilliantly employ humor and fantasy to instill hope about the downright serious state the human race has put itself in,” noted Jason Victor Serinus, East Bay Express, in 2007.

From Kaka’win, by Leah Nelson.

The Festival includes outstanding work by local filmmakers Ken Glaser (Organism) and Sharon Colman (Oscar-nominated Badgered); both filmmakers will attend the Festival.

Other highlights include the short film Rubbish, written and directed by Ed Roe and starring Martin Freeman (Tim from the UK version of “The Office”).

The Festival is included with museum admission. Seating is limited—arrive early and enjoy First Fridays After Five with live music, docent tours, shopping, yoga and more! Complete program information at earthdancefilms.com and 510/701-4019. Advance tickets available at museumca.org/tickets through April 3.

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The Oakland Museum of California is at 1000 Oak @ 10th Street in Oakland, one block from the Lake Merritt BART. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 seniors and students with ID, free for members and Oakland City employees. For information, call 510/238-2200 or visit www.museumca.org.