Polar Bear

Narrated by two-time Academy Award® nominee Catherine Keener (“Capote,” “Being John Malkovich”), Disneynature’s “Polar Bear” tells the story of a new mother whose memories of her own youth prepare her to navigate motherhood in the increasingly challenging world that polar bears face today. Helmed by Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson, the directing team behind Disneynature’s “Penguins,” and produced by Fothergill, Wilson, Jason Roberts, Keith Scholey and Roy Conli.

A mother polar bear and her cub swim across the waters that was once the ice of the Arctic Tundra, as the film tells us the story of how she and her family survived during her youth. She had loved playing with her twin brother as they were watched & protected by their mother, as she goes seal hunting & keeping a look out for male polar bears who threaten the cubs, they even came across a dead whale, and they, along with many other bears, feasted on it. Sadly one day, the polar bear’s brother died, and it was only her & her mom left, she successfully hunted a baby walrus abandoned by a panicked mother. The bear’s mother knew it’s time to fend for herself again, and departs. The Polar Bear then spent years not seeing another ice bear, until she meets another male her age & they spend a day playing together, as he bids farewell, she realizes she was being tracked by a much bigger male. Thinking he was going to kill her, she stands her ground, but soon realizes she was being courted. As the big male & the female go their separate ways, The Polar Bear soon becomes a mother of one cub. In the present day, the mother and daughter spend their days surviving in the disappearing Arctic, the female knows her daughter will have what it takes to become a good ice bear, with a concerned question on what kind of world will she call home. The film ends with a message reading “the Arctic could be ice-free by the summer of 2040, the actions we take today can positively change the future of polar bears”. Click here to stream

The Race to Save the World

The Race to Save The World follows the passion and unwavering commitment of people who aren’t putting their heads in the sand, or waiting for someone else to do something: they’re in the trenches fighting climate change. The Race to Save The World is a film about people, ages 15 to 72, who see the danger coming and are putting their lives on the line to try to turn this around. This is an uplifting film that will inspire viewers to stop waiting on the sidelines and make their voices heard for a livable future.

“Courageous people who have been willing to put their bodies on the line for issues they cared about have moved our country forward in so many ways, over so many years. As The Race to Save the World shows us, that passion and commitment is alive and well, with diverse people – from teens to grandmas – engaging in the time honored tradition of protest and civil disobedience to combat the climate crisis. I hope everyone will watch this film and be inspired to join these everyday heroes in the struggle of our lifetime.” – Annie Leonard, Executive Director, Greenpeace US

“These are important stories, told in engaging fashion–and I can testify that there are similar scenes from every corner of the planet. The fight to halt the destruction of the planet’s climate system may be the biggest movement in earth history, and these brave people help tell a tale everyone needs to hear!” – Bill McKibben, Founder 350.0rg

The Race to Save the World is available to stream on YouTube.

Seaspiracy

Seaspiracy is a 2021 documentary film about the environmental impact of fishing directed by and starring Ali Tabrizi, a British filmmaker. The film examines human impacts on marine life and advocates for ending fish consumption.

The film explores environmental issues affecting oceans, including plastic pollution, ghost nets and overfishing, and argues that commercial fisheries are the main driver of marine ecosystem destruction. The film rejects the concept of sustainable fishing and criticises several marine conservation organisations, including the Earth Island Institute and its dolphin safe label and the sustainable seafood certifications of the Marine Stewardship Council. It also criticises efforts by organisations to reduce household plastic, contrasting their impact with that of ghost nets. It accuses these initiatives of being a cover-up for the environmental impact of fishing and corruption in the fishing industry. Seaspiracy concludes by supporting marine reserves and for ending fish consumption.

The film was produced by Kip Andersen, director of the documentary Cowspiracy, and used the same production team as this previous film. Initial financial support was provided by British entrepreneur Dale Vince, and it was acquired by Netflix in 2020.

Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival 2023

The fifth annual Earth Focus Environmental Film Festival features five days of virtual screenings with Q&A discussions following each film to encourage a better understanding of and dialogue on environmental issues.

10 of the best climate change documentaries to see in 2023

These films screened at the recent Wild & Scenic Film Festival.