Organizing a Renewable Energy Film Fest and would like your input...

[Blue Belle]

Hello Fellow DU'ers.

I am organizing a spring Film festival at my college campus that will highlight the topic of renewable energy. I want to expose my fellow community college students to the idea that we don't have to be dependant on oil, and that we can find ways to create a sustainable economy based on renewable energy. I've just started doing some research on some documentaries that cover the subject but I was wondering if there are others you could recommend. Here is the tentative list that I have so far:

"Inconvenient Truth" - might as well highlight what could happen if we don't find renewable energy.
"Who Killed the Electric Car?"
"The Power of the Sun"
"French Fries to Go"
"Power Shift: Energy + Sustainability"

Are there any I'm forgetting? I'd like to find some films on Wind Energy if possible, but I'm coming up short on my research.

I appreciate any help the knowledgeable bloggers at the DU can extend to me.

Thanks!

--Belle

[Dogmudgeon]

1. The End of Suburbia

It's an overview of the Peak Oil issue, with lots of time given to James Kunstler and Richard Heinberg.

Excellent, and available free of charge to non-profits, IIRC. Also probably rentable through Blockbuster and NetFlix.

There are many documentaries on renewable energy, other energy issues, and (especially) Peak Oil. The main problem is getting people to see them.

And keep in mind that some of these issues are no longer simple. Biofuels (mainly ethanol) and nuclear energy have vigorous groups of proponents AND detractors, even within the environmental movement.

You may also want to contact some of the Peak Oil authors' publishers and agents about getting special deals on their books for your group. Some of them do that -- a good-sized conference can generate hundreds of sales.

And: If you're at all near New York state, you may be able to talk Ken Deffeyes, James Kunstler and/or Richard Heinberg into making appearances. Julian Darley of the Post-Carbon Institute also does a lot of lecturing, but I think he's from California. (No, sorry, I don't have any personal connections to any of them; I do know they lecture a lot, though Deffeyes may have cut back lately.)

Good luck!

--p!

[Blue Belle]

2. Thanks so much for your help.

I appreciate your suggestions. I was also going to ask a group from Oregon State University to talk about their project of generating power through ocean wave technology. Since their campus is less tan 30 miles away, I thought that might work out.

I did also want to tie in the biodeisel fuels to the series simply because there is a class offered at our school on how to make it.

Thanks for all of your help.

[lectrobyte]

3. A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash

I've not seen this one, but had made a note to myself to track it down. I second the End of Suburbia, too.

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0776794/

[Blue Belle]

4. Thank you for the link...

it is very helpful. I read the user review and now I definitely want to see this movie.

[Ready4Change]

5. Practice what you preach

Run your filmfest using nothing but renewables.

For example: Here in the MD/VA area is a company called Skybuilt who is making these things:

http://www.skybuilt.com/schematic.htm

It's a portable power generation station. Basically, it'sa cargo container which carries a battery array, a bunch of solar panels and maybe a windmill turbine. I heard a story about them on NPR last friday. They do sell a lot of these to the military, so that might be an issue for you. Or, maybe you can consider using one as beating a sword into a plow.

Call them up. Maybe they'd be into providing one for you, in exchange for the chance to promote their product to a green minded audience?

[Blue Belle]

6. What an interesting idea...

IT's definitely something I'll look into. Thanks for the tip!