Our World, Our Planet: Socially Conscious Cinema

4 Fridays, Feb 6 – March 20 at 7:30 pm

World Centric Community Space Wheelchair Accessible
2121 Staunton Court, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Tel: 650-283-3797

Donations requested to cover cost of films and speakers.
Films to be followed by discussion, speakers and socializing.
Seating capacity is about 50 people. Please feel free to bring food/drinks to share and a cushion as there are a few metal chairs.

Daughters of Wisdom
February 6: Daughters of Wisdom

A collection of three films explore International questions of female education. Daughters of Wisdom is a breathtakingly beautiful film of the nuns of Kala Rongo, an unusual Buddhist monastery for women high in a remote region of Tibet. Breaking with their traditional roles, these nuns quietly contribute to the empowerment of women in Tibetan Buddhist culture. Punam is a moving documentary, narrated simply by nine year-old Punam Tamang, takes us through her daily life in Bhaktapur, Nepal as she mothers her siblings and goes to school, her one hope of a better life. Uncommon Heroes is an inspiring short film about the transformative work of social entrepreneur Ann Cotton who founded the Campaign for Female Education that now helps educate over 400,000 girls in Africa.(102 min, 2008) Awards: Audience Award and Outstanding Achievement in Editing: Best Documentary: Brooklyn Int’l Film Festival; Official Selection: Atlantic Film Festival, Vancouver Int’l Film Festival, Mill Valley Film Festival



A Crude Awakening
February 20: A Crude Awakening

Produced and directed by award-winning European journalists and filmmakers Basil Gelpke and Ray McCormack, this film tells the story of how our civilization’s addiction to oil puts it on a collision course with geology. Compelling, intelligent, and highly entertaining, the film visits with the world’s top experts and comes to a startling, but logical conclusion – our industrial society, built on cheap and readily available oil, must be completely re-imagined and overhauled. (90 min, 2006) Awards: Zurich Film Prize, 2006; Tahoe Int’l Film Festival, 2007; Galway Int’l Film Festival, 2006; Catalan Environmental Film Festival, 2007; Telluride Mountain Film Festival, 2007, Palm Beach Int’l Film Festival, 2007



Ecological Footprint
March 6: Ecological Footprint

Humans are the most successful species on the planet. But our growing economy is placing unprecedented demand on the planet's limited ecological resources. In the film, Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, co-creator of the Ecological Footprint introduces the Ecological Footprint, a resource accounting tool that measures human demand on the Earth. In just thirty minutes, the film paints a picture of our current global situation: for the first time, humanity is in "ecological overshoot" with annual demand on resources exceeding what Earth can regenerate each year. (30 min, 2005) Awards: Seattle Environmental Film Festival; “Stories from the Field” United Nations Documentary Film Festival; Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival; Global Justice Film Festival



The Story of Stuff
March 6: The Story of Stuff

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. (20 minutes, 2007) Awards: SXSW Interactive Award

Media that Matters
March 20: Media That Matters Eighth Annual Film Festival

Is the premiere showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day which engage audiences and inspire them to take action. From gay rights to global warming, the jury-selected collection represents the work of a diverse group of independent filmmakers. The films are equally diverse in style and content, with documentaries, music videos, animations, experimental work and everything else in between. What all the films have in common is that they spark debate and action in 8 minutes or less. 12 inspiring short films. (128 mins, 2008) All featured short films in this collection won awards in various categories of the 8thAnnual Media Matters Film Festival

World Centric will be showcasing another film series later in Spring.