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• Green Film Fest 2017 brings World Premiere of Twelve Pianos to Castro Theatre.
• Awards announced at Closing Night with Tidewater winning the Green Fire Award and Yasuni Man receiving the Green Film Fest Audience Award.
• Green Film Fest is the first film festival in the USA to implement the F-rating system to promote women in the film industry.

Thursday, April 27, San Francisco: San Francisco’s Green Film Fest 2017 ended on a musical note April 26 with the Closing Night World Premiere of Twelve Pianos, after hosting a week of the latest environmental films, expert panels, and discussions in theaters across the city.

The festival screened 71 films about major environmental issues facing the world today, from climate change to food waste, and in regions ranging from North Atlantic islands to the peaks of Bolivian mountains. Films were accompanied by panels and discussions featuring more than 90 filmmakers and guest speakers. With events held in the Castro Theatre, Roxie, 518 Valencia, Koret Auditorium at SF Public Library, David Brower Center, and newly added venue Bayview Opera House.

Awards Announced at Festival Closing Night

Tidewater won the newly added Green Fire Award that recognizes the best environmental feature made in the Bay Area and includes a $5,000 cash prize.  From Bay Area producer/co-writer Nate Birnbaum and director Roger Sorkin, Tidewater follows a community in Virginia, USA, coming together in the face of rising sea levels. The film frames the increase in flooding as both a national security issue and grave economic threat, showing how it affects everyone; from the urban poor to religious clergy to the military. The Green Fire Award jury was impressed by the film’s potential to spark environmental discussion and action across the country.

Yasuni Man received the Audience Award, voted by film viewers at festival screenings. In Yasuni Man, filmmaker Ryan Killackey takes us on an incredible expedition – a 1,500 kilometer journey along 7 rivers – through this Ecuadorian reserve, sharing the story of the conflict in Yasuni that has pitted biodiversity and human rights against oil and commercialization. 

Green Film Fest Awards

• Best Feature: Michelle Latimer, RISE: Standing Rock
• Best Short: Kate Schuler & Nick Rogacki, Pangolin
• Green Tenacity: Joakim Demmer, Dead Donkeys Fear No Hyenas
• Inspiring Lives: Flo Stone, Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital
• Young Filmmaker: Jeffrey Chen, Plastic Bottle Controversy - Explained
• Green Fire: Roger Sorkin & Nate Birnbaum, Tidewater
• Audience: Ryan Killackey, Yasuni Man

Green Film Fest Highlights

Green Film Fest was the first festival in the USA to implement the F-rating system. The new rating is designed to support and promote women and redress the imbalance in the film industry. Nine festival feature films received the rating, which is given to films that are directed by, written by, or are significantly about women. The films Cheshire Ohio, Dark Circle, and RISE: Standing Rock received triple-F-ratings. More information.

This year’s theme What’s on Your Plate? asked viewers to explore the origins and impact of their food. Films catering to this question included the Opening Night World Premiere of Evolution of Organic directed by Mark Kitchell.

Closing Night of the festival hosted live piano performances on-the-red-carpet at the Castro Theatre. Pianists from the film, including Mauro ffortissimo, performed before the World Premiere of Twelve Pianos directed by Dean Mermell. The film follows musician Mauro ffortissimo and a cast of Bay Area musicians creating piano installations in local nature parks.