When the 2006 version of the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival begins next March, it will be housed, for the first time, in the College’s Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies.
"In addition to expanding the range of events being offered, we have also redefined and expanded environmental issues to explore the international connections between war, disease, health, genocide, cultural heritage, and diversity," says Tanya Sanders, assistant provost and dean of the Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies. "The scope of the Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival is now being extended to explore sustainability in terms of its economic, social, ecological, political, cultural, and technological forms."
Now in its ninth year, the festival had its beginnings as an outreach project sponsored by Cornell University’s Center for the Environment and Einaudi Center for International Studies, Ithaca College, Cornell Cinema, and others. In 2004 Ithaca College became the major sponsor of the event, in large measure because of the College’s commitment to sustainability dovetailed with the festival’s efforts to link intellectual inquiry to larger global issues.
"The framework provided by sustainability thinking -- with its emphasis on interconnectedness, the dynamic nature of complex systems, and the importance of taking the long view -- has much in common with the strategic approach adopted in the College’s planning processes," says Peter Bardaglio, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "Therefore, it makes sense that the College lend its support to an event that raises awareness of environmental issues and inspires people to become more involved with environmental causes."
Under the codirectorship of Patricia Zimmermann, professor of cinema and photography, and Tom Shevory, professor and chair of politics, the 2006 Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival will screen more than 40 films and videos as well as provide a venue for lectures, exhibitions, installations, performances, and discussion groups. Through a partnership with the nonprofit 7th Art Corporation, 35mm international feature films will be screened in downtown Ithaca at the Cinemapolis and Fall Creek cinemas. All other events will take place on campus.
Additional festival partnerships include collaborations with the French American Cultural Exchange, the Human Studies Film Archives of the Smithsonian Institute, and the Rose Goldsen Archive of New Media Art at Cornell University.
The complete schedule will be made available in early spring. The festival will be held from March 30 to April 6.
For more information contact Patricia Zimmermann at (607) 274-3431 or patty@ithaca.edu, or Tom Shevory at (607) 274-1347 or shevory@ithaca.edu.
