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Environmental film fest returns to the Quad-Cities Saturday

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By David Burke | Friday, March 28, 2008 9:34 AM CDT | () comments

King Corn co-producers Curt Ellis, left, and Ian Cheney perform a test taste on their acre of corn in Greene, Iowa. It is one of the movies that will be shown at this weekend's Quad-CIty environmental film fest.(Sam Cullman/KINGCORN.NET) Buy this Photo

“King Corn” was a logical choice for the third annual Environmental Film Festival that will take place today at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Davenport.

“We’re showing ‘King Corn’ twice because it’s so good and because it’s so local,” said Kathryn Allen, a co-director of the festival.

The movie was filmed in Greene, Iowa, which is roughly halfway between Cedar Falls and Mason City.

“King Corn” takes a humorous, yet hard-hitting, look at a serious issue, something done in several of the films being shown today.

“A lot of this stuff is very grim,” said Allen, co-chair of the event along with Kris Bergren, Sheri Coleman and Holly Johnson. “How we’re treating the planet is not a pretty picture. So, if we can look at it with hope ... it makes a difference.”

Among the other movies with a humorous bent are “Blue Vinyl,” about a young woman whose parents decide to re-side their house in vinyl. The filmmaker traced the life of the vinyl, from its manufacturing through its disposal, to look at its toxins and effect on the environment.

“It’s like ‘King Corn’ in that there’s a light touch,” Allen said. “She’s got a great sense of humor, and she (the filmmaker) ends on a very positive note.”

Other films in the festival include:

-- “A Crude Awakening,” which Allen calls “a very powerful movie about the studies that have been done on fossil fuels on planet Earth and what is there, as best as scientists can tell.”

-- “Kilowatt Ours,” a look at the environmental effects of everyday electricity use.

-- “Everything’s Cool,” about what ordinary Americans are doing to curtail global warming.

-- “Who Killed the Electric Car?” a return of the documentary about electric car consumption. Weather permitting, there will be an electric car demonstration by Amy Nielsen and Bruce Wood of Port Byron, Ill.-based ePower Synergies, which manufactures prototype electric cars.

The festival is co-sponsored by the church, the Eagle View Group of the Sierra Club and Radish magazine.

Allen said the selections become more difficult each year with the growing number of environmentally themed movies.

“There are several Web sites and organizations we know of that tend to have very good environmental films,” she said. “There are so many good environmental movies out there.”

A greater awareness of “going green” is evident, she said.

“Boy, is there an awakening of consciousness out there,” Allen said. “I think people really need to learn about this and what’s going on and what they can do at any level.”

David Burke can be contacted at (563) 383-2400 or dburke@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

IF YOU GO

What: Environmental Film Festival

When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today

Where: Universalist Unitarian Church, 3707 Eastern Ave., Davenport; parking also will be available at the Per-Mar Security lot, 1910 E. Kimberly Road, with a pathway connecting the two lots

How much: Free, with donations accepted

Food: Greatest Grains will serve food, with donations accepted

SCHEDULE

“King Corn,” 11 a.m., sanctuary; 1 p.m., community room

“Blue Vinyl,” 11 a.m., community room

“Who Killed the Electric Car?” 1 p.m., sanctuary

“Crude Awakening,” 3 p.m., sanctuary; 5 p.m., community room

“Everything’s Cool,” 3 p.m., community room

“Kilowatt Hours,” 5 p.m., sanctuary