February 21, 2012
Tales from Planet Earth, a free environmental film festival hosted by the Nelson Institute Center for Culture, History, and Environment, returns to Madison March 25-31. More than 30 films and events are scheduled, along with visits from renowned green jobs advocate Van Jones and prominent filmmakers.
In anticipation of this year's festival, the Nelson Institute is giving away five DVDs from a collection of Tales from Planet Earth favorites. Over the past five years, Tales from Planet Earth has brought more than 75 environmental films to the Madison area through the biennial Tales festival, community screenings and participation in the Wisconsin Film Festival.
Five winners (of one DVD each) will have their choice of the eleven films described below. Entries must be received by no later than 4:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by email shortly thereafter.
To enter, simply follow these two steps:
Step 1: "Like" Tales from Planet Earth on Facebook and/or follow @TalesFilmFest on Twitter to stay updated on the latest festival news
Step 2: Provide your contact information below, then click Submit
Winners can select from:
The Cove (2009) - This documentary comes across as an espionage thriller and environmental advocacy film rolled into one. At stake is the annual slaughter and capture of dozens of dolphins in the hidden cove of the Japanese town of Taiji.
Food, Inc. (2008) - An unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry. Featuring interviews with Eric Schlosser, Michael Pollan, and social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms' Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms' Joe Salatin.
The Greening of Southie (2008) - Feature documentary about Boston's first residential green building, and the skeptical workers who are asked to build it.
Manufactured Landscapes (2006) - The world and work of renowned artist Edward Burtynsky, who creates large-scale photographs of "manufactured landscapes" - quarries, recycling yards, factories, mines and dams.
My Dog Tulip (2009) - A delightful adaptation of J.R. Ackerley's 1956 memoir, My Dog Tulip is a bittersweet account of the author's 14-year relationship with his adopted Alsatian. (Note: This is not a children's film.)
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds (1984) – The story of a princess growing up in a feudal-like world a thousand years after a war has devastated much of Earth's environment and technology. Utilizing her gift for communicating with giant insects and possessing a love of living things, she sets out on a perilous journey to defend all life against destruction.
Saving Luna (2008) – The true story of Luna, a baby male orca who gets separated from his family in a remote Canadian fjord. A beautiful portrait of a living being who touches hundreds of intersecting lives.
Sleep Dealer (2008) – This science-fiction masterpiece imagines a future in which all U.S. borders are closed to immigration yet foreign workers continue to perform labor remotely via robotic connections. A mind-blowing, satirical look at modern labor.
Ten Canoes (2006) – An absorbing and stylish paean to the rich oral traditions of Aboriginal Australia. A man teaches his younger brother an important lesson through an ancient fable.
What's On Your Plate (2009) – Two New York City pre-teens journey across the systems that provide them with food and take charge of their health against the onslaught of unhealthy food choices bombarding them. A film the whole family should experience together.
Yes Men Fix the World (2009) – Sequel to the 2003 smash success The Yes Men. Professional rabble-rousers Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno pose as their industrious alter-egos, exposing those profiting from Hurricane Katrina and other events.