Our Pick of the week…is and all weekend event….The G2 Green Earth Film Festival takes place Friday, August 5, through Sunday August 7, 2016 at the G2 Gallery. This eco-conscious film festival brings together people from all over the environmental spectrum. Free admission. Free food. Free drink. Free thought.

The G2 Green Earth Film Festival was started in 2013 so eco-conscious filmmakers of all levels of experience – from students to seasoned professionals – could have a platform to showcase their work. Now in its fourth year, the festival features films from all over the world and includes industry panels, parties, musical performances and more.

All finalists will screen at the 4th Annual G2 Green Earth Film Festival August 5-7, 2016, at The G2 Gallery in Venice, California and are eligible to win the following prizes: Best Short – $500; Best Feature – $1,000; Gottlieb Award for Environmental Excellence – $1,000; Audience Choice Award – $500

There are currently two exhibitions on exhibit – “Moths at LArge” by Jim des Rivières and the third installation of the gallery’s four-part series…”100 Years of National Parks: The Midwest.”

See image: Virgin Tiger Moth (Grammia virgo) – by Jim des Rivières

On Friday, August 5, the festival opens with “IGNITE THE CHANGE,” a night of incredible films and a panel discussion on diversity in the eco-community, all centered on kickstarting environmental action. This evening coincides with Abbot Kinney’s First Fridays. All donation proceeds benefit the International League of Conservation Photographers. *Doors open at 5:30pm;

6:00pm-7:30pm –  Short Films: Women of the Forest (Dir. Inshallah Montero), BATWA (Dir. Jocelyn Cox, Rupert Shanks), Save the Bees (Dir. Marta Topolska), A Ghost in the Making (Dir. Morgan Heim, Neil Losin), Forget Shorter Showers (Dir. Jordan Brown), The Fable of the Wolf (Dir. Charlie Cardillo), Silent River (Dir. Steve Fisher, Jason Jaacks)
7:30pm-8:30pm: Panel Discussion “Diversity and Inclusion in Environmentalism”
8:30-10pm: Think Like a Scientist: Gorongosa (Dir. Nathan Dappen, Neil Losin), Catching the Sun (Dir. Shalini Kantayya)
10pm-Midnight: PARTY. FOOD. DRINKS. FUN.See image: The Fable of the Wolf (Dir. Charlie Cardillo)
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The festival’s second day, REIMAGINE THE DINNER TABLE, highlights the way we view food and wildlife through screenings, the food and drinks we’re serving up, and the high-profile panel of experts discussing sustainable eating.
All donation proceeds will benefit Shark Allies. *Doors open at 3:30pm

4:00pm-5:00pm: Short Films, Postcard from Fire Country (Dir. Todd Dayton), Voices of the Forest: Thailand (A Partcipatory Documentary by Venice Arts), Seriously Deadly Silence (Dir. Sara Koppel), Chrome (Dir. Jeremy Roberts). Shadow of a Giant (Dir. Clark Ferguson)
5:00pm-6:00pm: Short Films: Freya (Dir. Rachel Pelzer), A passion of gold and fire (Dir. Sebastien Pins), Prey (Dir. Laurence Verheijen), Downstream: Mine Waste and the Fraser River Watershed (Dir. Jeremy Williams), Glass Bottled Milk (Dir. Benjamin Garner)

See image: Postcard from Fire Country, Todd Dayton

6:30pm-8:00pm: Panel Discussion + Greenbar Eco-Cocktail Hour “Eating Responsibly in the 21st Century,” Robert Egger (Founder of LA Kitchen), Clare Fox (Executive Director of LA Food Policy Council), Roberto Martin (Vegan Restauranteur, Personal Chef to Ellen Degeneres), Florence Nishida (Co-Founder of LA Green Grounds) –Moderated by Robin Black (Photographer, Author of Wine-Stained Lens), Cocktail hour courtesy of Greenbar Craft Distillery – serving LA’s signature cocktail, “The Griffith.”
8:00pm-8:30pm: Short Films: The Festival (Dir. Taylor Stanton), Here and Now (Dir. Andy Miller, Robin Moore)
8:30pm-10:00pm: Feature Film: Beavers: Patagonia Invaders (Dir. Pablo Chehebar)
10:00pm-11:00pm: PARTY. FOOD. DRINKS. FUN.

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For its third and final day of the G2 Green Earth Film Festival, enjoy a special CINEBRUNCH – five excellent short films, vegan breakfast sandwiches, coffee, pastries, craft mimosas and more. All free!  All donation proceeds benefit California Native Plant Society. Badass Breakfast Sandwiches from Locali Conscious Convenience will be served, along with Cold Brew from Verve Coffee Roasters, Pastries and Sourdough from Breadologie + Specialty Jams from Sqirl, Specialty mimosas.
 
11:00am: Doors open, food and drinks served
11:30am-12:30pm: Short Films: The Beekeeper’s Beekeeper (Dir. Megan Rossman, Samantha Farinella), Tallurutiup Tariunga (Dir. Carlyle Paetkau, Trevor Gill), The Vision Within (Dir. Michael O. Snyder)
1:00pm-1:30pm: Short Films (Part Deux): Creamen (Dir. Esther Casas Roura), A Tree in the Sea (Dir. Shahir Zag)
Chasing the Distance (directed by Ian Shive)

Then there is a break in the day for clean up for the closing night…From 4:30-10pm, the 4th Annual G2 Green Earth Film Festival concludes with “Scale the Mountain,” a night of films celebrating nature and the breathtaking ways we adventure within it. After the last screening, the Awards Ceremony will announce and honor the winners for Best Short, Best Feature, Audience Choice and Gottlieb Award for Environmental Excellence. Live music from Opus Orange and Loud Forest. Nonprofit Partner: NatureBridge

*Doors open at 4:30pm; 5:00-6:30pm: Short Films; Chasing the Distance @ 5:00pm; The Winter Wise @ 5:00pm; Sharing the Secrets @ 5:15pm; NOATAK: Return to the Arctic @ 5:30pm; Adventurmentalism @5:45pm; 6:30-7:30pm: Feature & Accompanying Short: Above All Else @ 6:30pm; Jumbo Wild @ 6:30pm; 7:30pm: Awards Ceremony;

Plus enjoy live music from Opus Orange and Loud Forest

See image: by Rick Kattelmann

“Moths at LArge” will open alongside “100 Years of National Parks: The Midwest,” the third in the gallery’s four-part series celebrating the centennial of the National Park Service. Included in this open-submission, competitive group show are: Buddy Weiss, Javier Gil Vieco, Felix Gil de la Casa, Chris Miele, Kevin Ebi, Kevin Connolly, Rick Kattelmann, Rusty Nelson and Robert Glenn Ketchum. Photos of Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore and more will be on display until October 2.

Full festival schedule at g2filmfestival.com.  Admission is FREE at the door but you MUST RESERVE TICKETS –  To RSVP CLICK HERE!

The Film Festival runs from Friday, August 5 – Sunday August 7, 2016; the two exhibitions will remain on view through October 2, 2016

What: G2 Green Earth Film Festival
Where: The G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 90291
When: Friday, August 5 (5:30pm-11pm); Saturday, August 6 (3:30pm-11pm) Sunday August 7 (11am-1pm) – Break – (4:30pm – 10pm);
Phone: 310 452-2842
Website: http://www.theg2gallery.com/