Encounters documentary festival is NOW ON in Cape Town and in Jo'burg. And there are a lot of 'green' angle films, some of them like local film maker and journalist Helena Kingswell's vital "Buried in Earthskin" really worth catching.

The section for the movies with a green bent is called 'Green Movies: rewind, review, remake' and you can look out for the following:

“Dirt! The Movie” Dirs: Bill Benenson, Gene Rosow USA, brings us that much closer to understanding and appreciating the substance that provides food, shelter, implements, warmth, even giving our wines their distinctive tastes if experts are to be believed: soil. Courtesy of Woolworths. “Woolworths is proud to be supporting Dirt! A movie that celebrates soil. Soil holds the key to life on earth. Not least because it nourishes the food we need to survive. That’s why we’ve asked our fruit and vegetable suppliers to take better care of the soil, water resources and biodiversity – an approach that we’ve called “Farming for the future” says Justin Smith, Woolworths Good Business Journey Manager.
 
“Earthchild” Dir: Lesedi Mogoatlhe, SA, Nokuphiwo Jada, a charming embodiment of the philosophy she espouses, is changing the lives and attitudes of children at a Khayelitsha primary school using yoga, meditation and life skills and of course, gardening. Courtesy of the SABC, the director and Earthchild / Earthaddict: Preceded by Unearthing the Pen Dir: Carol Salter . UK.

“Tapped” Dir: Stephanie Soechtig, USA, investigates the many negative health and environmental issues that surround the commercialisation of H2O. Since the festival is indeed ‘For love of Water™’ it plans to encourage visitors to not purchase bottled water at these screenings. Courtesy of Cargo Film & Releasing

“The Yes Men Fix the World”, USA, Andy and Mike two corporate pranksters fight in their own bold, undeniably brave and outrageous way to hold corporations accountable for the environmental and social harm they have caused.

Buried in Earthskin, Dir: Helena Kingwill, SA, journalist Kingswill has a frightening premonition. It impels her on a quest to uncover the truth about nuclear energy in South Africa.
Care Takers Dir: Michael Raimondo SA, The Guardian a tribute to ‘ Birdie’ Mboweni studying and protecting the African Penguin on Dassen Island & Path in to the Future follows Kerri Wolters who is committed to saving Cape Vultures.

A Place Without People Dir: Andreas Apostolides, Greece, filmed at Tanzania’s Ngorogoro Crater, this insightful film interviews community leaders, wildlife specialists and anthropologists to dissect and challenge the Western conviction that for animals to survive, they should be separated from humans.

For the Best and for the Onion! Dir: Sani Elhadj Magori Niger / France filmed in Galmi, Niger, this lingering and thoughtful film trims one of the most universally significant, and often most financially excessive, rites of passage to a bittersweet elemental level. Courtesy of the French Embassy.

Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space Dir: Denis Delestrac France / Canada, against the wishes of all other nations, and in contradiction of President Obama’s stated policy, the US government continues to gift billions to private corporations developing space-based weapons systems.

These award winning local and international documentaries, which focus on cultivating environmental and social awareness, are brought to you in collaboration with Greenhouse, who build marketing and communication strategies and visual campaigns that help create a healthy sustainable society.

Since its inception in 1999, Encounters has been instrumental in the growth of a cinema-going audience in the documentary genre in South Africa. Discussions and debates are stimulated through the Q&A sessions after the screenings with renowned international and local filmmakers. For more www.encounters.co.za

Sponsors include: The National Film and Video Foundation is the primary sponsor of the Festival. Encounters is made possible by the further support of the City of Cape Town, Cape Film Commission, Provincial Government of Western Cape, Arts & Culture Trust & Breadline Africa, The Times, Nu Metro, Tempest Car Hire, Out In Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Pro Helvetia, The Swiss Arts Council, French Embassy, British Council, Goethe Institut, German Consulate General Cape Town and Cape Town TV.

For more information and details of the full programme go to: www.encounters.co.za

Cape Town: 12 - 29 August 2010
Venues:
* Nu Metro, V&A Waterfront
* Labia on Orange

Johannesburg: 18 – 29 August 2010
Venue:
The Bioscope, Ground Floor of Main Street Life, 286 Fox Street, Maboneng Precinct

Contact: Joy Sapieka, joyls@mweb.co.za or
Helene Turvey, heleneturvey@gmail.com