Dr. Oakleigh Thorne, a lifelong conservationist and environmental educator, leads a nature walk of young birders at Thorne Nature Center in Boulder. “The Mighty Oak,” a feature-length film about Thorne’s life, will be shown at both sessions of the Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership’s Environmental Film Festival on April 15 at The Springs Resort.
By Sally High | Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership
The Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership (GGP) will welcome supporters to its 10th Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF) on April 14 and 15 at The Springs Resort.
The GGP’s educational park is located in Centennial Park, right on the San Juan Riverwalk. The nonprofit GGP operates three teaching dome greenhouses, a public amphitheater, the Rotary xeric garden and the Audubon native plants garden.
The GGP’s 2023 CEFF Caravan features nine films all about Colorado and chosen for Pagosa Springs viewers. Southwest Colorado’s GGP supporters gather each year to celebrate partnerships promoting environmental awareness, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy.
The Springs Resort hosts GGP’s Film Festival in the Phoenix Room and adjacent conference space. Friday evening, April 14, the Premiere Gala will begin at 5 p.m. with a catered crepe buffet dinner and a discounted cash bar. The upscale evening features three films. Friday night wristbands allow guests to view films on Saturday as well.
Two film sessions are scheduled for Saturday, April 15. Seating at The Springs is limited to 50 people at a time. The first film session is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A second session is 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Both film sessions will include nine films new to Pagosa Springs, but currently making the rounds at environmental film festivals. Both seatings offer snacks and soft drinks. The second session will also feature a discounted cash bar in the Phoenix Room.
The nine films slated for GGP’s Film Festival include CEFF award-winners “Voices of the Grand Canyon” and “Right Here Right Now.”
“Voices of the Grand Canyon” is the 2023 CEFF Best Short Film and tells stories of 11 native nations in relationship with the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. The 2023 Best Youth Film award goes to “Right Here Right Now,” the story of young climate activists in Colorado Springs.
Filmmaker and Pagosa resident Christi Bode Skeie will join us for the Friday night Pagosa premiere of “Farm to Faucet.” Guests will enjoy an opportunity to discuss water and filmmaking with Skeie. “Farm to Faucet” explores our most valuable and increasingly scarce resource in Colorado — water.
A schedule of the nine films to be shown twice, in two sessions on April 15, will be published soon.
All tickets can be purchased at https://www.pagosagreen.org/environmentalfilmfestival. Premiere Gala tickets are $50 and include one Saturday session. Tickets are $15 for Saturday’s early session (11 a.m.) or evening session (5 p.m.). Both Saturday sessions include all nine films. Seating is limited.
The Friday evening Premiere Gala will include three films. Fifty guests will enjoy a crepe buffet with assorted savory and sweet crepes, a discounted cash bar, discussion with a filmmaker and environmentalists, and entry to Saturday’s films. Because of limited seating, Friday night guests who intend to return on Saturday can indicate their preference for the early or late session. Empty seats on Saturday will be filled.
Tickets for each Saturday showing are $15 and are available https://www.pagosagreen.org/environmentalfilmfestival/.
The GGP film fest kicks off Pagosa’s annual Earth Week. Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 and is centered at the GGP site. The GGP is one of many Pagosa groups that will greet the public in Centennial Park for Earth Day. All film fest proceeds benefit GGP’s operations.
