Timed nicely to dovetail with Earth Day 2019, the Fifth Annual Taos Environmental Film Festival hits northern New Mexico this Thursday, April 18, though Monday, April 22. This year organizers are presenting 22 award-winning films that “explore various natural ecosystems and their complex beauty, as well as forces damaging the balances of life on our planet.” Among the short films being screened are the Ewan McGregor-narrated nature documentary “Humpback Whales,” the IMAX-lensed adventure documentary “Journey Into Amazing Caves” and the locally produced portraint of New Mexican folklorist Nasario García, “Nasario Remembers the Rio Puerco.” Among the feature offerings are Silent Forests (about conservationists fighting to stop elephant poaching in Africa’s Congo River Basin), Blue Heart of Europe (which depicts the battle to protect Europe’s last wild rivers) and A Bold Peace (a historical chronicle of Costa Rica’s efforts to disband its military and redirect national resources toward education, health and the environment). The festival takes place at the Taos Center for the Arts (133 Paseo del Pueblo Norte). Admission to this multi-day festival is free, but a $5 donation-by-choice is accepted and appreciated. For a complete listing of films and events, go to taosenvironmentalfilmfestival.com.
Reel World: Elephant In My Pajamas Elephant In My Pajamas
The East Mountain Classic Film Series returns to the East Mountain Library (487 NM 333 in Tijeras) this Saturday, April 20, at 2pm. This month’s film is the anarchic Marx brothers smash Animal Crackers from 1930. Among the classic “bits” are the song “Hooray for Captain Spaulding,” an absurd game of bridge and a running gag stolen from Eugene O’Neill’s Strange Interlude. As always, film historian and founder of the American Vaudeville Museum, Frank Cullen, hosts the event. Admission is free and open to the public.
Reel World: Wall-E + Eve 4 Ever Wall-E + Eve 4 Ever
In honor of Earth Day, Albuquerque Film & Music Experience and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation present the environmentally conscious Pixar classic Wall-E on the NMMNH’s DynaTheater screen. The film screens on Sunday, March 21 starting at 1pm. Tickets are $10 general admission or $7.50 for Museum Foundation members and AFME sponsors. For more info or to get tickets in advance, go to naturalhistoryfoundation.org/afmx-movie-series.
Reel World: Original Tree Hugger Original Tree Hugger
If you’re looking for even more Earth Day-based movie events, Guild Cinema (3405 Central NE) is bringing back the documentary The Unruly Mystic: John Muir on Monday, April 22 (Earth Day itself). The films screens at 3:30, 5:45 and 8pm. Directed by Michael Conti, The Unruly Mystic explores the remarkable life and influential works of Muir, considered by many to be the patron saint of environmental activism. Besides being the driving force behind the founding of Yosemite National Park, Muir was a mystic, prophet, poet, conservationist and naturalist. In addition to Muir’s biographical history, the film interviews noted psychiatrists, therapists, theologians, writers and others, asking them to discuss their relationship with nature and its transformative effects on their lives. You can secure advanced tickets for any one of the screenings by going to guildcinema.com.
