Profitable Farming & Good Environmental Practices Hit Screen

Profitable Farming and Good Environmental Practices Hit the Big Screen

Too often farming and good environmental practice are portrayed as polar opposites, but that’s often not the case says Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival Director, Victoria Jakobs. And to prove it, Reel Earth a hosting two ‘Film+Talk’ events at Focal Point Cinema, Feilding, showcasing farmers who work with their environmental constraints, increasing profitability.

The events, created specifically for farmers, feature short case studies from the Ministry of Primary Industries of farmers from both islands successfully working with high rainfall, sandy soils and extreme climate variations. Some of the solutions are ingeniously simple, and the farmers approaches are inspiring says Ms Jakobs. The films are followed by a short presentation by agricultural industry experts Stu Bradbury of Precision Irrigation and Tony Rhodes of PGG Whrightsons, covering issues raised in the films, with an open discussion.

“This year Reel Earth is attempting to reach new audiences for films, by delivering content that is relevant to those audiences.” Says Ms Jakobs. “Farmers are the backbone of the country’s economy, and also under the spotlight the more than any other sector about their impact on the environment. We wanted to create something positive and inspiring for them.”

The Film+Talk events are being held on Friday 7th June. Friday is sale day at the stockyards and market day in Feilding, and it is hoped that the farmers will enjoy an hour out of the cold seeing their peers on the big screen.

“That’s definitely another reason why we are screening these films.” Says Ms Jakobs “It’s not often that farmers get to see people like themselves on the big screen.”

In addition to the case studies from the Ministry of Primary Industries, we have two excellent short films about farmers from Australia and Newfoundland. The Australian film, Well Beyond Water was in last year’s Reel Earth Festival and won Best Short Film, and was just too good – and relevant – to pass over.

Manawatu District Council have got behind the event, sponsoring the cinema hire  - so it’s free to attend.

Fri 7th June, Focal Point Cinema, 81 Manchester St, Feilding

2pm – 3.30pm: WORKING WITH WATER VARIATIONS  + Stu Bradbury, Precision Irrigation
3.30pm – 5pm: MEET THE FARMERS WORKING WITH THE ELEMENTS + Tony Rhodes, PGG Whrightsons

Bookings: At Focal Point Cinema

ENDS

© Scoop Media