Fort Myers Film Festival to Showcase Three Environmental Films

On May 18, the Fort Myers Film Festival kicks off its celebration of filmmaking and storytelling in beautiful southwest Florida. The festival is set to include a variety of film genres, including environmental documentaries – three of which are created by Florida-based nonprofit, Emergent Productions – an organization that uses the power of storytelling to inspire environmental awareness.

Eric Raddatz, curator of the Fort Myers Film Festival, explains, “We have only one earth and we have to realize we can destroy it or save it. Understanding just how important it is means starting the conversation and inspiring efforts in the right direction. Sometimes, independent film can powerfully educate as well as entertain, and I’ve made this a priority with the Fort Myers Film Festival.”

The Fort Myers Film Festival will host two Environmental Blocks at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center – one beginning at 3pm on Thursday, May 19 and the other at 3:30pm on Friday, May 20. Emergent Productions is thrilled to have all three of their short documentaries officially selected to screen during these blocks at the festival.

Founder of Emergent Productions, Sonny DePasquale, says, “Having all three of our films receive recognition from the Fort Myers Film Festival is very exciting for Emergent Productions. It is an honor to be a part of their lineup, and it’s also great to see the festival appreciate environmental and conservation storytelling.”

• Emergent Productions’ film Missing Meadows: Restoring Florida’s Seagrass will screen during the Environmental Block on May 19.
  • The film highlights the threats to biodiversity in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon while following the work of scientists at the Florida Oceanographic Society.

• During the May 20 block, attendees will see Emergent Productions’ other two films, Busy in The Battery and Protecting the Monarch Butterfly.
  • Busy in The Battery transports the audience to an urban farm in New York City that is pollinated by a neighboring BeeVillage – a perfect film to watch on May 20, which happens to be World Bee Day.
  • Protecting the Monarch Butterfly also showcases the importance of pollinators, and serves as a great example of the benefits of land restoration.

To learn more about Emergent Productions, visit www.emergentproductions.org or contact info@emergentproductions.org. Details about the Fort Myers Film Festival, including ticket purchases, can be found at www.fortmyersfilmfestival.com.