Under Rich Earth
ANNOUNCING A SPECIAL FUNDRAISING SCREENING AT THE BLOOR CINEMA:
Rye Cinema presents the acclaimed feature documentary film:
UNDER RICH EARTH
“Urgent and vital filmmaking in the spirit of Kanahsatake: 270 Years of Resistance and Manufactured Landscapes.”
– Jesse Wente, CBC
Director’s Cut!
Guest Speakers!
Director Q&A!
DVD Launch!
Fundraising!
Date: Saturday, February 13th, 2009
Time: 6:30
Where: The Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street, Toronto, Tel: 416-516-2331
Tickets: $10
Please Arrive Early! Tickets go on sale 1 hour before the event.
This is a fundraising event.
* Winner: Global Conscience Award – Mexico City Documentary Film Festival
* Top Ten Most Popular Canadian Films: Vancouver International Film Festival
* Nominated for Best Documentary – Hamburg International Independent Film Festival
* Nominated for Coral Award – Best Documentary – Havana Film Festival
* Official Selection: Toronto International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Victoria Film Festival, Sudbury International Film Festival, Watch Docs Warsaw, Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Encuentros del Otro Cine – Quito, Boulder International Film Festival and many more…
GUEST SPEAKERS!
The Honourable John McKay (To Be Confirmed) – John McKay is the Member of Parliament for Scarborough – Guildwood. His private member’s Bill C300 seeks to create a framework for transnational corporate accountability in Canadian law. The Bill has already passed second reading in the House of Commons and is not affected by Stephen Harper’s prorogation of Parliament.
Murray Klippenstein – Murray Klippenstein is a Toronto lawyer representing three Ecuadorians who are suing the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Copper Mesa Mining Corporation for violating their human rights. Under Rich Earth tells the story of the events that ultimately led to this ground breaking transnational lawsuit. Read more in the Toronto Star:http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/729148
FUNDRAISING!
Under Rich Earth was a labour of love produced on a shoestring budget over two years. Proceeds from this event will help to pay for the making of the film and to support two Ecuadorian community organizations that are featured in the film: Radio Intag (a community radio station) and Café Rio Intag, a fair trade coffee co-op located in the Intag valley.
DVD LAUNCH!
The Limited Edition Director’s Cut DVD of Under Rich Earth will be available for purchase:
$25.00 – home use
$150.00 – community organizations
$295 – Universities and Libraries.
Event Sponsors
Nathanson Centre for Transnational Human Rights Crime and Security, Osgoode Hall Law School.
Charles Street Video
Mining Awareness Coalition – Toronto
SYNOPSIS
In a remote mountain valley in Ecuador, coffee and sugarcane farmers face the dismal prospect of being forced off their land to make way for a mining project. Unprotected by the police and ignored by their government, they prepare to face down the ‘invaders’ on their own. Their resistance leads to a remarkable and dangerous stand off between farmers and a band of mysterious armed men high in the cloud forest. In a world dominated by news of massacres and terrorism, Under Rich Earth is a surprising and poignant tale of hope and determination.
HERE’S WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT UNDER RICH EARTH:
“Magnificent… a thrilling and revealing portrayal of the search for justice.”
– Alberto Ramos, Signis (Brussels)
“Gripping and disturbing…”
**** Eye Weekly
“Graceful and Uplifting”
Critic’s Pick NNNN
– NOW Magazine
“Hair-raising…”
– Playback Magazine
“A remarkably prescient cautionary tale…”
– Matthew Hays, Montréal Mirror
“An outstanding work of hard journalism…”
– Michael Sauve, Canadian Film Programmers Blog
“A startling exposé… a graceful, well made vérité doc.”
– Marc Glassman, Classical 96.3FM
“Down to earth…without any bullshit”
*** AfroToronto.com
“Powerful… remarkable… dramatic…”
– Chris Cobb, Ottawa Citizen
“It’s impossible not to be intrigued…”
– David Schmeichel, Winnipeg Sun
“Another good film about people power. Things go sideways, diagonally, and off the chart when a small Ecuadorian farming village stands up to the supremely underhanded tactics of an aggressive Canadian mining corporation.”
– Geoff Olson, Vancouver Courier
“Rogge’s most impressive achievement here is how his story gnaws through stereotypes of people as victims of corporate and army oppression. The documentary dispels such notions, revealing the people of Junin as powerful organizers.”
– Ed Janzen, FUSE Magazine
“Unarmed and unprotected, the poor farmers in a tiny mountain community in Ecuador face down and detain armed mercenaries hired by Canadian mining company Ascendant Copper. Canadian documentary maker Malcolm Rogge caught some amazing footage to build a story about corporate malfeasance and how the undertrod overcame the superior forces of might, money and political manipulation.”
– Susan Walker, Toronto Star