Patagonia Rising at the Pacific Rim Film Festival – Oct 19, 2011

Patagonia Rising has been selected as the featured film for the Closing Night Benefit of the Pacific Rim Film Festival in Santa Cruz, CA on Wednesday, October 19 at 7pm.

Filmmaker Brian Lilla and Berklee Lowrey-Evans of International Rivers will be there for a Q&A after the film.

About the film

Deep in the heart of Patagonia, Chile flow two of the world's purest rivers, the Baker and Pascua. Fed by vast glacial systems, these free-flowing watersheds drive biodiversity in temperate rainforests, estuaries and marine ecosystems. They are also the life source for Patagonia's most tenacious residents. Gauchos, the iconic South American cowboys, endure relentless winds and long winters on remote ranches in these river valleys.

Isolated and largely undeveloped Patagonia and its people are caught in a heated conflict surrounding a proposal to build five large hydroelectric dams on the Baker and Pascua Rivers. Promoted as "clean" energy, the project's cultural and environmental impacts would forever alter the region. Alternatives exist. Clean energy experts are proving the viability of solar, wind and geothermal resources developed much closer to demand and infrastructure.

Over the past century more than 45,000 large dams have redefined the course and health of the planet's rivers with disastrous impacts that continue to unfold. Tracing the hydrologic cycle of the Baker from ice to ocean, Patagonia Rising brings voice to the frontier people caught in the crossfire of Chile's energy demands. Juxtaposing the pro-dam business sector with renewable energy experts, the documentary brings awareness and solutions to this global conflict over water and power.

About the festival

The Pacific Rim Film Festival is celebrating its 23rd year. For six days, from October 14-19, they will feature works from filmmakers spanning the Pacific rim: Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand, The Philippines, India, Mexico, Australia and the U.S.

True to theme theme of "When Strangers Meet." the films have a mission to foster cross-cultural understanding and the festival strives to reach the broadest audience possible. All films are offered free of charge, with the exception of the finale benefit event.