by Dyanna Smith, President, Red Eft Project
 
We are pleased to announce a new event designed to unite the voices of environmental artists and filmmakers right here in Portsmouth, called the Whaleback Environmental Film & Art Festival.

The vision of Whaleback is to create a weekend where artists and filmmakers come together to provide thought-provoking commentary and entertainment around issues of sustainability, personal responsibility and our connection with nature. With three days of film screenings, parties, and art installations in the heart of town, we see Whaleback as a chance to ignite new ideas and action in our community -- bringing our voices together for positive change.

Portsmouth is the perfect location for this event. The seacoast has long been known for its strong arts community, but few realize that the city is gaining international recognition as an eco-municipality. Whaleback, which is of course named after the iconic lighthouse that marks the entrance to Portsmouth harbor, seems a fitting emblem for an event that illuminates and draws in the stories and imagery that celebrate our environmental culture.

 Woven into the festival, Whaleback will offer engagement events around each of its films. Screenings include fimmaker Q&A, sharing motivations, successes and opportunities moving towards sustainability. Films are also paired with local counterparts - citizens and organizations - who can provide options for action around the film's message, and the tools to take that action.

Partnering with Sustainable Portsmouth and the Green Alliance, Whaleback will run concurrently with the 4th annual Sustainability Fair on the weekend of May 14th as part of a constellation of sustainability events going on in the city.

Right now, we have an open call out for films with a prominent environmental theme, and are accepting online submissions in all film categories at www.whaleback.org. Student films and short films are especially encouraged, as are themes that inspire positive environmental action and introduce new perspectives.
 
Filmmakers can submit entries online until April 15th on the Whaleback website (www.whaleback.org).

Whaleback is organized by The Red Eft Project, a Portsmouth-based nonprofit fostering conservation and environmental protection through research, education, and opportunities to explore and connect with nature. To find out more about Red Eft, and to see our other initiatives, visit www.redeft.org.