Appreciating Art

The urgent story of the mystical Wixarika People, the Huicholes: one of the last pre-Hispanic alive cultures in Latin America. Their struggle against the Mexican government and multinational mining corporations to preserve Wirikuta, their most sacred territory and home of the famous peyote cactus. The mining activities of the Canadian companies that got the concessions in 2010 to prospect this protected area, rich in silver, gold and other minerals, are seen by the Wixarika and their supporters as a great menace for the delicate biodiversity of this unique ecosystem, listed by the UNESCO as World Cultural and Natural Heritage. An unequal and controversial fight from today that triggers the global debate between ancient cultural values, the exploitation of nature and the inevitable development of the peoples.

The Arctic plains are an eminent example of nature's untouched beauty, an endless nothing in which only few know how to survive. But dangerous pesticides are silently accumulating here, poisoning it's inhabitants. A young Inuit woman investigates the sources of this pollution. Her journey takes her to three different continents, where she is confronted with conflicting interests when it comes to short term gains and health care. The recent developments in the Arctic are a disturbing preview of the consequences of structural pollution of the environmental system worldwide.

Happy Planet is a documentary based on the lives of inner-city youth who participate in Hollenbeck Police Activities League leadership program 'Good News Kids' that set out to make a difference in their community. Our courageous kids aren't looking to merely survive the violent gang filled streets of East LA, they are out to impact the planet! Happy Planet educates kids as well as parents on energy conservation, environmental practices, green efforts and provides recycling tips from global activist and eco-conscious celebrities.

Water and its sources have historically been the key factor in the establishment of cities, of civilizations. 'Glacial Balance' is a contemplative documentary film showing the effects climate change is having on Andean glaciers and the lives of those who depend on them for survival. In the film, we travel along the spine of the Andes mountain range, from Colombia to Argentina, getting to know the lives of those who will be first affected by the dwindling glacier reserve, the 'canaries in the mine'; The locals' experiences and scientists working in a race against time.

A fresh look on HIV/AIDS through the lens of Millennials. What happened to an 'AIDS free generation'? Award-winning filmmaker Andrew Jenks embarks on a global journey, traveling to South Africa, India, and middle America. PAIGE, a college student and activist, who was born with HIV contracted the disease from her mother at birth. SARANG, who contracted HIV through a partner, is a theater director, and one of the most prominent young advocates for gay rights in India (important given the recent outlawing of homosexual sex). LUCKY, a popular young man who lives in Khayelitsha, South Africa, does not have HIV but is a teacher for young people in a country with the highest number of people infected.

Look around you for items marked 'Made in the USA'. How many items did you find? Could the loss of manufacturing jobs be a vital reason why our economy is struggling? Does 'Made in the USA' mean anything anymore? After witnessing the tragic effects caused by a factory shutdown in his hometown of Ravenswood, WV, Josh Miller takes off across the country for 30 days on an epic journey into the heart of America seeking to discover the answers to these questions.