Slate shows urgency of crucial battles

“The River and the Wall” follows five friends on an immersive adventure through the unknown wilds of the Texas borderlands as they travel 1200 miles from El Paso to the Gulf of Mexico on horses, mountain bikes and canoes.
Photo courtesy of Ben Masters

By Chris Gardner

EarthxFilm presented by EarthX, announced the full slate of films and VR presentations for the environmentally focused film festival’s third edition at Fair Park and theaters throughout Dallas on April 19-28. Following a “Kick-Off” week of special screenings and events from April 19-24, Ben Masters’ “The River and The Wall” will serve as this year’s Special Spotlight Screening selection with a gala presentation at the Perot Museum on Thursday, April 25. Guests can explore environmental facts via the 16 feature films, 40 shorts, 40 plus immersive entertainment experiences and exhibits that shine a light on important conservation efforts, the continued adaptation necessary due to the effects of climate change, and investigation into the impact — oftentimes unexpectedly — into areas of our lives because of pollution, lack of conservation and global warming. EarthxFilm will once again give an important platform to the filmmakers and the truth they have discovered and uncovered that reaches all of us — many times in our own backyards.

EarthxFilm also plans to take a more active role in helping effect change and being a positive force, in addition to introducing these films to the Dallas/Fort Worth and North Texas audiences. It will be handing out a number of cash prizes to the film festival’s award-winning filmmakers, to aid them in continuing their important work. The prize money is aimed at supporting future projects and the careers of the filmmakers, as well as assisting in the continued exhibition of these important films. Cash jury and audience prizes will total $25,000 this year.

EarthxFilm’s Co-Founder/President, Michael Cain, said: “This year, we will continue to increase our footprint across Dallas, screening films, presenting virtual reality, interactive projects and environmentally-focused panels at a number of theaters and venues all over the city — beyond our wonderful hub at Fair Park during EarthX, April 26-28. These films and the filmmakers behind them deserve the largest audiences we can provide as the impact and immediacy of their subjects touch every one of us.”

EarthxFilm Artistic Director David Holbrooke, said: “This year’s EarthxFilm slate clearly shows the urgency of the many crucial battles going on all over the world on the environmental landscape. However, these documentaries aren’t simply earnest attempts to advocate for a just cause but are serious, well-crafted stories that bear witness to what is happening out there on the front lines. Audiences will be motivated and inspired by the real life heroes in these movies and will come out of the theaters ready to make their own impact.” 

For more information, visit EarthX.org/edu.