Focus on Nature 2019

Apr. 18–May 2, 2019

Focus on Nature is back with a rich selection of thought-provoking and moving nonfiction films about the beauty, power, and mystery of nature, and some of the people working to protect it. The series kicks off with The Biggest Little Farm, an inspiring look at a determined young California couple who want to start a farm, and we’ll finish up with The Dawn Wall, a thrilling rock-climbing adventure that will blow audiences away. Along the way, we’ll present Backyard Wilderness (the 3D sensation that swept the Giant Screen Awards), explore the incredible craft of creating wine in Burgundy (and taste it), visit the Picasso of garden design, meet the beekeeping sensation of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and revel in the beauty and essence of the Rio Grande and Hudson Rivers—even as climate change hovers over all of it. Join us for these and other screenings, along with lively discussions and a joyous celebration of Pete Seeger’s 100th birthday with live music and storytelling by great folk artists who knew him well.

Programmed by Brian Ackerman

Filmmaker and Emmy Award-Winning Cinematographer Christi Cooper Selected as First Focus on Nature Resident

SERIES TRAILER

Backyard Wilderness in 3D Apr. 18–25, 2019 This year we’ll highlight something that’s a first for the Burns: an exclusive one-week engagement of a film normally only…
Grand Cru Apr. 20, 2019 Q&A winemaker Pascal Marchand with Reception In 1983 Pascal Marchand, a 21-year-old aspiring poet from Montreal, arrived in the mythical land of Burgundy to work the…
Anote's Ark Apr. 22, 2019 “Climate change is the greatest moral challenge for humanity. We haven’t risen to the challenge.” (Anote Tong) “Matthieu Rytz expresses…
Genesis 2.0 Apr. 23, 2019 “A double-stranded helix of a real-life thriller, chilling and unforgettable.” (The Hollywood Reporter) A totally original film that threads a…
Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf Apr. 25, 2019 Q&A and book-signing with Jan Johnsen, author of the brand-new Gardentopia: Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces “Reveals gardens you’d look forward to getting lost in, gardens that brilliantly use the interplay of form and color to…
Honeyland Apr. 26–July 24, 2019 “An unforgettable vérité character study and an intimate look at an endangered tradition.” (The Hollywood Reporter) Winner of the World…
EarthX Shorts Program Apr. 27, 2019 We’re happy to present this illuminating and entertaining selection of short films, stretching from portraits of eco-activists to tales of…
Hope on the Hudson: Jon Bowermaster’s River Stories Apr. 29, 2019 Q&A with filmmaker Jon Bowermaster with Safe Energy Rights Group co-founder Courtney M. Williams, PhD, Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan, Riverkeeper’s Water Quality Program Director Dan Shapley, and Jay Goldmark, Field Crops Manager from the Farm Hub An evening of short films hosted by filmmaker and environmentalist Jon Bowermaster, who will share stories of hope, success, and…
The River and the Wall Apr. 30, 2019 Some filmmakers just have incredible timing. This gorgeous, powerful, and timely new film about the environmental impacts of the proposed…
Pete Seeger’s 100th Birthday Party! May 1, 2019 Live Music with Tony Trischka and Bruce Molsky with Dessert and Wine Reception FILM: Pete Seeger: The Power of Song This “stirring, revelatory film” (Entertainment Weekly) is a terrific portrait of one of…
The Dawn Wall May 2, 2019 Q&A with filmmaker Josh Lowell Yes, I’m going to make the seemingly outrageous claim that this climbing film is every bit as thrilling and suspenseful…
The Biggest Little Farm May 17–23, 2019 “Mother Nature has never been more inspiring.” (chef, restaurateur, and activist Alice Waters) The winner of no less than five…
Anthropocene: The Human Epoch Oct. 4, 2019 “The film seeks to reveal rather than lecture, in the hope that our eyes will convince our brains to act…

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