Green Screen

It used to be that if someone called me “green,” he meant I was sick, sad, immature, inexperienced, unsophisticated or naive. Now it means I’m an Al Gore quoting, gum-wrapper-recycling, water-conserving, non-littering, canvas-grocery-bag-carrying, Styrofoam-refusing, wouldn’t-be-caught-dead-with-my-engine-idling pain in everyone else’s ass. And it’s all true, save the Al Gore bit (I haven’t even seen that film). We’re everywhere these days — bagging our own groceries, letting our lawns die, attending this weekend’s third-annual Colorado Environmental Film Festival with the rest of our tree-hugging homies.

Wait — the cynics are coming? Really?

“This definitely attracts skeptics,” says Kate Gardner, coordinator of this year’s fest. “The great thing about a film festival is that it’s not a lecture or some sort of panel on global warming. The medium of film reaches beyond the choir to people who just enjoy being entertained.”

Oh, come on. Well, at least there won’t be any kids around to get in the way of all our deep consciousness and caring.

“The children’s event reaches out to the younger generation and combines singing and dancing and film with topics like renewable energy, so it’s easier for that generation to understand,” Gardner adds.

Understand this: The fest begins at 6 p.m. today and runs through Sunday at the American Mountaineering Center, 710 10th Street in Golden. It features 22 films, free electronics recycling, the aforementioned kids’ events and more. Ticket packages range from $5 to $40. Get more information and a full schedule at www.ceff.net or by calling 303-273-9527.
Oct. 2-5, 2008