This world premiere will include a live Q&A with the filmmakers Kevin McMahon (Director/Producer) and Michael McMahon (Producer), as well as the subject of the film, George Divoky. Synopsis: George Divoky has returned to the rugged conditions of Alaska’s coastline every year since 1972 to collect data on a dwindling Black Guillemot colony. His patient observations of the arctic seabird’s population on shrinking sea ice was one of the world’s first documented evidence of climate change, thrusting him into the spotlight. In director Kevin McMahon’s sensitive homage to a scientist driven to observe the sea bird's story in its rapidly changing environment, George wrestles with becoming a reluctant hero in the climate change movement, and coming to terms with the meaning of his life’s journey on his remote arctic island paradise. *This film will be preceded by short film Arctic Ice, Under the Midnight Sun (UK, 3 min). Synopsis: ‘Arctic Ice: Under The Midnight Sun’ is a collaboration between filmmaker Michelle Sanders and composer Alice Boyd. An audiovisual exploration of the beauty of Arctic ice – and the perils it faces – the film is a love letter to an ecosystem on which we all depend, one which is rapidly disappearing.
Now in our 25th year, Planet in Focus is an environmental media arts organization with year-round programming. Our mandate is to produce cultural events that showcase engaging and artistic films that question, explore and tell stories about the world in which we live. We use film as a catalyst for public awareness, discussion and engagement on a broad range of environmental issues.