A Call to Action: SPOIL Wins Top Environmental Film at Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival

We’re so excited about the success of SPOIL at last week’s Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. Not only did it win the top spot in the Environmental Film category, but our screening brought together some of the key characters of this summer’s RAVE, enticed more than 700 spectators and motivated more than 1,000 people to take action… in one night!

This film is beautiful and inspiring for so many reasons, but if we are to pick one thing that stands out it’s that the film truly motivates people to act; reminding them that sitting quietly on the sidelines isn’t an option.

Tar sands are dirty and destructive, and as Garth Lenz said, this film is a call to action for all of us become “anti tar sands warriors.”

“This is an opportunity, what road are we on and where do we want to be going? … do we want to be so ashamed of our country’s environmental actions that we rip the Canadian flags off our backpacks?”

Enbridge’s proposed pipeline wouldn’t just affect the surrounding wilderness, it would completely alter a way of life. “If I wanted to be a tug boat captain I’d be one already. I like what I do, that’s why I do it,” said Marven Robinson (Gitga’at First Nations), an integral part of the film as a spirit bear guide. “[a spill] would take away all we [Gitga’at First Nations] have and all we do.”

Thanks to all of our speakers: video from Tom Peschak, Garth Lenz, Marven Robinson (Gitga’at First Nations), Caitlyn Vernon from Sierra Club BC, Norm Hann – Standup4GreatBear, Mike Reid, Frank Wolf, Ian McAllister, and Frank Brown. And of course to EP Films for making this winning film that we hope inspires people across the continent to truly fight for this pristine wilderness.

Ready to fight? Sign Pacific Wild’s petition, tell your friends, join Stand Up 4 Great Bear on Facebook, write your local representatives, show SPOIL to your family; it’s all part of the greater effort and we can’t fight the fight without you.