Title | Downstream

Production Date | 2008

Running time | 36 min

Director | Leslie Iwerks

Rating | NR

Website | View website

At the heart of the multi-billion dollar tar sands industry in Northern Alberta, Dr. John O' Connor's career is jeopardized as he fights for the lives of the Aboriginal people living and dying of rare forms of cancer downstream from one of the largest oil operations in the world. Making the short-list for this year's Academy Award� Nominations for best short documentary, Downstream, provides an in-depth look at the impact oil sands extraction is taking on the surrounding communities." "Witnessing unprecede

Saturday 2:00 pm Paramount Theatre

 Special Presentation: The Tar Sands; The Battle for Public Opinion

The industrial development taking place near Ft. McMurray is the largest undertaking of its kind in Alberta’s history. But this major spoke in the province’s industrial wheel also comes with a high environmental price, and its impact on the environment is generating debate not only around the province, but around the world. Global Visions is pleased to bring to Edmonton two remarkable films that are sure to become part of that debate.

 Petropolis by Peter Mettler  received its world film festival premiere at Toronto’s International Film Festival just seven weeks ago and is now being shown for the first time in Alberta.

Downstream, by Academy Award winning filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, was only released a few months ago, generating political debate in the province. 

Following the screening of these films we are pleased to have as a guest speaker award winning Alberta author and journalist Andrew Nikiforuk. Over the past two decades Andrew has written about energy, economics and the west including the best selling book Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent.  He has won seven National Magazine Awards and top honours for investigative writing from the Association of Canadian Journalists. In 2002 he won the Governor General’s Award for his book Saboteurs.