THE MADE IN TORONTO PRESENTS AN INTERACTIVE SEMINAR ON ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

Featuring Toronto Dollar President, Glen Alan
Transition Toronto Steering Committee Member,
Andrew Knox and Salt Spring Island Monetary
Foundation President, Michael Contardi

Monday, 30 April, 2012
7:00 PM (Doors open 6:30 PM)
The Galbraith Building, GB117
35, St. George Street, Toronto
$7 for students and seniors/$10 for adults
Advance tickets can be purchased by calling 416-707-1077

TORONTO, ONTARIO (April 24, 2012) - The Made IN Toronto (MINT) Film Festival along with co-hosts Toronto Dollar and Transition Toronto will hold an interactive discussion on Monday, April 30, 2012 on Alternative Economic Systems. The seminar is aimed at making a case for an alternative community currency and how it is beneficial to individuals, businesses, communities and the environment.

Toronto Dollar President, Glen Alan will speak about:
- Benefits of creating Local Sustainable Economies
- Community Currency examples including the Salt Spring Dollars & Toronto Dollars
- An introduction to Mutual Credit Clearing
- Next steps for Local Currency and Mutual Credit Clearing in Toronto

Andrew Knox will discuss the link between Transition Towns, Local Currencies, Local Economy, and Local Resilience. There will be a focus session on the evolution of community currency in Toronto. Going forward from this, Transition Toronto and the Toronto Dollar would like to form a working group focused on further development of the Toronto Dollar and community exchange systems in Toronto.

The presentation will also include a Skype interview with Michael Contardi, President of the Salt Spring Island Dollar, joining from British Columbia. He will be talking about the recent developments in alternative currency systems both in Canada and around the world.

WORLD WATER DAY, MINT ANNIVERSARY
THURSDAY MARCH 22nd, 7:00 PM - ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM

Celebrate WORLD WATER DAY and MINT's One Year Anniversary at the Royal Ontario Museum, Thursday March 22nd 2012. Now with a One Night Only Photographic Exhibition at 6:30 PM!

MINT PROGRAM

6:30 PM - Doors Open / Great Bear Rainforest Photographic Exhibition Begins
One Night Only Photographic Exhibition Hosted in Toronto by WWF-Canada. Exhibition viewing from 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM - 11:30 PM. Ticket Holders and those that have pre-paid for their tickets in advance are let in first at 6:30 PM.

7:00 PM - Derek Forgie
MTV Warm-Up Act, Actor/Activist/Comedian Derek Forgie performs his inside the bottle presentation - a satirical and humorous view of the bottled water industry.

7:00 PM - Steve Houston
Iconic Artist Steve Houston paints a series of 2 canvases centering around the evening's theme of water as the musicians and performers engage the audience. Canvass will be auctioned off at the end of the evening to raise funds for the MINT Film Festival.

7:10 PM - FreePlay Duo and Glen Alan
Opening Musical Act: Suba Sankaran, Dylan Thomas and Glen Alan

7:30 PM - FEATURE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Canadian Jazz Vocal Legend Jackie Richardson, Vocalist/Actor Sterling Jarvis sing a 45 minute musical concert accompanied by MINT Musical Director Steve Hunter.

8:15 PM - Juggler: Ted Joblin
Internationally acclaimed Juggler Ted Joblin entertains MINT audiences with special water themed juggling routine.

8:25 PM - Performance Artist: Peter Jarvis
Performance Artist Peter Jarvis uses his spandex "Canvas" to create striking water & tar sand imagery.

8:30 PM - Intermission

8:45 PM - Film Short: Dead Wrong (World Premiere)

8:55 PM - Film Short: Wangari Mathaai (1940-2011)

9:00 PM - Film Short: The Moraine Can't Wait: Save the Oak Ridges Moraine

9:05 PM - Feature Film: SpOIL

SpOIL Synopsis: To mobilize against the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, the International League of Conservation Photographers and members of the Gitga' at First Nation capture breathtaking images of the wildlife inhabiting BC's Great Bear Rainforest, home of the elusive spirit bear. The rain forest's channels are the last stretch of the oil tanker route from Alberta's tar sands to the coastline. Multiple Awards Winner/Co-Presented by Planet in Focus. Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/mintfilmfestival

9:50 PM - Keynote Speaker - Tony Clarke
Tony Clarke, Polaris Executive Director speaks to MINT Audience for 20 minutes

10:10 PM - POST-FILM DISCUSSION with
Tony Clarke - The Executive Director of The Polaris Institute
Dave Ireland - Director Managing Director of Biodiversity for the ROM
Mike Sprague - Producer of "Dead Wrong" and THW President
Liz Marshall - Toronto Filmmaker - Director of Water On The Table
Debbe Crandall - Executive Director, STORM Coalition

10:45 PM - Canvases are Auctioned

10:40 PM - Award Presentation to Green Heroes

10:50 PM - Award Presentation to Liz Marshall

10:55 PM - Closing remarks

11:00 PM - 11:30 - Great Bear Rainforest Photographic Exhibition
One Night Only Photographic Exhibition Hosted in Toronto by WWF-Canada. Final Exhibition viewing from11:00 PM - 11:30 PM.

MADE IN TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL AND WWF-CANADA TO PREMIERE ICONIC IMAGES OF GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST ON WORLD WATER DAY

Stunning ONE NIGHT ONLY Photographic Exhibition Showcases Great Bear Rainforest

Thursday, March 22, 2012 - World Water Day
Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto
$15 in advance/ $17.50 at the door
$13 for students and seniors in advance/$15 at the door for students and seniors
Advance tickets can be purchased by calling 416-707-1077

TORONTO, ONTARIO (March 14, 2012) - The Made IN Toronto (MINT) Film Festival will celebrate World Water Day and its First Year Anniversary with a One Night Only Photographic Exhibition courtesy of WWF-Canada, taking place on March 22, 2012 at the Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen’s Park, Toronto) at 7 PM. The photographic exhibition is the latest addition to a multi-disciplinary program that includes a screening of the award-winning documentary Spoil, which follows world-renowned photographers from the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) as they journey into British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. The exhibition features a stunning selection of photographs from the expedition.

“This spectacular exhibition is a great way for people to see the beauty of the Great Bear region up close,” says Glen Alan, Founder and Executive Director, MINT Film Festival. “We are honoured that WWF-Canada has chosen to premiere this exhibit in Toronto with the MINT Film Festival on World Water Day.”

WWF-Canada and the ILCP are bringing these images to Toronto to show Canadians what’s at stake in the Great Bear Rainforest, and to encourage nation-wide support for its protection.

”These amazing photographs, and the stories that accompany them, make it very clear that this is no place for an oil pipeline or oil supertankers. Protecting the Great Bear Sea is like protecting the Galapagos Islands, or the Amazon rainforest,” says Darcy Dobell, VP of WWF-Canada’s Pacific Region. “It’s Canada’s responsibility, and it’s our gift to the world.”

The Great Bear Rainforest expedition was undertaken by the ILCP to highlight one of the most fragile and intact marine ecosystems in the world, and to mobilize against the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. The Spoil trailer can be seen here.

The March edition of the MINT Film Festival also includes comedic, artistic and musical performances along with award presentations and film screenings of short environmental films exploring the subject of water. Festival sponsors include Find A Way, Mitchell Sandham, Quesada, ES Organics, Graphic Flow Design and the Royal Ontario Museum.

THE MINT FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES WORLD WATER DAY AND
FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH ARTS AND ACTIVISM

Tickets Now on Sale - Includes Speakers, Film Screenings, Musical and Comedic Performances themed to Water Preservation

FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Thursday, March 22, 2012 - World Water Day *
7 PM - Royal Ontario Museum 100 Queen Park, Toronto
$15 in advance/ $17.50 at the door
$13 for students and seniors in advance/$15 at the door for students and seniors
Tickets can be purchased by phone at 416-707-1077

Comedian Derek Forgie kicks off with a lively set on the perils of bottled water, followed by the World Theatrical Premiere of the short film Dead Wrong - Stories of Fish, Clean Water & Poison and the award-winning film Spoil.

Tony Clarke is the author of Blue Gold: The Battle Against the Corporate Theft of the World's Water and Executive Director of Polaris Institute, a Canadian think tank on the leading edge of the international fight to preserve the world's water systems. A post-screening discussion will include Dead Wrong Producer Mike Sprague, Managing Director of Biodiversity for the Royal Ontario Museum's Dave Ireland and Toronto-based Director Liz Marshall.

Liz Marshall will receive a MINT Film Festival Award for Water on the Table, a film that continues to raise awareness about the importance of water preservation. It was also selected to be the first documentary feature to launch the MINT Film Festival last year.

February's musical performers and award recipients have been rescheduled for March 22. Steve Hunter will accompany vocal legend Jackie Richardson and vocalist Sterling Jarvis on piano. The GreenHeroes Campaign will receive an Award for raising environmental awareness. Tickets to MINT's Feb. 24 event will be honoured at monthly MINT events until Dec. 2012. Reserve seats in advance.

About the Film Spoil
Watch the trailer here. To mobilize against the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, the International League of Conservation Photographers and members of the Gitga' at First Nation capture breathtaking images of the wildlife inhabiting BC's Great Bear Rainforest, home of the elusive spirit bear. The rain forest's channels are the last stretch of the oil tanker route from Alberta's tar sands to the coastline. Multiple Awards Winner/Co-Presented by Planet in Focus

About the Film Dead Wrong: Stories of Fish, Clean Water & Poison
World Theatrical Premiere - Filmmakers in attendance. "Native fish restoration" has become the new catch phrase for poisoning streams, rivers and lakes in order to stock more desirable, fish species. Thirty-eight states and most provinces in Canada allow it. Read more: www.stopriverkilling.org

UPDATE RE: FEBRUARY 24th RE-SCHEDULE

MINT Made IN Toronto Film Festival February Edition –
Musical Performances and Award Presentation to be Re-scheduled

For Immediate Release February 27, 2012 – Due to a power outage at The Toronto Underground Cinema, the February 24 edition of the MINT Made IN Toronto Film Festival was cancelled. Musical performances by jazz legend Jackie Richardson, vocalist Sterling Jarvis and pianist Steve Hunter will be rescheduled. The MINT Film Festival Award presentation to the GreenHeroes Campaign will take place next month, details to be announced.

Tickets for the original date can be used to gain admission to any of the monthly MINT Film Festival events until December 2012. Ticket holders are encouraged to reserve their seats in advance by telephone (416) 707-1077 or by email info@mintff.org, and must bring their tickets to the door to gain entry.

The MINT Film Festival’s First Anniversary Event will take place in March and is themed to celebrate World Water Day. Program details will be announced shortly.

About The MINT Film Festival

In just under a year since its inception, the Made IN Toronto (MINT) Film Festival has quickly gained a reputation as a strong advocate and promoter of locally made social and environmental issue documentaries as well as Toronto musicians and artists. MINT’s mandate is to bring members of the community together with Toronto filmmakers, musicians and artists to explore subjects of urgency, topical interest, and environmental concerns through special documentary film screenings. Each event begins with a live music performance and concludes with audience participation in discussion with the filmmakers, directors, and subject experts.

For every MINT ticket purchased, 10% of the sales price goes into a fund to support local filmmakers, musicians and artists. This money is distributed in the form of bursaries and grants to those filmmakers and artists who are making the greatest positive impact to the community with their work. For more information, visit www.mintff.org.