Polyfaces – Australian film premiere

Saturday Feb. 20th, 10.30am & 2.00pm

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL!

Bendigo-based Lisa Jane Heenan (Producer/Co-Director) and Isaebella Doherty (Co-Director/Director of Photography) collaborated with Castlemaine’s Bergen O’Brien (Editor) & Michael den Elzen (Composer/Co-Sound Editor) to produce this multi-award winning feature-length feature film:

“As the problems of the world become more and more complex, the solutions become clear and simple. One Australian family spend their life savings and travel to the US, spending 4 years documenting a style of farming that will help save humanity!”

Set amidst the stunning Shenendoah Valley in Northern Virginia, ‘Polyface Farm’ in Virginia uses no chemicals and feeds over 6,000 families, restaurants and cafes within a 3 hour foodshed of their farm.

Joel Salatin was called “…the world’s most innovative farmer…” by Time Magazine.

‘Polyfaces’ is a joyful film about connecting to the land. It follows the Salatin’s, a 4th generational farming family who do everything different than everyone else. We follow the family and farm over 3 years as they produce food in a way that works with nature, not against it. Using the symbiotic relationships of animals and their natural functions, they produce high quality, nutrient-dense products.

We show how they regenerate their landscapes, communities, local economies, customers health and most importantly their soils.

We meet various characters and follow their powerful, personal journeys as they benefit physically and emotionally from the Salatin’s way of farming.

Agriculture is the most damaging industry on the planet but it doesn’t have to be!

This model is being replicated throughout our Global Village, proving that we can provide quality produce without depleting our planet.

One passionate Australian family commits their home building budget and 4 years to make a film to inspire change and save humanity.

REVIEWS:

“…Thank you for sending us ‘Polyfaces’. It’s an ambitious project, and truly inspiring. The message is clear, regenerating soil is what will save the world. Lisa and Darren did a beautiful job with this…”

HARVEY WEINSTEIN, Weinstein Company

“…I have no doubt that your film will fill young people with optimism and stoke their desire to farm. I can’t imagine watching it as a 20 year old and not deciding this is what I want to do!…”

MICHAEL POLLAN, New York Times best selling author and journalist

“…this tale of an unorthodox farm may have you nodding along to most everything its operators say, and believing that their methods are the best way to help us eat (and live) a whole lot better….”

Ken Jaworowski, NEW YORK TIMES

“…In its emphasis on the role of consumer demand in effecting change, the film offers educational and inspirational potential beyond the usual suspects of chefs, farmers and foodies…”

Sheri Linden, LOS ANGELES

“…Growing up on a small organic farm, I saw first hand what it took to produce food for a family of 4. Becoming vegan for 10 years was my attempt to heal myself and the planet, but there was always something missing: an understanding of the beautiful, complex web of animals, soil, and humans working together to feed billions. ‘Polyfaces’ offers a roadmap and inspiration to make that web replicable. Watch it. Get inspired…”

ALEX JAMIESON, Co-Creator: SUPER SIZE ME, Author: Women, Food, and Desire

“…The inspiring and beautifully produced film, ‘Polyfaces’, describes a unique farm including the community of young interns who come to work there each year. It even follows several of them after they leave their training to start farms of their own. I think it would be great if every teenager could see this film and then decide for themselves whether or not to give diversified, small-scale farming a try…”

LARRY KORN, Translator of Masanobu Fukuoka’s The One-Straw Revolution, and author of One Straw Revolutionary: The Philosophy and Work of Masanobu Fukuoka

“…Too often we focus on what we should stop doing instead of building systems that work. This wonderful film tells perhaps one of the most important stories of our time — how to heal communities, the land, and ourselves with great food. I left not only moved but also inspired and hopeful…”

BOB GOWER, best selling author of, ”Agile Business: A Leader’s Guide to Harnessing Complexity”

“…’Polyfaces’, the movie, by detailing the history and the daily life of just such a farm, communicates to the public the advantages and the viability of sustainable farming. The importance of building a movement that will convince families sick of life in cities, families tired of eating processed or depleted food, that they can build a life on a relatively small amount of acreage is huge…”

KATHY FEHL, Artistic Director of Wega Arts and Festival Juror

“…Regeneration and sustainability are far from merely buzzwords and you’ll see why in this joyful film that puts both words into action. ‘Polyfaces’ – the farm and the film – are bright and bold statements of hope, possibility and hard work. This film hands us a powerful message about the power of our choices as consumers and is a heady reminder of the importance of community and connection. If you have even simply wondered about where your food comes, its provenance, your own sustenance, you must see Polyfaces. It’s filled with logic, sweet sweet logic…”

HILARY MCNEVIN, Food writer, Author, Sustainability Advocate