“Napa Sonoma is one of those rare gems of a film festival that provides great opportunities for independent filmmakers to connect with new audiences. Steve Ashton created a film festival that reflects his commitment to social issue filmmaking,” said Jed Riffe, a prominent Bay Area filmmaker. “A good example is the festival’s EcoCinema competition that highlights films focusing on alternative energy, organic agriculture, water conservation and sustainability.”Riffe’s film Ripe for Change won the 2007 Eco Cinema Award. He said, “Earning the distinction extended the film’s reach beyond traditional film festival audiences and brought it to national attention.”The festival’s commitment to cultural, social and environmental awareness is evident in the more than 100 films Stephen Ashton, festival creative director, personally handpicks. Each year since founding the festival in 1986, Ashton scours the world for films to feature in the annual event. Some of the eco and socially aware films selected for the current edition include, master Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Seta’s Letters from the Sahara, and world renown Bay Area filmmakers Les Blank’s All in this Tea and Deborah Koons Garcia’s Scenes From In Good Heart: Soil and The Mystery of Fertility.The Wine Country Film Festival is a nonprofit educational organization designed to bring the region a program of stimulating, thoughtful, cultural and eco-friendly films from around the world. The popular event is a roving film festival moving from town to town. It is slow paced by design, informal and many of the films are good for all ages. Movie goers are welcome to come for one or more days. The festival hosts numerous culinary events showcasing the rich bounty of Napa and Sonoma, Master Classes with seasoned professionals, movies under the stars, and Planet Party!, featuring an early morning bird walk, green exhibits, a seminar on the Rights of Nature and environmental films.For more information about the Wine Country Film Festival, or to purchase tickets for the event, visit www.winecountryfilmfest.com. To contact Ashton directly, email film@wcff.us. The specific films and venues throughout Sonoma and Napa for this year’s festival will be announced in June.Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film FestivalFounded in 1986 by Stephen Ashton, the Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival is a nonprofit educational organization created to bring the region a program of the best films from around the world with attending filmmakers who are able to share their vision with others in the film festival forum. The program is designed to engage curiosity, stir the senses, stimulate enlightened dialogue, raise environmental awareness and build cultural bonds. For more information, visit www.winecountryfilmfest.com or email film@wcff.us.Pacific Union GMAC Real EstateSince 1975, Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate has thoughtfully matched generations of buyers and sellers throughout the entire Bay Area. Pacific Union GMAC focuses on delivering outstanding quality and unparalleled service to a full spectrum of discerning clients. Pacific Union GMAC is the only firm in California to receive a distinguished four star International Property Award in association with CNBC Europe and the London Daily Mirror for superior marketing materials and client services in the luxury marketplace. A premier, locally managed brokerage with knowledgeable, experienced real estate professionals, Pacific Union GMAC takes a leading edge to new technology applications designed to enhance the client experience. Pacific Union is a GMAC Home Services company. For more information, visit www.pacunion.com.SAN FRANCISCO – (June 10, 2008) – The Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival is all about creating meaningful awareness and bridging cultural gaps through film, particularly in the areas of EcoCinema and Cinema of Conscience. Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate, a leading luxury firm in the Bay Area in the process of going green, shares these same values and is a proud sponsor of the 22nd annual festival coming soon to Sonoma and Napa July 22 through August 3. The Wine Country Film Festival is also a zero waste green event.“Napa Sonoma is one of those rare gems of a film festival that provides great opportunities for independent filmmakers to connect with new audiences. Steve Ashton created a film festival that reflects his commitment to social issue filmmaking,” said Jed Riffe, a prominent Bay Area filmmaker. “A good example is the festival’s EcoCinema competition that highlights films focusing on alternative energy, organic agriculture, water conservation and sustainability.”Riffe’s film Ripe for Change won the 2007 Eco Cinema Award. He said, “Earning the distinction extended the film’s reach beyond traditional film festival audiences and brought it to national attention.”The festival’s commitment to cultural, social and environmental awareness is evident in the more than 100 films Stephen Ashton, festival creative director, personally handpicks. Each year since founding the festival in 1986, Ashton scours the world for films to feature in the annual event. Some of the eco and socially aware films selected for the current edition include, master Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Seta’s Letters from the Sahara, and world renown Bay Area filmmakers Les Blank’s All in this Tea and Deborah Koons Garcia’s Scenes From In Good Heart: Soil and The Mystery of Fertility.The Wine Country Film Festival is a nonprofit educational organization designed to bring the region a program of stimulating, thoughtful, cultural and eco-friendly films from around the world. The popular event is a roving film festival moving from town to town. It is slow paced by design, informal and many of the films are good for all ages. Movie goers are welcome to come for one or more days. The festival hosts numerous culinary events showcasing the rich bounty of Napa and Sonoma, Master Classes with seasoned professionals, movies under the stars, and Planet Party!, featuring an early morning bird walk, green exhibits, a seminar on the Rights of Nature and environmental films.For more information about the Wine Country Film Festival, or to purchase tickets for the event, visit www.winecountryfilmfest.com. To contact Ashton directly, email film@wcff.us. The specific films and venues throughout Sonoma and Napa for this year’s festival will be announced in June.Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film FestivalFounded in 1986 by Stephen Ashton, the Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival is a nonprofit educational organization created to bring the region a program of the best films from around the world with attending filmmakers who are able to share their vision with others in the film festival forum. The program is designed to engage curiosity, stir the senses, stimulate enlightened dialogue, raise environmental awareness and build cultural bonds. For more information, visit www.winecountryfilmfest.com or email film@wcff.us.Pacific Union GMAC Real EstateSince 1975, Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate has thoughtfully matched generations of buyers and sellers throughout the entire Bay Area. Pacific Union GMAC focuses on delivering outstanding quality and unparalleled service to a full spectrum of discerning clients. Pacific Union GMAC is the only firm in California to receive a distinguished four star International Property Award in association with CNBC Europe and the London Daily Mirror for superior marketing materials and client services in the luxury marketplace. A premier, locally managed brokerage with knowledgeable, experienced real estate professionals, Pacific Union GMAC takes a leading edge to new technology applications designed to enhance the client experience. Pacific Union is a GMAC Home Services company. For more information, visit www.pacunion.com.
“Napa Sonoma is one of those rare gems of a film festival that provides great opportunities for independent filmmakers to connect with new audiences. Steve Ashton created a film festival that reflects his commitment to social issue filmmaking,” said Jed Riffe, a prominent Bay Area filmmaker. “A good example is the festival’s EcoCinema competition that highlights films focusing on alternative energy, organic agriculture, water conservation and sustainability.”Riffe’s film Ripe for Change won the 2007 Eco Cinema Award. He said, “Earning the distinction extended the film’s reach beyond traditional film festival audiences and brought it to national attention.”The festival’s commitment to cultural, social and environmental awareness is evident in the more than 100 films Stephen Ashton, festival creative director, personally handpicks. Each year since founding the festival in 1986, Ashton scours the world for films to feature in the annual event. Some of the eco and socially aware films selected for the current edition include, master Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Seta’s Letters from the Sahara, and world renown Bay Area filmmakers Les Blank’s All in this Tea and Deborah Koons Garcia’s Scenes From In Good Heart: Soil and The Mystery of Fertility.The Wine Country Film Festival is a nonprofit educational organization designed to bring the region a program of stimulating, thoughtful, cultural and eco-friendly films from around the world. The popular event is a roving film festival moving from town to town. It is slow paced by design, informal and many of the films are good for all ages. Movie goers are welcome to come for one or more days. The festival hosts numerous culinary events showcasing the rich bounty of Napa and Sonoma, Master Classes with seasoned professionals, movies under the stars, and Planet Party!, featuring an early morning bird walk, green exhibits, a seminar on the Rights of Nature and environmental films.For more information about the Wine Country Film Festival, or to purchase tickets for the event, visit www.winecountryfilmfest.com. To contact Ashton directly, email film@wcff.us. The specific films and venues throughout Sonoma and Napa for this year’s festival will be announced in June.Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film FestivalFounded in 1986 by Stephen Ashton, the Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival is a nonprofit educational organization created to bring the region a program of the best films from around the world with attending filmmakers who are able to share their vision with others in the film festival forum. The program is designed to engage curiosity, stir the senses, stimulate enlightened dialogue, raise environmental awareness and build cultural bonds. For more information, visit www.winecountryfilmfest.com or email film@wcff.us.Pacific Union GMAC Real EstateSince 1975, Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate has thoughtfully matched generations of buyers and sellers throughout the entire Bay Area. Pacific Union GMAC focuses on delivering outstanding quality and unparalleled service to a full spectrum of discerning clients. Pacific Union GMAC is the only firm in California to receive a distinguished four star International Property Award in association with CNBC Europe and the London Daily Mirror for superior marketing materials and client services in the luxury marketplace. A premier, locally managed brokerage with knowledgeable, experienced real estate professionals, Pacific Union GMAC takes a leading edge to new technology applications designed to enhance the client experience. Pacific Union is a GMAC Home Services company. For more information, visit www.pacunion.com.