Riverkeeper Film Festival set in Oriental and New Bern

Independent and documentary films highlight the fourth annual Riverkeeper Film Festival in Oriental and New Bern this week.

It's the fourth year of the series, sponsored by the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation.

"It is basically a river-awareness project," said Larry Baldwin, the lower Neuse riverkeeper. "All of the films have something to do with the water, although not necessarily water quality."

He said the film series is also a fund-raiser for the Riverkeeper Foundation, which monitors the Neuse and its tributaries.

 "It's also a fun way to get out and see some films you wouldn't ordinarily see," he said. "These are all independent films that you won't see at your local theater. So, it's just a combination of awareness and a fun evening out for a reasonable price."

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for accompanied children and college students with identification. Tickets are good at all locations.

The 7:30 p.m. Friday showing is at the Old Theater in Oriental, with a wine and cheese reception at 7 p.m. Saturday's 6 p.m. show is at Orringer Auditorium on the campus of Craven Community College, with a reception at 5:30 p.m.

 Baldwin said this is the second year for the film festival in Craven and Pamlico counties. Last year's Oriental show was a sellout.

"I think that speaks well of the citizens of Pamlico County and their concerns about the river and the environment," Baldwin said.

The films in Oriental include:

"Gimme Green," a 30-minute film that takes a humorous look at the American obsession with the residential lawn - the nation's largest irrigated crop, which the Foundation says is a $40 billion industry.

 "Bugs of the Underworld," a 30-minute documentary over 11 years of recording a natural history of aquatic insects.

"Ribbon of Sand," a 27-minute look at the Outer Banks and the future of the natural barrier islands.

"River Play," a 6-minute film with watercolor paintings and video footage of the Yuba River.

The New Bern films include "Gimme Green" and "River Play," along with:

"Descending the Dragon," a 52-minute journey down the 900-mile coast of Vietnam by kayak.

"Little Blue, Live the Dream," the story of a young penguin who breaks away from tradition and learns to surf.

The festival also has shows in Kinston on Jan. 22 and in Smithfield on Jan. 24.

For information on the Web: http://neuseriver.org/events/filmfestival.html.