Friday, November 03, 2017

Ballard’s Documentary for IMAX Gets a Big Screen Premiere


On the Backs of Salmon, a short documentary produced for IMAX and the United Nations Environment by students in Ballard High School’s Digital Filmmaking Program, will have its big screen premiere at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center IMAX on Thursday, November 9th at 6 pm.  The short will be followed by Q & A with the filmmakers.  It will be shown at a members-only screening of the new 3D nature documentary, Amazon Adventure, but IMAX has reserved 75 seats for the Ballard filmmakers and their entourage.

The project is the result of the IMAX “In Focus” program.  In partnership with the United Nations Environment, IMAX consulted with the All American High School Film Festival to select 5 “exemplary” filmmaking programs from across the US to address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals #13-15: Climate Action, Life Below Water, and Life on Land.  Each participating program received a $5,000 grant.  The goal was to encourage students interested in filmmaking to use their talents to develop films that promote change.  

On the Backs of Salmon tells the encouraging story behind the largest dam removal in world history - the Elwha on the Olympic Peninsula.  The students were inspired by this story because it shows the power of people to change things, and the power of nature to bounce back.  It premiered online last spring during the UN's World Environment Day, and was screened this fall at the All American High School Film Festival in New York City.