"Oil on Ice" - documentary on Arctic Refuge

Sunday, November 14, 11:30 am - 1 pm (ticket holders must arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime to guarantee seating), Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street (near Market), San Francisco. (Muni F, K, L, M, 24, 33, 35, 37; from BART, transfer to K, L, or M at Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, or Civic Center.)

In March 2002 Sen. Frank Murkowski (now governor of Alaska) held a blank white poster in front of Congress as his rendition of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, in an effort to encourage the federal government to open the protected area to oil drilling. "Don't be misinformed," he demanded.

"Oil on Ice", a one-hour documentary about the refuge and the controversy over drilling for oil there, unveils a very different picture. The film is a visually stunning journey through a pristine land teeming with wildlife, enriched by centuries of Native American culture, and at risk of being destroyed by the invasive trucks, bulldozers, and pipelines of the oil industry.

"Oil on Ice" shows how the fate of the refuge, one of America's last wild places, is inextricably linked to decisions about energy policy, transportation, and other seemingly unrelated matters, while the culture and livelihood of the native Gwich'in Indians and the survival of migratory wildlife are caught in the balance. The film examines the consequences of oil drilling and alternative solutions to our energy needs.

"Oil on Ice" is a presentation of Sierra Club Productions, the film's marketing and environmental outreach partner. Sierra Club Productions connects filmmakers with grassroots-outreach campaigns to help engage film audiences and heighten the film's impact. The Sierra Club and the California Academy of Sciences will co-present this San Francisco screening. Sierra Club President Larry Fahn is scheduled to speak at the event. 

Ticket cost is $8 for Film Arts Foundation members and $10 for others (no additional fees for advance purchase). You may get advance tickets through Wed., Nov. 10, from www.filmarts.org (credit card only); or in person or by mail from:

Film Arts Foundation
145 Ninth St., #101
San Francisco, CA 94103.
(between Mission and Howard)
Monday - Friday, 2 pm - 5 pm

Payment may be by credit card, check, or money order; cash for in-person purchases only. Orders received less than 10 days in advance will be held at will-call; have your photo ID and credit card available when picking up. Will-call tickets may be picked up only by the purchaser or the authorized representative named at the time of purchase.

Tickets will be available at the screening (cash only). For shows that sell out in advance, additional tickets may be released 10 minutes prior to showtime for patrons in the "rush" line, which generally forms about one hour before showtime. All "rush" tickets are sold individually - one ticket per customer.

For more information or to purchase an "Oil on Ice" WebDVD, please visit www.oilonice.org or call (650) 747-0206.