International Film Festival on Organic Farming

[Announcement] : IFOF 2010

Date : November 27(Sat), 2010

Place : Large Hall, Arts Building in Natinal Olympics Memorial Youth Center, Tokyo, Japan

International Film Festival on Organic Farming（IFOF） 2009

The life I value most

  We are happy and grateful to announce that your support has made it possible to hold the 3rd IFOF. The last two years' IFOF have been accepted and welcomed with high regard by both old and young.

  Members of Steering Committee have also found the depth and the scope organic agriculture has and are deeply impressed by its implication that organic agriculture is not just how-to of farming but is a wholistic concept which enfolds how we should grasp the nature, how we are to live with forest, water, soil and all the creatures that live on our planet.

  We have focused our effort on these vast and deep aspects of organic agriculture to be expressed in the program of the IFOF 2009.

  During the last tow decades, the earth and our lives underwent decay and segmentation by an idea and system that is all too simple and cold, the winner or the loser in a competitive world of economy.

  Under the pressure of this modern competitive world, we are trying to rediscover and redo our relationship with nature and also to re-establish relationship among us humans.
We would be gratified if everyone of our friends would come to IFOF 2009 and find in the selected films such possibilities organic agriculture have.

  We have also provided a chance to participate in the film festival for those who wish to express views on nature, farming and food with 3 minutes video works.

  Please drop in at the film festival and feel and enjoy the organic world.

　August 2009
　Executive Chief OHNO Kazuoki

Information : IFOF 2009

Date : November 27(Fri) & 28(Sat), 2009
Place : Large Hall, Arts Building in Natinal Olympics Memorial Youth Center, Tokyo, Japan
Time :
27(Fri) 　12:00〜20:00 ( Open at 11:30 )
28(Sat) 　9:30〜21:00 ( Open at 9:10 )
Subscription:
27(Fri)　　　　　¥1500.00
28(Sat)　　　　¥2000.00
2 days ticket ¥3000.00
Hosted by :
International Film Festival on Organic Farming Executive Committee/
Tokyo Peace Film Club
Collaborator :
Japan Organic Agriculture Association/
Pacific Asia Resource Centre(PARC)
Registration and Obtaining Ticket
For obtaining ticket and participating IFOF, please register with the following information.
Your Name, Address with postal code, phone number
Purchasing Ticket: Contact us by E-mail( ticket@yuki-eiga.com ) by the end of October. When your registration is completed and ticket fee is remitted, a ticket will be sent to the address you registered.
Registration will start from 1st of September.

Special Event 1: 28(Sat) 14:20 – 15:30
Special Talk on "What is on Asian Villages now"
There are 3 films depicting Asian farmers' fight against globalization. Two among them were from Laos by chance. Visiting students of Organic Agriculture at Asian Rural Institute (ARI) situated at Nasu-Shiobara shi, Tochigi, Mr.Houmphan from Laos and Ms.Polkhayan from Thai will talk on the backgrounds and situations in Laos and Northeast Thai.

Special Event 2 : 27(Fri) 19:30 – 20:00
New farmers talk:"the life I value most"
With a special reference to the film "A Farm with Future Vision", we will have 3 new organic farmers to talk about their view on life they value most. There will be a casual talk after their presentation.

Special Event 3: 27(Fri) 16:00 – 16:50
3 min. video show: "My view of food and farming"
This gives chance to go one step forward from "just watch" to "make and show"for you. It is our wish that more people will take part in IFOF thru making videos and films for 3min. video show. Your entry of 3 min. video on food and farming is most welcome.

>> Detail

IFOF 2009 Program

November 27(Fri), 2009

Start 　１２：００
ABONG /Small Home

　111min./Philippines･Japan/2002
　Produced by: "ABONG/Small Home" Production Exhibition Committee
　Directed by: IMAIZUMI Koji
　Language: English, Tagalog / Subtitle: Japanese

This is a story of a family of a migrant worker who is a Japanese descendant living in the mountainous area of Luzon, Philippines. Everyone in the world is working hard for their children but we are now losing sight of the fact that we all live by the gifts of other lives. This film poses a question " how and what really is it to live on this Earth? " This is a film of fairy tale of a family living in southern pacific island facing modern day challenges.
　　>> Official site

Start １４：０５
The Village Submerged
　92min./Japan/2007
　Directed and Filmed by ONISHI Nobuo
　Planned and Produced by: MOTOHASHI Seiichi, Polepole Times Co., Ltd.
　Aid Fund by: Art and Culture Promotion Fund
　Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

Water dam construction became hot issue among people of Tokuyama village in Gifu in 1957. Almost 1500 villagers had evacuated one after another to newly allocated site nearby but a few elderly people returned so as to live till the village went under the water. A photographer Nobuo Onishi frequently visited this village since his first visit in 1991 when he was fascinated by the way of living of old folks. The villagers had wisdom to value seasonal gifts of the nature. When the dam was completed, water began to web that no one could ever return to their homes again. This film is a record of 15 years with old folks　and their close relationship with nature.

Start １７：０５
All are gifts of the Nature, Weather-Mama of Western Aizu
　50min./Japan/2008
　Planned and Produced by NHK, Director: USAGAWA Takashi
　Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

"Garden sowing season begins when rum buds are bulging" or "rain is not near when swallow flies high" are some of the phrases reminiscent of old days spoken by Ms Fumiko Suzuki known as a weather-Mama. She has been studying and practicing in her farm what her grandfather used to say about weather. Years of her keen interest and observation on plants and other creatures in the vicinity that is rich with nature in Nishi-Aizu in Fukushima prefecture has now made it possible for her to foretell the weather of as far ahead as a year away with 70-80% accuracy. She is full of love when she appears to be talking with animals and plants.

Start １９：００
A Farm with Future Vision
　26min./Japan/2008
　Produced and directed by UCHIDA Kazuo
　Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

A year of document at Kirisato Farm located in Ogawa-machi in west Saitama pref. run by Yoshinori Kaneko, one of the founding fathers of modern organic agriculture in Japan. Kaneko gives hands on training to young interns of organic agriculture who live together for a year. After one year of internship, they depart to be farmers of future Japan with hopes and dreams.

November 28(Sat), 2009

Start　９：３５
King Corn
　90min./USA/2007
　Director and Producer Aaron Woolf
　Cast & Co-producer; Ian Cheney, Curt Ellis
　Language: English / Subtitles: Japanese
　Trailer:http://www.kingcorn.net/

All food is derived from corn….　Americans are made of corn. Two young men close on corn that is in almost all foods Americans eat. Their first move was to take up hands on experience of producing corn in a great corn producing state of Iowa and then to follow on its course to consumer plates. Through corn, the film reveals such issues Americans face today as monoculture, a large scale agriculture, a large scale animal industry, obesity and bio-ethanol.

Start １１：３０
System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
　20min./Laos/2008
　Produced by: Japan International Volunteer Center(JVC)
　Language: Lao / Subtitle: Japanese、English

Rice shortage prevails in the villages of Laos for almost half a year. JVC is working to increase rice yield through improvement of rice culture technique called SRI which introduces a single young　nursery planting system. It is aimed to remove heavy burden of expansive chemicals from farmers by turning them to organic farming.

Start １１：５０
Seven Farmers in Laos
　42min./Laos/2008
　Directed by: Tondam Pongbichet
　Produced by: Sustainable Agriculture & Environment Development Association(SAEDA)/ Lao Extension for Agriculture　Project
　Language: Lao / Subtitle: Japanese

Mekong river runs into Laos and to the vicinity of capital city, carrying agro-chemical contaminated water from Thai and in the north from China. SAEDA, a NGO under the leadership of Tondam, is promoting organic farming without such chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The film shows farmers effort to revitalize traditional wisdom in the midst of rapid development.

Start １３：２０
Rice; The Life of Asia
　52min./Malaysia/2007
　Produced by: Pesticide Action Network Asia and Pacific(PAN)
　Language: English / Subtitle: Japanese

This film depicts, through rice related festivals and ceremonies, how deep rice is rooted in the lives of people of Thai, Philippines, Indonesia, India and Bangladesh in their daily living, history, culture and environment. In the last half of the film, it shows how multinational corporations and governments are posing threat to people and small farmers in these countries by introducing high yield variety of rice that ravages farmlands, and the fights of farmers against such threat.

Start １５：４５
This World is For All Life
　80min./Japan/1984
　Planned & Filmed by KIKUCHI Shu, Edited by KAMEI Fumio
　Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

A documentary of garden creatures in Ohira Farm that turned from heavy chemical use to non-chemical farming. Ohira farm, a leading figure in national campaign for food production boost after the WW2, had lost the previous head of the family to chemical poisoning and his successor Hiroshi Ohira had almost lost his sight to the same cause. " We must go back to farming of old days "said his mother and that was the start of Hiroshi's soil building days. "Worms eat leaves, birds eat worms and birds leave shit that enriches soil and become nutrient for vegetable "says Hiroshi. All these living creatures are co-workers at his farm. This film is also a last message of a documentalist Fumio Kamei.
　　　　　Trailer(Japaneas)
　　　　　
　　　　　　　(C)2009 Tokyo Shasin Kobo

Start １７：２５
Beyond Organic The Vision of Fairview Garden
　33min./USA/2000
　Directed by John Graaf, Produced by Center for Urban Agriculture
　Language: English / Subtitle: Japanese

A documentary film of a young farmer in California Michael Ableman who struggled to keep his farm while a wave of urbanization brought new settlers all around the farm. Even though Ableman managed to calm down complaints and pressure from new neighbors to quit farming for the annoying smell of compost and cock crow by turning his farm into a hands-on learning center of real food for urban people, the land owner was in the process to sell the farmland to a housing developer. The farm was on the verge of closure when CSA members came to rescue and raised enough fund to keep the farm going as Non Profit Organization. This film shows possibilities of urban agriculture.

Start １８：４５
Living Soil
　41min./Japan/1982
　Planned by Natural Farming Research Center, MOA Production
　Produced by Sakura Motion Picture
　Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

Issues of food and agriculture have direct impact on our health. The film gives scientific picture of "Living Soil" that produces healthy crops at farm managed by Kazuo Suka, a natural farmer who has succeeded in building such living soil. This is a priceless report of possibility of natural farming in contrast to modern agriculture system that is based on industrial view point. It also documents problems of modern agriculture and lessons learnt from them.

Start １９：４５
Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
　53min./USA/2006
　Produced by: Community Solutions
　Directed by: Faith Morgan
　Language: English, Spanish / Subtitle: Japanese
　Trailer: http://www.powerofcommunity.org/

When Cuba lost access to Soviet oil in the early 1990s, the country faced an immediate crisis-feeding the population-and an ongoing challenge: how to create a new low-energy society. Cuba transitioned from large, fossil-fuel intensive farming to small, less energy-intensive organic farms and urban gardens, and from a highly industrial society to a more sustainable one. This film tells story of the Cuban people's challenge to change their agriculture, industry, housing, education, medical care and energy without anyone lost for starvation or lack of medical attention even under the most severe economic climate. The keyword people found is " the Power of Community". Some day we all must face the peak oil where Cuban experience has a lot to tell.

Information : IFOF in Ikeda 2009

In this summer, International Film Festival on Organic Farming in Ikeda 2009 will be held in Ikedacho, Fukui. As for "Ozaki -San of Frandon Farm School", seven works will be shown. The lecture of HOSHI Kanji (Takahata-cho, Yamagata) is planned, too.

　・Ozaki -San of Frandon Farm School
　・Non to GMO, A Message from France
　・One man, One cow, One planet
　・Farmers of Life
　・Olive tree
　・This World is For All Life
　・The Land We Live - Farmers of Sanrizuka

　Date ： August 22(Sat), 2009
　Place: Large Hall, Noh-no-Sato cultural exchange, Ikedacyo, Fukui, Japan
　　　　　　5-1, Yabuta, Ikedatyo, Fukui　TEL：0778-44-7000
　　　　　　Map：http://www.fukuiweb.com/nou-movie/map.html (Jaapanes)
　Time : 9:30 - 21:00( Open at 9:00 )
　Subscription; ¥2000.00
　Hosted by : IFOF in Ikeda Planning Committee
　　　　　　　http://www.fukuiweb.com/nou-movie/ (Japanes)

Do you like to show your short video at IFOF 2009?

How would you like your video shown at IFOF 2009? We welcome those who wish to send your work to us that express your idea or vision about food and farming.

Send your work in accordance with the following;

Subject: Skills, techniques, traditional food, introducing your activities, issues related to organic agriculture or farming in general. Work can be documentary, story, etc.

Length: Less than 3 minutes

Person or group,

Work can be published or non published but must be proprietary of applicants. All matters related to copy rights must be cleared before application.

Attach the script (English or Japanese)
Fee: No charge

Video file format: AVI, FLV, WMV, MPG

Submission of your entry : Send your work in DVD-ROM with Title, Brief explanation(less than 100 words), contact detail:your name, address,phone/fax/e-mail/URL, occupation, name of group/organization,

Entry deadline: August 31 2009 for year 2009

Entry or question: IFOF committee at: info@yuki-eiga.com

International Film Festival on Organic Farming（IFOF） 2008

Peace rooted on soil

While food and agriculture is shakey the world over with the food price hike and by the tightening of free trade grip on agriculture, traditional agricultures developed and nurtured thru each regional climate and socio-economic conditions are now on the verge of collapse.

Farmers are being removed from their farmland and water resources by the onslaught of huge industrial agriculture that require heavy use of chemicals, pesticides and gene altered seeds.

So much the reality is threatening that the call for organic agriculture is growing ever greater. Amid the food crisis in April 2008, the international institution called “International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development(IAASTD) “ formed by UN agency, national governments, NGOs, and private corporations announced that the small scale organic farming is the way for 21st century for food production to ensure protection of society, economy and environment.

Every individual on this planet has right to live in peace and with dignity.
This right to reproduce themselves is not for humans alone but for all living creatures on this planet. Organic agriculture is the peaceful culmination of this right of existence.

The International Film Festival on Organic Farming(IFOF) was first held in November 2007 with support from many individuals and organizations. We hold IFOF 2008 with “Peace rooted on soil” as a theme in hope of rebuilding healthy farming and eating practices so that all living creatures can live in peace together.

Video Letter(Japanese)
Greeting from Executive Chief OHNO Kazuoki can be seen;

3min 7sec, 11.8MB

>> YouTube

Information : IFOF 2008

Date : November 16, 2008

Place: Central Building in Natinal Olympics Memorial Youth Center, Tokyo, Japan

Time : 9:00 - 21:00( Open at 8:40 )

Subscription; ¥2000.00

Hosted by :
International Film Festival on Organic Farming Executive Committee/
Tokyo Peace Film Club
Sponsors :
Diet Member Council for Organic Agriculture, Asia Gakuin School, Meiji Gakuin Global Peace Institute, Japan Consumers Federation, Hooksalim(Korea)
Collaborator :
Japan Organic Agriculture Association,
Supported by :
Alter Trade Japan Ltd., Shumei Natural Farming Network,Kageyama Oil Refinary Ltd., International Natural Farming Research Centre, PAL System Coop., Sakura Citizen’s Network,Experimental Village for Global Challenges, Nanatumori Books Ltd., Commons Inc.

Special Feature 1: Room 309 19:50 - 21:00
After the show of “Farmers of Life”, there will be a special talk by two farmers from Takahata , Yamagata Pref. where the “Farmers of Life” was filmed as well as question and answer session and discussion on ‘TEIKEI’ with floor after farmers talk.
Special Feature 2 : Room 416 13:00 – 13:30
Lecture: ‘ Organic Agriculture is the Solution for Food Crisis.’
TASAKA Koa, former principal of Asia Gakuin,and a specialist of organic phosphates, will speak on resolution reached by UN council on food and farming IAASTD. The council was held in April 2004 in South Africa attended by almost 60 country representatives and NGOs and declared that the organic agriculture is the farming method for 21st century.
Special Feature 3: Room 101 9:30 – 11:30
In remembrance of FKUOKA Masanobu, the natural farming advocate who has passed on at 95 years of age on August 16th, a memorial talk will be given by the director IMAIZUMI Kouji on Fukuoka’s 1997 Teaching Tour in India

Programm leaflet (PDF)
Front face 2.3MB

Time table 1.8MB

M. Fukuoka memorial program 1.75MB

IFOF 2008 Program

Ozaki -San of Frandon Farm School
73min. Japan 2006 / Japanese
Produced by Film production Committee
Collaborated by: Osaka Organic Agriculture Association, YMCA International High school
Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

A documentary of an organic farmer of 30 years who advocate to be subsistent on a 30a(0.7 acre) farm. He grows and delivers vegetables to consumers with watchword of "life, material cycling and harmony." He built his own house with log and gives lectures every now and then. He directed and played a musical featuring MIYAZAWA Kenji's 'A pig at Flandon Farm School' with youths. The film depicts his light hearted way of living.

Bio-fuel　Energy from cropland
31min. Japan 2007 / Japanese
Produced by: Pacific Asia Resources Centre (PARC)
Edited by: AMAGASA Keisuke
Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

Bio-fuel is being boosted as "environmentally sound" alternative energy. Its raw material is mostly from such crops as corn, sugarcane, palm, rapeseed resulting in increase of food price, expansion of plantation and giving heavy burden to the environment with its high dose of pesticide and GMO. The film documents the impact of bio-fuel and looks at ways to realize sustainable society thru recycling.

Non to GMO, A Message from France
28min. France 2004 / French , dubbed Japanese
Director: Suzanne Kurche
Language: French / dubbed Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

Genetically Modified Crops and Organic agriculture are incompatible, so insist organic farmers in France. Canadian farmer Percy Schmizer who is fighting back against gene giant Monsato says "if GMO enters into your field, the field becomes Monsanto's and not yours." He tells the world of the fact that GMO inhibits not only organic way of farming but also farmers themselves.

TANAKA Shozo - A Man Who Fought the Crime of Nation
98min. Japan 2006 / Japanese
Directed and Written by: IKEDA Hiroo
Planned by TANAKA Shozo Heritage Association
Produced by : TANAKA Shozo Documentary Production Committee
Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

"True civilization destroys no mountain, river, village nor men" said TANAKA Shozo who fought for the peasants impoverished by damage from polluted water and rain as the upstream Ashio copper mine discharged pollution into the Watarase river which supplied irrigation water to downstream paddies. Japan then was driving to become rich and strong with least regards to lives of people. TANAKA Shozo led movement to stop operation of the mine and save those suffering and risked his life by making direct appeal to the Meiji emperor. This documentary is based on the record of his life and testimonies.

Asian Community in Action
20min. Japan/Nepal 2008 / English
Planned and Produced by: Asia Leader Fellowship Program 2006
Directed by : KAMATA Yoji (Japan), Kunda Dekishit(Nepal)
Subsidized by Japan Foundation
Language: English / Subtitle: Not Available

The documentary depicts innovative activities to revitalize local community by local people in Asia. It shows a movement to build community that cycle material locally with organic agriculture and biogas in Ogawa-machi in Saitama Prefecture, and a local community radio station that provides useful information such as vegetable price and health to rural area in Nepal.

One man, One cow, One planet
58min. NewZealand 2006 / English, Japanese subtitle
Director: Barbara/Thomas Burstine
Produced by Cloud South Films>> Trailer
Language: English / Subtitle: Japanese
Japanese subtitle by JOAA,Science division

Modern Industrial agriculture is destroying the earth. Spread of desert, depletion of underground water, chemical pollution of food, marine ecosystem, soil, water and the air. Ecosystem of mother earth is creaking. Greed of human far exceeds what the earth can tolerate. This film delves into Indian farmers torment under multinational corporation's heavy handed GMO drive and follows what one old farmer's determination can do to save them with biodynamic farming.

The Land We Live - Farmers of Sanrizuka
38min. Japan 2003 / Japanese
Director: KUSUYAMA Tadayuki
Camera/Edit: NAGAKURA Tokuo
Production: Asia Dispatch
Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

Forty two years have passed since Government arbitrarily declared to build airport in Sanrizuka Narita. People still live on lands designated as airport zone farming with compost piles and processing factory of farm products. Above their roof, over 100 airplanes fly by everyday. Farmers' struggle to retain farm land continues. The roar of jet planes and the peaceful world of farming. The film shows beautiful farming scenes and conveys feelings of people live in the area.

Olive tree
24min. France 2007 / French, Japanese subtitle
Camera, Director: Eve Dusman
Produced by Solarium A.S.B.L
Language: French / Subtitle: Japanese
Japanese subtitle by IFOF

Their livelihood is becoming increasingly difficult as the Israeli occupation continues with the wall and embargo, Palestinian families harvest their olive which is a symbol and a testimony of their existence. This film introduces Palestinian Agriculture Reconstruction Committee, a NGO that supports Palestinian farmers with its oil press factory of the organic olive and distribute their product to France and Japan thru fare trade.

Healthy Soil - The impact of chemical overuse
46min. Korea 2001 / Korean, Japanese subtitle
Produced by: KBS(Korean Broadcasting System)
Director:Pak Jon Yon
Language: Korean / Subtitle: Japanese
Japanese subtitle by IFOF

The soil is suffering. Modern agriculture puts heavy dose of chemical fertilizer into soil and extensive damage is apparent in many ways. Unable to stand the excessive chemical nutrition, roses wither, rice stalks bend, peppers become festered by disease and roots rot. Soil hardened by accumulated salts. Micro-organisms disabled to function. This film shows Korean farmers tackling this devastation to restore healthy functions of their soil.

From the World of Soil
32min. Japan 1992 / Japanese
Planned: International Natural Farming Research and Development Centre
Produced: MOA production, Sakura Motion Picture
Editor: YOSIMOTO Tomotaka
Advisor: KIJIMA Toshio(Tochigi Agriculture Research Centre, FUJIWARA Toshirokuro(Kanagawa Horticulture Center), ARIE Chikara(Rikagaku Research Laboratory)
Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

Soil nurtures plants which is the source of organic matter and is apparently the source of all life. The film shows us the making of rich soil by looking at how forest soil becomes rich where leaves fall to the surface of the grond and eaten up by insects and bacteria turning into soil. The world of soil is explored with electron microscope and low speed pictures.

Farmers of Life
100min. Japan 2006 / Japanese
Plan and Production: Sakura Motion Picture
Producer: MURAYAMA Hideyo
Directed & Edited by HARAMURA Masaki
Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

In 1973 in Takahata town in Yamagata Pref., 38 young farmers who were not in agreement with modern agricultural practices formed "Takahata Organic Agriculture Association" and started farming organically. They were looked upon as odd guys sometimes with contempt by surrounding community and in many cases even by their own family members, for their way meant returning to hard labour of the past. They were cornered and nearly ostracized by their farming community over dispute of aerial application of pesticide. And what supported them to pursue their cause and saved them was the consumers in cities who were in terms of "know each other by face" with farmers.
There will be panel discussion with Takahata farmers after the show.

To Live on Earth - FUKUOKA Masanobu visits India
59min. Japan 1997 / Japanese
Director: IMAIZUMI Koji
Language: Japanese / Subtitle: Not Available

A documentary video of Fukuoka's visit to India in 1997. No till continuous rice-wheat production and clay seed ball are explained for beginners.

International Film Festival on Organic Farming（IFOF） 2007

Those who chosen to be 1%

We are in the midst of worldwide movement of transforming modern ways of chemical intensive farming that brought such problems as environmental pollution, health hazard, soil erosion, water pollution, endangering family farm, long distant transportation and monopoly of food system.

In the FAO report on "International Conference on Organic Agriculture and Food Security" May 2007, it is remarked that organic agriculture is potentially an effective measure in solving problems that have emerged as a result of modern food production systems. Among the advantages raised are; preserving agricultural community, safe nutritious and locally available food, sustainable farming by its biodiversity, bring about quality water and soil, balanced nutrition from consuming them which leads to health.

Towards the end of last year, Government of Japan enacted an Organic Agriculture Promotion Law which could become an epoch making step. Unfortunately, general perception of organic agriculture is a far cry with majority still harboring misunderstanding and its true value largely unrecognized. Organic produce in the market is estimated to be less than 1 % of total agricultural products.

In order to raise awareness, we formed executive committee by people who have various interest in organic agriculture to screen quality films relating to organic agriculture from all over the world throughout Japan.

IFOF 2007 Program

Future of Food
90min. USA 2004 / English, dubbed Japanese
Director: Deborah Koons Garcia
Produced by Lily Film
Japanese dubbed version by JAPAN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ASSOCIATION, Science Div. 2006

Food system is exposed to unprecedented change with few realizing its impact. Corporate control of world food from farm to dining table is steadily growing. The most controversial issue is the genetic engineering which could jeopardize all creatures on earth and its environment. We must ask ourselves how regulations, agriculture , consumers, health, morality should be. There is growing interest in alternative ways such as small scale family farm and organic agriculture.

Natural Farming - The World of KAWAGUCHI Yosikazu
153min. Japan 1997 / Japanese
Director: KOIZUMI Shukichi
Produced by Group Gendai Films and Fiona

The World of Natural Farming which is sustainable without inflicting harm, non-polluting, destroying or killing. He says "All you need is provided by nature in perfect balance and its first step is No Till."

The Real Dirt on Farmer John
84min. USA 2005 / English , Japanese subtitle
Director; Tagart Siegel
Produced by Collective Eye >> Trailer

This is an eccentric Illinois Farmer John's biographical story. John is a typical hippie generation who turns his inherited farm into agricultural commune but is a bam for local people. But he knew instinctively the taste of soil. His unyielding farmer spirit, invigorated by Community Supported Agriculture overcomes heart breaks and gives hope to family farmers eroded by corporate farming.

Uncle Stone's Lotus Field
24min. Taiwan 2005 / English , Japanese subtitle
Director:Wang Ching-Ling, Chu Shiaw-Chyuan
Narration:English
Japanese subtitle by EARTH VISION Organization

Uncle Stone ,living in the outskirt of Taipei, would not give up using pesticide for his lotus plants. Zoologists are out on a rescue mission to save the pond's rare frog species from extinction.

The World of Roots
25min. Japan 1981 / Japanese
Director; ARAI Issaku
Produced by Maruta Citrus Farmers Co-op.

This is the first ever visual film made of soil microbes. Millions and millions of micro-creatures found in tiny little bit of soil. It shows a wondrous chain of life of plants, minute insects and microbes. The film ask "What is it that humans are trying to kill" with the scene of crop dusting.
　　　　　Trailer(Japanese)
　　　　　
　　　　　　　(C)2009 Tokyo Syasin Kobo

Patent Pending
30min. India 1994 / English, dubbed Japanese
Director: Meera Dewan, Technical Supervisor: Vandana Shiva
South View Production
Narration:English
Japanese dubbed Version: Pacific Asia Resource Centre(PARC)

Intellectual Property Right is granted to seeds and nurseries and one must pay Patent fee to corporations. The neem known and used in India for centuries as medicinal plant is now patented by an American who started to sell as pesticide. The film depicts female farmers who stood against it to protect their seed, food and life.

Orange Alert
28min. Thailand 2005 / English, Japanese subtitle
Director: Teena Amrit Gill
Narration:English
Japanese subtitle by EARTH VISION Organization

Pesticides harmful to human health had been used in orchards in northern Thailand. The farmers took a stand to oppose the government's policy of encouraging pesticide use by growing pesticide-free produce.

Watch out your Vegitable
30min. Japan 2002 / Japanese
Produced by Pacific Asia Resource Centre(PARC)
Editing: OHNO Kazuoki, NISHIZAWA Emiko

Are cheap imported vegetables really safe? What is the impact of transportation on environment? The film depicts intent of profit seeking Global Agri-buisiness and the reality of agriculture in Japan and asks how our food should be.

No more Dead Season
34min. Philippine 2006 / English, Japanese subtitle
Director: Boyette Rimban
Japanese subtitle by EARTH VISION Organization

The people of Negros Island in the Philippines were at the mercy of world economy when they were growing sugarcane. Today, the farmers are independent and work in harmony with nature growing organic bananas with the help of international support such as fair trade.

Salud! Habana Urban Agriculture Report from Cuba
34min. Japan 2006 / Japanese
Director; ISAKA Yasunari
Produced by Office Isaca
Narration:Japanes

Two million people in Havana City are self sufficient. Music, dance and baseball are not the only things of Cuba. It is now Urban Agriculture which is producing vegetables and fruits without pesticide on every available space in town to become self sufficient.

Pesticide Epidemic
38min. Japan 1967 / Japanese
Director: KOIZUMI Shukichi
Produced by Group Gendai Films

The doctors at Saku General Hospital suspects organic mercury as the culprit of symptoms of suffering farmers. Local medical care that probes into cause and communicate the danger of pesticide to local people raises public concern. The question of the use of chemicals in agriculture as a matter of course is still valid today.

Japan's Lessons on the Economy and the Environment
30min. Japan 2007 / Japanese
Director: KAWAI Juka
Produced by TVE JAPAN

Historical record films of pesticide use in Japan tell us views surrounding pesticide and its impact on people. Also gives testimonies by people who work on pesticide issues.