Filmmaker Mark Achbar and ‘Blue Gold: World Water Wars’ coming to Syracuse

Award-winning Canadian filmmaker/producer Mark Achbar is coming to Syracuse on Thursday, April 22, as a guest of the Syracuse International Film Festival and Syracuse University. He will show his newest film, “Blue Gold: World Water Wars,” at 7:30 p.m. at The Palace Theatre, 2384 James St., Syracuse.

Prior to the screening, at 5 p.m., members of the public are invited to join Achbar for dinner at Phoebe’s Garden Café Restaurant, 900 E. Genesee St., as he continues the film festival’s new “Film Talks” series.

 “The world’s fresh water is disappearing.” 

 “In every corner of the globe we are polluting… and wasting our fresh water supply…as population and technology grows.”

These lines describe the premise of Achbar’s documentary “Blue Gold.” A graduate of Syracuse University’s Fine Arts Film Program, Achbar has worked in film for 30 years. He is spending several days at SU this month as a visiting artist in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ Department of Transmedia. Recognized worldwide as one of a group of non-fiction feature filmmakers reaching large, international audiences through mainstream theaters, DVD, TV and the Internet, Achbar is also known for his award-winning productions “The Corporation” and “Noam Chomsky and the Media.”

In addition to dinner and the film, the April 22 evening will feature an exhibition of photography by Dr. Gregory Craybas, whose work highlights the natural beauty of water in Central New York and around the Great Lakes.

Tickets for the evening event are $55 single/$100 couple and include dinner and the film screening. Dinner space is limited, and reservations are required by April 14 to 443-8826; each dinner guest will receive a raffle ticket for gift baskets donated by Natur-Tyme Natural Foods. Tickets for the film only—$10 for the general public and $8 for seniors and students—will be available at the theater door. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to Save The River to support environmental efforts.

Event sponsors are Syracuse University, Syracuse First, Nature-Tyme and Stress Design.

Achbar is the third film artist brought to Syracuse this year by the Syracuse International Film Festival.  Other world-class artists presenting their work have included Cannes Film Festival award-winning director Rob Nilsson, who screened “Imbued” (starring Stacy Keach) and activist-filmmaker George Gittoes, who screened “Soundtrack to War” and “The Miscreants of Talliwood.” Additional sponsorship for these guests was provided by the Le Moyne College Film Program and Syracuse University.