aiff_program09_interior.xp 3/2/09 3:54 PM Page 25
Fierce Light A Film from My Parish – 6 Farms –
documentar
97 minutes a73 2008 a73 Canada 7 minutes a73 2008 a73 Ireland
Friday 6:40p
a73
Saturday 6:40p Friday 9:30a
a73
Saturday 9:00p
a73
Monday 12:00p
Director/Screenwriter/Cinematographer/Narrator: Velcrow Ripper a73 Executive Producers:
Plays with: Food, Inc. (p26)
Mark Achbar, Betsy Carson, Silva Basmajian a73 Producers: Cher Hawrysh, Gerry Flahive a73
Editors: Cher Hawrysh, Velcrow Ripper a73 Music/Composers: Ölafur Arnalds, Goldmund,
Director/Cinematographer: Tony Donoghue a73 Producer: Janet Grainger a73 Animators: Tony
Adam Shaikh a73 Principal Cast: Thich Nhat Hanh, Daryl Hannah, Julia Butterfly Hill,
Donoghue, Janet Grainger, Niall Mooney, Cathy Price a73 Editors: Barry Murphy, Ed Smith a73
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Alice Walker a73
fiercelight.org
Principal Cast: Patrick Cahalan, Una Costello, Christy Gleeson, Julia Mc Donnell, Mary
ies
Parkinson, Michael Parkinson, Mary Quirke
Filmmaker Velcrow Ripper (ScaredSacred, 2005 AIFF) takes an
insightful look at change motivated by love. All over the world,
These stories from six farms in County Tipperary, Ireland
he discovers the rising movement of “spiritual activism,” and
explore a farmer’s bond with the land. Through lyrical still
the dynamic personalities who are igniting its compassionate
photo animation the film illuminates parish farmers as the
force to reclaim autonomy, heal wounds of history, and to
original champions of sustainable living. Trying to be as non-
empower and transform themselves.
disruptive as possible, the film was shot using two digital still
The film features a series of interviews with some of the most
cameras, a mini disc recorder, a tripod and a bicycle. [subtitles]
inspiring figures alive today, including Archbishop Desmond
Sponsor: Ashland Food Co-op
Tutu; Pulitzer Prize-winning Author, Alice Walker; Buddhist
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peace activist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh; famed tree-sitter, Julia
Tony Donoghue
Butterfly Hill; Hollywood celebrity turned spiritual activist,
Daryl Hannah; Dharma Punk; Noah Levine and many more.
Director’s Statement
With its many dramatic stories of resistance and
The farmers in this film are my neighbours
transformation, the film reveals what is possible when human
in County Tipperary, Ireland. Through all
beings, faced with a world in crisis, rise to their absolute best.
the years of plenty they stuck to traditional
Velcrow Ripper
ways. They repaired and repainted old
furniture, they recycled kitchen utensils and old sacks, they
Director’s Statement used natural farm resources wisely and carefully. In many ways
their brightly painted dressers and their moody geese became
My role as an artist is to capture and reflect
symbols of the difference between the old and the new Ireland.
the Zeitgeist of these times, offering clarity,
Thank God this link has not been broken, they are still with us
positive solutions, and a spirit of
and it’s not too late to learn from them how to save this planet.
celebration; transmitting the wisdom of the
world’s engaged visionaries—many of
Filmography: Body Projections, Mandala, My Little Pagan Thing, Zoom 1, Zoom 2
whom share both my sense of urgency and
great possibility. I create transformational and cinematic
documentaries, dramatic films, non-fiction books, articles, and
web media that deal with the central issues of our times.
I’ve followed my camera wherever it leads me, circling the
globe several times, searching for the meaning of life. I’ve
discovered that there are as many answers to that question as
there are fingerprints, and new answers keep appearing during
these times of rapid and dramatic change. Fierce Light is my
personal journey into a world that is in the depths of a crisis
that is both physical and spiritual, a world that needs to infuse
a sense of awe and reverence into all of our interactions with
ourselves, each other, and the planet.
Filmography: Bones of the Forest, In the Company of Fear, Iran the Crisis, Open Season,
ScaredSacred (2005 AIFF)
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