As today is Earth Day, I have been given the honor to write about a few of my favorite environmental films within the IndieFlix library.

The first is the animated short film, Skylight, about how the damaged ozone layer are causing the untimely demise of penguins, among other animals. This short drives home the pollution issue by being a charmingly comical animated “16mm” retro mockumentary style. It’s good for laughs and leaves plenty to be discussed. Stay tuned during the credits to hear some rather unusual animal sounds which contribute to the light-hearted manner of this kid-friendly film.  This short is directed by David Baas and was on the short list to be nominated for the Best Animated Short Academy Award in 2009. In the end, it wasn’t nominated. But it is still one quality short animation!

Another favorite of mine is the feature documentary Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox. This film, about the famous Dr. Bronner’s castile soap, exposes how this pioneering company has been eco-friendly since its creation back in 1948. Following the complicated family legacy behind counterculture’s favorite cleaning product, the film explores the fascinating character that was Emmanuel Bronner. Bronner escaped Nazi Germany, fled to the Sunshine State after shock treatments in an Illinois mental instituion and despite hardships, always lived by his All-in-One-God Faith belief system (for more on this man’s spirituality, read the detailed label of any Bronner’s Castile Soap container). After being informed on this product, I plan on using the Magic Soapbox around my household and on camping trips as apparently this soap is good for everything from teeth to cat vomit.

One Man, One Cow, One Planet tells the tale of how “desertification, water scarcity, toxic cocktails of agricultural chemicals are pervading our food chains, ocean ecosystem collapse, soil erosion and massive loss of soil fertility” (check out their website here). It is a great documentary and will prove to viewers that one man really can save the world with just cow-dung.  Better him than me, I suppose.

These are just a few of my favorite environmental documentaries and films to celebrate Earth Day, however, after a quick survey around the office, I decided to add a few more recommendations at the request of the IndieFlix cast and crew…

1. Keep it Clean, directed by Jeanette Sena Muhlmann, about a stressed out beach crowd who is magically visited by a Healing Tribe that dances with them into a place of Unity and Harmony while cleaning up the beach.
2. Geocache, directed by David Liban, about the new and growing sport that combines the internet, global satellite positioning (GPS) technology and hiking. I plan on a nice hike myself on Saturday morning (a warm 65 doesn’t happen in Seattle too often), so perhaps I will partake in some geo-caching myself.
3. Heart & Soil, directed by Mara LeGrand, captures the essence of the growing local food consciousness.

What about you? What’s your favorite environmental feature or short? I encourage you all to take a look at our other environmental films here and have a very happy Earth Day!