Sunday, June 17----------After five days of what was admittedly some very difficult subject matter explored on screen (torture, imprisonment, war, racism, genocide and all forms of denial of freedom and equality), SILVERDOCS ended on a lighter note, while still staying committed to the issue-oriented nature of the event. The Closing Night Film, making its East Coast Premiere (while screening simultaneously in Seattle, Washington) is this year's nature sensation ARTIC TALE.

Directed by Sarah Robertson and produced by the team that created the sensation MARCH OF THE PENGUINS, the film will be released in late July by Paramount Vantage, the studio muscle behind last year's Oscar winner AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.  ARTIC TALE is an epic adventure that explores the vast world of the Great North. The film follows the walrus, Seela and the polar bear, Nanu, on their journey from birth to adolescence to maturity and parenthood in the frozen Arctic wilderness. Once a perpetual winter wonderland of snow and ice, the walrus and the polar bear are losing their beautiful icebound world as it melts from underneath them. Narrated by Queen Latifah, with music by Cat Stevens, Ben Harper, Aimee Mann, and The Shins, the film makes its environmental message in a family-friendly format that could mean major box office and offer a potent message on global warming.

AFI Silver Theater"This is the perfect ending to SILVERDOCS, a line-up of the best documentaries of 2007" Festival Director Patricia Finneran exulted. "ARTIC TALE is a visually stunning real-life drama of how global warming is affecting two animal families. With inspiring music and stunning imagery, the film addresses social and environmental concerns and inspires us to think deeper about life on planet earth." SILVERDOCS has put its money where its mouth is this year, having partnered with Clean Current to create one of the first "green film festivals" on the circuit. A fitting end to an exemplary event that has become, in five short years, an indispensable stop for those who make, buy, program or simply love documentary film......all looking quite gorgeous, I might add, in one of the country's most beautiful arthouse complexes, the AFI Silver Theater. Hats off to all........

Sandy Mandelberger, Online Festival Dailies Editor