Over the weekend, organizers announced the launch of the Fifth Annual RVA Environmental Film Festival, to be held on the first week of February (Feb. 2-8).

“The EnRichmond Foundation, Falls of the James Group – Sierra Club, Capital Region Land Conservancy, and EarthCraft Virginia have been working together to make sure this year’s festival is the best yet, with many insightful films designed to raise awareness of environmental issues relative to all residents of our planet – and to Richmond citizens in particular. As with last year, all of the festival’s events are free and open to the public.”

Although the full week’s schedule will not officially be released until later this week, here are a few highlights:

Continuing a tradition and by popular demand, the 2015 RVA EFF will include a children’s portion at the Byrd Theater, starting at 10 am on Saturday, February 7. It will begin with The Lorax, hopefully inspiring some new environmentalists and re-igniting the hope of older ones. At 10:30 am, there will be a screening of Disney’s Bears, a documentary that follows an Alaskan bear family as its young cubs are taught life’s most important lessons. Following Bears, there will be a short animated feature called “The Ballad of Holland Island House” and another short film entitled “Forest Man”, the story of Jadav Payeng, an Indian man who single-handedly planted nearly 1400 acres of forest to save his island, Majuli.

As part of the ongoing fundraising for the RVA EFF, on January 12, 2015, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Baker’s Crust in Carytown is having RVA Environmental Film Festival Fundraising Night. Mention to your waiter/waitress that you are there to support the RVA EFF and Baker’s Crust will donate 15% of the sales to the festival, dine in or take out. Baker’s Crust – Carytown is located at 3553 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23221.

This year, festival organizers have extended the festival to a whole week and will include venues all over the area, including evenings at the University of Richmond, the VCU Grace Street Theater, Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Science Museum of Virginia, as well as Richmond and Henrico public libraries. Many of the films are not only new but are area premieres.

Organizers note that this free film festival would not be possible without the generosity of additional sponsors like the Carillon Civic Association, James River Association, Slow Food RVA, Sunflower Solar, Soulshift Journeys, Terrapin Beer Company, and Sierra Club Foundation.

More information about other films, guests and speakers, and specific schedules for each day will be made available as the event becomes nearer. For more information on the Festival, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, visit www.rvaenvironmentalfilmfestival.com.