The Finger Lakes Bioneers, in association with Sustainable Cortland and SUNY Cortland, present the Cortland premiere of FREEDOM, a 90-minute documentary film by Josh and Rebecca Tickell this coming Monday, October 10 at 7:30 pm. The film explores an array of greener fuel solutions and technological alternatives to address the dilemmas of our fossil fuel-dependent society. The national tour of the “Freedom” eco-bus, visiting around 50 cities, is stewarded by Boise Thomas, a young Cortland native who went west and has developed and hosted programming for Discovery Communications’ channel Planet Green and for the G Living lifestyle network. He will participate in the audience Q&A after the film along with representatives from Sustainable Tompkins and Sustainable Cortland. Other local groups advancing the community conversation about our ecological ‘footprint’ will be tabling.

The 90-minute film will screen at 7:30 PM Monday, October 10th. Public is invited and admission and parking is free. Location for both events is the Corey Union on the campus of SUNY Cortland. From 6-7:30 the traveling bus, which doubles as a clean-energy laboratory and a “green” mobile entertainment system, will be open for tours in front of Corey Union.

The “FREEDOM TOUR” (http://thefreedomfilm.com) is a nearly four-month excursion across the US that focuses on displacing gasoline with renewable alternatives. The “FREEDOM BUS” is traveling to movie theaters and colleges across the US and into Canada supporting the release of the “FREEDOM” film. The bus has been retrofitted to carry 18 solar panels, an E85 bio-fuel engine and power generator, energy efficiency, wind, solar and water displays, eco-building materials and a projection system for outdoor viewing and presentations.  The film is produced by the filmmakers of the 2008 Sundance Audience Award winning film “Fuel.”

There will also be screenings of the film and visits by the bus at Cortland High School where Thomas graduated and at Onondaga Community College which he also attended. These will occur on Friday, October 7th. The film screens on the OCC campus at 1:30 PM in Storer Auditorium. The bus will be parked there for tours. Boise Thomas will be available to meet with public and press at all events.

There may be more screenings in the area so stay tuned to the Finger Lakes Bioneers website: www.wemakeourfuture.org for updates.

Finger Lakes Bioneers has hosted two regional conferences and helped link central New York audiences to the work of Bioneer innovators (www.Bioneers.org).  This year’s film series in Auburn, Cortland, Elmira and Watkins Glen seeks to connect communities across our region on topics related to our shared future.

The 22nd annual Bioneers conference will be held October 14-16 in Marin County, California.  It is a leading-edge forum and environmental conference that brings together social and scientific innovators. This year’s speakers include Phillipe Cousteau, Amory Lovins, and Gloria Steinem.