Fields of Fuel to screen around the world

February 11, 2008

BY Kris Bevill

Web exclusive posted Feb. 18, 2008, at 4:35 p.m. CST

Aside from occasional reports on how the Oscars planning committees are "greening" up the award show, biodiesel and movies traditionally haven't been topics covered in the same conversation. That changed earlier this year when Josh Tickell's first feature-length documentary Fields of Fuel debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in January. Every screening of the film during the festival was sold out, and the film received the highly coveted "Audience Award," one of six awards handed out to documentaries.



Wheels have been spinning around the clock at film Producer Greg Reitman's office since returning from Sundance. Plans are underway to launch a 50-city U.S. tour this spring, beginning with the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in April. Tickell will then lead a biodiesel-fueled caravan across the country to promote the film, and hold question and answer sessions regarding biofuels. Reitman is in charge of lining up music concerts for tour stops, and he said there will be announcements in the near future. Reitman and Tickell aim to show the film on at least 1,000 movie screens across the country before the tour ends in Washington D.C., prior to the presidential election in November.

International screening dates are also in the works. Reitman said he plans to take the film to the Jerusalem Film Festival later this year, and he is working on screenings in Japan, Sweden and Australia.

Reitman signed his company Blue Water Entertainment Inc. to coproduce the film three years ago after Tickell called him daily for a year, asking him to be a part of the film. He's been heavily involved in the production process ever since but never expected the film to achieve the kind of response it has received since premiering at the festival. "I never expected it to be what it is," he said. "[Winning the award was] a testament to what we were all about and what we were trying to create."

Fields of Fuel is the largest film that Reitman has ever produced. "It's been an incredible journey," he said. "We all know the [world's oil] problems, but Josh really wanted to show the solutions. People walk out of the film, and they have a sense of hope and empowerment, and that's an amazing thing to be a part of."

Biodiesel Magazine will feature a more in-depth look at the film and its creators' future plans in the April print issue.

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