We don’t normally write plugs for Film Festivals, but consider this much more a plug for human whirlwind and eco-warrior Mira Tweti, author of the must-read “Of Parrots and People” and “Here, There, and Everywhere”, who has also found time (how? she describes herself as “a workaholic animal welfare journalist”, so perhaps that’s how…) to make a film about re-homing a Pekin Duck called Dewie. Check out the official website Dewie Duck Duckumentary…

We’ll be reviewing “Little Miss Dewie” soon, but in the meantime if you live anywhere near Phoenix (and our stats suggest that a good many 10,000 Birds readers do) you can watch it in comfort and on a sizeable screen at the Phoenix Film Festival on either April 3rd or April 4th. There’s also a special benefit event TOMORROW APRIL 1st - details again on the Dewie website.

Mira will be at the Phoenix Festival (and so will a few other people like actress Virginia Madsen, Academy Award nominated American documentary filmmaker, television producer and screenwriter Morgan Spurlock, and Yeardley “Lisa Simpson” Smith, all of whom are over-achievers and wonderful people, but none of whom - as far as I know - have done much to save parrots yet…) and she has promised to give a great big hug to anyone who asks for one (I may possibly have made that last bit up, so don’t just rush up to her and wrap her in the love she deserves without asking her first).

Typically Mira is giving any proceeds from the screening to animal charities: WebfootResQ (a charity that “rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes orphaned and discarded domestic ducks and geese”) and the Oasis Sanctuary (”a Rescue and Retirement facility for exotic birds, predominantly CITES I and II endangered birds”).

Remarkably Mira is only just getting going, and is now founding her own Film Festival, which will take place in Santa Monica next September (LABOR DAY WEEKEND 9/4-7)! To quote from Mira’s newsletter -

“I’m founding Blue Planet Film Fest to animal welfare and environmental films of all genres - documentary, dramatic, animated, shorts, features.

I’m thrilled to say the festival is getting a great support from the Hollywood community! Soon there will be news to announce about environmentally-minded celebrity participants. I’ve found a great space in Santa Monica to hold the festival and some terrific films have already been submitted even during this early submission phase.

Blue Planet is a non-profit and fundraising is underway. So please donate, even a little if you can. I need to raise all the funds to put it on. I’m hoping to do a celeb fundraiser in the next couple of months but I’m not there yet! Donate at www.BluePlanetFilmFest.com

Some readers may be asking themselves why we’re giving such (free, please note) promotion to Ms Tweti? Here’s a promise - if you write a life-changing and deeply thoughtful book and a wonderful children’s book (in the same year), make a movie, drive a dozen ducks across state lines, devote yourself to animal welfare, and start a “green” film festival we’ll do exactly the same for you too