Here are a few highlights from among the 46 films being shown for free as part of this weekend's Tales from Planet Earth film festival. For a complete schedule and other information, visit nelson.wisc.edu/tales.

"Trouble the Water," 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, Wisconsin Union Theater, 800 Langdon St. This Oscar-nominated documentary is a first-person account of what it was like to live through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans' Ninth Ward. The filmmakers will be at the screening.

"What's On Your Plate?," 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, 216 State St. A pair of New York preteens examine the range of unhealthy food options being foisted on them by American culture in this funny, pint-size version of "Fast Food Nation." The filmmakers will be in attendance, and L'Etoile chef Tory Miller will take the audience over to the last outdoor Dane County Farmers' Market after the screening.

"Sleep Dealer," 9 p.m. Saturday, Union Theater. Alex Rivera will be in attendance to present his sci-fi satire, in which all U.S. borders are closed, yet Mexican workers still do all the cheap labor in America thanks to remote-controlled robots.

"The Hunger Season," 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave. This moving film chronicles how food aid moved from the farms of Wisconsin to the villages of Swaziland, and originally got a "sneak preview" screening last year by the festival, which served as the model for the movie's national distribution plan. Audience members will get a special meal after the screening.

"Lighting the Seventh Fire," 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, Union Theater. This 1995 documentary looks at Chippewa Indians in Wisconsin struggling to preserve their traditional spearfishing culture. The film will be preceded at 1 p.m. by a keynote address by activist (and one-time Ralph Nader running mate) Winona LaDuke.

"Cooked," 5:30 p.m. Sunday, MMOCA. Filmmaker Judith Helfand, who is a UW artist-in-residence this semester, will present a screening of her in-progress film about the 1995 Chicago heat wave. After the screening, audience members can head across the street to Espresso Royale Cafe for a free tasting featuring local products, including jam, brownies and sauerkraut, made by clients of Porchlight.

Login to post your comment. If you don't have an account, you may register for one.