Eating Up Easter Screening on Saturday, October 26

About the Festival: Each year, the Friday Harbor Film Festival located on beautiful San Juan Island, Washington, invites dedicated and talented Filmmakers to showcase their Documentary films unique ability to: Entertain audiences through the art of compelling storytelling, inspire audience members, as well as filmmakers to be a force for positive change, enlighten all participants by conveying relevant information, creating awareness and expanding appreciation of our fragile planet, diverse cultures and those daring to explore new frontiers, and encourage students to participate in the Young Filmmakers Project to learn the art of storytelling thru film.

About Eating Up Easter: The iconic statues and sensationalized “mysteries” of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) have drawn the interest of the world for centuries, attracting curious visitors to its shores. Today, this tiny, barren island is experiencing an economic boon as tourism skyrockets.

Yet the indigenous culture and the island’s fragile environment are suffering. Eating Up Easter, directed by native Rapanui filmmaker Sergio Mata’u Rapu, explores the dilemma his people are facing. Crafted as a story passed down to his newborn son, Sergio intertwines the authentic history of the island with the stories of four islanders. In their own voices, these Rapanui reveal the challenges of embracing modern development, while at the same time preserving their culture, traditions, and environment.

This need to tackle the complexities of balancing growth and long-term sustainability faces many local communities throughout the world, and Eating Up Easter points to possible ways forward.