Water is the essence of life, sustaining every being on this planet. Without water, there would simply be no plants, no animals, and no people. But the global water supply isn't just at risk, it's already in crisis.

FLOW: For Love Of Water, a new film by Irena Salina, highlights the local intimacies of an emerging global catastrophe: African plumbers reconnect shantytown water pipes under cover of darkness to ensure a community's survival; a Californian scientist forces awareness of shockingly toxic public water sources; a ‘Big Water’ CEO argues privatization is the wave of the future; a “Water Guru” in India sparks new community water initiatives in hundreds of villages; a Canadian author uncovers the corporate profiteering that drives global water business.

With an unflinching focus on politics, pollution and human rights, FLOW: For Love of Water ensures that the precarious relationship between humanity and water can no longer be ignored. While specifics of locality and issue may differ, the message is the same; water, and our future as a species, is quickly drying up. Armed with a thirst for survival, people around the world are fighting for their birthright; unless we instigate change, we face a world in which only those that can pay for their water will survive. FLOW: For Love of Water, is a catalyst for people everywhere: the time has come to turn the tide and we can't wait any longer.

Director: Irena Salina
Born in France, Irena started her career at 15 as a radio journalist in Paris, then worked in production in various capacities on numerous US films before writing and directing her first short, See You on Monday, sponsored by LifeTime Television for the Hamptons Film Festival. Her first feature film, Ghost Bird: The Life and Art of Judith Deim (2000) is an award-winning documentary that delves into the remarkable life of St. Louis-born artist Judith Deim. GhostBird was featured at many festivals, won Best Documentary at the 15th Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, the Presidents' Award at Mexico's prestigious Ajijic Film Festival, and is an evergreen audience favorite on the Sundance Channel.

Director: Irena Salina
Executive Producer: Stephen Nemeth
Producer: Steven Starr
Coproducers: Gill Holland, Yvette Tomlinson

Guest speaker Deborah Meyer DeWan is currently serving as Interim Executive Director of The Catskill Center and is their Director of Policy and Program focusing on regional policy issues and organizational development. In that capacity she coordinates the Center’s involvement in the Clean Drinking Water Coalition and natural resource policy.

The profits on water are huge, but the raw material is free by Ivan Penn, Times Staff Writer