Bidder 70

Documentary on University of Utah economics student and environmentalist Tim DeChristopher who, in an act of civil disobedience, disrupted an oil and gas lease auction in 2008. Posing as 'Bidder #70' he outbid industry giants on 22,000 acres of land for $US 1.8 million - land which the energy industry wanted for its oil and which conservationists wanted to safeguard. With no intention to pay, the auction was invalidated by the US government and DeChristopher was indicted on two federal felonies with penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

As he endured court postponements and procedures - represented pro-bono by a lawyer who had previously worked for Bill Clinton - DeChristopher used his position to advocate "climate justice" and founded Peaceful Uprising. As his activism escalated, DeChristopher's trial date loomed, and in 2011/2012 he was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison - a sentence still being served as Bidder 70 was released.

Say directors Beth and George Gage: "Once in a while someone comes along that totally wows you. That’s how we felt when we read about Tim DeChristopher... he saved 22,000 acres of pristine wilderness. No property was destroyed, no one was hurt, and valid concerns were raised over the entire BLM oil and gas leasing process."

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