An historic marker for the town of Lorentz, named after Pare’s ancestor. A scene of the family land taken from the Lorentz clan is shown in “The River.” His ancestor was a supporter of the Confederacy. Lorentz once wrote an article about WV called “WV – Son of a Bastard Rape.”

Burning the Future – Coal in America was given the 2008 Pare Lorentz Award on November 21, 2008 by the International Documentary Association. Pare Lorentz was famous as FDR’s filmmaker and was born and raised in West Virginia. This is the first WV-linked film to win the prestigious international documentary award given to a social activist film each year.

The press release states, ” The IDA/Pare Lorentz Award, in homage to the pioneering filmmaker’s legacy, was given to David Novack’s BURNING THE FUTURE: COAL IN AMERICA, a hard look at the coal industry and its efforts to promote “clean coal technology” in the face of true environmental hazards.”Lorentz’ films including “The Plow that Broke the Plains” and “The River” were award-winning documentaries made to show Americans about the need for social conservation, protecting the environment, etc. Lorentz donated special 16 mm copies of the two films to The West Virginia Library Commission. They were shown in the Cultural Center in June 1982 as part of the 50th anniversary celebration and rededication ceremony that was held on WV Day, June 20th. Lorentz was flown to Charleston March 23, 1990 by Gov. Caperton and Commissioner Bill Drennen for a special film series which honored his work. He died on March 4, 1992. The media room at the FDR Presidential Library is named in his honor.  Congrats to David Novack, director of “Burning the Future” and everyone in WV, NYC, etc. who worked hard to make the film about the effects of MTR.

The film has received many honors including “best film” at the 2008 WV Filmmakers Festival held last month in Sutton.

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