SANTA MONICA — On Thursday, February 27, Santa Monica Public Library will host a screening and discussion of the documentary “Rock the Boat” at 7:00 p.m. in the MLK Jr. Auditorium.

The 2012 documentary, with a running time of 54 minutes, revolves around satirical writer and kayaker George Wolfe who organizes a boating expedition down Los Angeles River. Collecting a ragtag crew along his 52-mile journey, Wolfe rows his way through an adventure that sparks a legal controversy, capturing the attention of the entire nation. “Rock the Boat” offers a scenic yet humorous exploration of the challenges of providing clean water to urban populations. “Los Angeles is ready for a river rebirth, and there are dozens of individuals and groups working for that vision,” said Andrew Basmajian, Communications Coordinator of the Santa Monica Office of Sustainability and the Environment.

The event will feature panelists George Wolfe, Tom Ford, Director of Marine Programs at the Bay Foundation and Mia Lehrer, Principal Architect at Mia Lehrer and Associates. The discussion will be moderated by Thea Mercouffer, producer and director of the film. The panelists will discuss the film itself as well as any sustainability issues that come up in the discussion. There will also be a Q&A session afterwards.

The screening is a co-production with the city’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, and is one of the many programs which the library holds each year to highlight the arts and sustainability issues. “Santa Monica is a relatively green city, and the Main Library is an LEED gold rated building, so green programming is a natural fit,” said Nancy Bender, Public Services Librarian, to Canyon News.

The library is located at 601 Santa Monica Boulevard; for more information, visit smpl.org or call 310-458-8600.