Actor Mark Ruffalo to make Palmetto, Sarasota appearances

Besides being one of the most popular and respected movie actors in the country, Mark Ruffalo -- who has starred in such diverse films as "The Avengers" and "Spotlight" -- is known as an activist who opposes fracking and America's dependence on fossil fuels.

He'll be in Sarasota next week to talk about his new film, "Dear President Obama." It's a documentary that takes a cross-country look at drilling, highlighting (according to publicity materials) "its variety of contaminations, the stories of its victims, the false promise of an economic boom" and focuses on clean-energy solutions.

Ruffalo is the narrator of the film, and he and writer-director Jon Bowermaster will host a screening of the film

at 7:30 p.m. May 12 at Burns Court Cinema. They'll conduct a question-and-answer session with audience members afterward.

It will be Ruffalo's second personal appearance in the area that day. In the afternoon, he'll be at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto, where he'll deliver the commencement address to Ringling College of Art and Design graduates.

The commencement ceremony is not open to the public, but it will be live-streamed at ringling.edu beginning 3:30 p.m, May 12.

You can get tickets to the film, including Ruffalo's appearance, at dearpresidentobama.com.

Details: 7:30 p.m. May 12, Burns Court Cinema, 506 Burns Court, Sarasota. Tickets: $14, Information: 941-955-3456, dearpresidentobama.com.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published May 5, 2016 at 11:17 PM with the headline "Actor Mark Ruffalo to make Palmetto, Sarasota appearances ."