Film Program

Part One

Paddle Tribal Waters | 9 min | Directed by Rush Sturges

When the largest dam removal project in history begins, a group of Indigenous youth learns to whitewater kayak, hoping to become the first people to paddle the restored river from source to sea.

Vanishing Oasis | 11 min | Directed by Jaxon Derow

The Great Salt Lake provides for 10 million migratory birds every year, but starving birds will line its shores if the lake continues to shrink, and toxic dust storms will cloud Salt Lake City’s skies. Can Utahns prioritize public and environmental health over short-term economic gain?

African Voices for Africa’s Forests- Gender, Indigenous Rights, and Restoration | 9 min | Produced by African Climate Reality Project and ReWild Africa

Ewi Lamma, a young climate activist from Cameroon, has committed her life and work to changing the status quo by working with local communities, women, and youth. Her work is inspiring people to speak up and take part in local decision-making while protecting the environment and Indigenous knowledge.

Vertical Meadows | 8 min | Produced by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

As urban expansion quickly replaces natural habitats, façade engineer Alistair Law has discovered a new way to restore native ecosystems for pollinators and create natural spaces for us all within cities – by turning the walls of buildings into meadows.  Alistair has developed his “Vertical Meadows” as a way to combat biodiversity loss in the heart of cities like London.

The Bear Coast | 17 min | Directed by Andrew Ackerman

This short, informative documentary centers multi-focal storytelling with a local, diverse cast of characters to provide a nuanced account of contentious environmental issues that have real, lived impacts for Alaska Peninsula residents and bear populations alike.


Intermission | 30 mins | Final chance to enter the drawing and bid in the silent auction!


Part Two

PLACE- People, Lamprey, and Cultural Ecology  | 8 min | Directed by Jeremy Monroe

Follow Cayuse Tribal Member Gabe Sheoships into an ancient cultural practice, and discover the connections between migratory fish, urban forests, and community stewardship... and the work one group is doing to rebuild the strength of these connections for future generations.


Forward | 16 min | Directed by Palmer Morse 

While navigating a myriad of life challenges, Anjelica turned to the outdoors to improve her mental health to discover a noticeable lack of other plus-size women of color on trail. By posting a simple flyer looking for more women to hike with, Anjelica created a community she never could have imagined.


Healing Hiłsyaqƛis | 5 min | Directed by Mandala Smulders

Hiłsyaqƛis (Tranquil Creek) is located within the traditional territory of the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla‐o‐qui‐aht) First Nation approximately 20 km east of Tofino, in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. The sharp decline in wild Pacific salmonids in this watershed is poorly understood. It has sparked research, monitoring, and habitat restoration initiatives to address knowledge gaps and restore habitat in hopes of fostering a recovery of wild fish populations within the Tranquil Watershed and contributing to the broader recovery of wild Pacific salmon. 


Soundscape | 15 min | Directed by Sarah Steele

Soundscape features Erik Weihenmayer, a global adventure athlete and author who is fully blind, as he ascends a massive alpine rock face deep in the Sierra Nevada. The film is a surprising and soulful adventure using expert camera work and emotive, novel animation to bring to life a concept by adaptive climbing pioneer Timmy ONeill.


Toxic Art | 16 min | Directed by Jason Whalen

On a mission to clean up Ohio's leaking, abandoned coal mines, Ohio University Art Professor John Sabrah teamed up with an engineer to develop a process that turns the toxic runoff pollution into paint. John's artwork has been shown worldwide, and proceeds have helped numerous environmental organizations and projects, including a new water treatment plant on the Sunday Creek Watershed.