SYRCL Environmental Film Festival features 135 films this year

Photo by Bob Lickter The eighth annual SYRCL Wild & Scenic Film Festival runs from Jan. 15 to Jan. 17.

There are also free events, including 14 free panel discussions and workshops, opening receptions, art shows throughout the historic downtown, free parties, and an Eco Tour of Nevada City’s co-housing project with architect Katie McCamant.

SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival will run from Jan. 15 to Jan. 17 this year. It will include 135 independent documentary and short films and 36 premieres.

 The Festival continues its tradition of hosting an array of celebrated speakers—over 85 this year—the prestigious awards ceremony, and the Wild & Scenic Gala Event on Saturday night.

There are also free events, including 14 free panel discussions and workshops, opening receptions, art shows throughout the historic downtown, free parties, an Eco Tour of Nevada City’s co-housing project with architect Katie McCamant, and free Wi-Fi and good conversation for those who just want to hang out in the See Jane Do Media Lounge at Festival Headquarters.

Each year, the number of films submitted for entry into the film festival increases and this year was no exception. More 350 films were screened by the program committee to create the “Jury short list.”  The film jury then screens the entire short list and debates the top films in an organized jousting fashion over several hours to select the winners.

Four featured films underscore the diversity and strength of the 2010 Wild & Scenic program:

• Fresh is directed by Ana Sofia Joanes. Celebrating the farmers, thinkers, and business people who are re-inventing our food system.  Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives to mass-food production, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.  This film goes beyond pointing out the terrors of bureaucracy and delves deep into the next level of finding the answer to the simple question of how to nourish the world.

· A Simple Question: The Story of STRAW, directed by Kevin White and David Donnenfield is a world premiere. Coming out of the profundity of the ordinary, a fourth grade class project began what is now a landmark program restoring over 20 miles of habitat, galvanizing the local community and leading to significant educational innovations. 

· First Ascent, Alone on the Wall directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen. A young climber and Sacramento resident, Alex Honnold, is making history – alone.  This adventure chronicles an individual and his remarkable quest to scale mountainous walls of solid rock with no gear. 

· Legend of Pale Male is directed by Frederic Lilien. In 2004, Pale Male, the red-tailed hawk of Central Park in New York City, flew into the hearts of the Wild & Scenic audience and received the Best of Fest award. The story of Pale Male continues and we are thrilled to have the next chapter in this inspirational tale. Join us for something that feels so good – building community around ordinary peoples’ passions as something very wild adapts to living in a big city.

The high quality of films brings legions of volunteers and sponsors into the action. SYRCL is particularly grateful for this year’s premiere sponsor, AJA video. Nick Rashby, president of AJA Video, said, “Not only does the festival take place in our backyard of beautiful Nevada City but as the largest environmental film festival in the country, it celebrates filmmakers that are passionate about the stories they tell.  At AJA we're just as passionate about developing top-quality, high-performance video products, many of which are being used by the films represented in this festival.”

TICKETS FOR THE 2010 FESTIVAL

Tickets to the 8^th Annual Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival range in price from $5 to $325.  Become a SYRCL member and save.  If you join or renew your membership in the South Yuba River Citizens League when you purchase your tickets, you’ll receive:  unlimited free Festival film rentals (local pick-up only), $10 member discount on the Weekend Pass, and a $10 discount on Dance Party tickets (among other perks and discounts on Yuba River-related activities throughout 2010).

SYRCL offers seamless online purchase by clicking on the link, W&S online tix.  Beginning Jan. 4, you can stop by Festival Headquarters at 210 Broad St. and buy them in person (weekdays, 1-5pm).  Buying them in person has the added bonus of receiving a copy of the festival program.  Regardless of how you get your tickets, map out your film fest adventure online by visiting Film Fest Schedule at a glance.  Advance ticket buyers will be automatically entered into a drawing to win one of three prizes:  two tickets to the 2011 festival, a Riverhill Farm Summer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription, or a special surprise at Lake Tahoe to be announced next week!

Film Festival benefits Yuba River and Wild Salmon Restoration

SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival has become the organization’s major public outreach event, which also includes an “On Tour” program that brings environmental films to over 90 communities across North America .   SYRCL’s mission is to protect and restore the Yuba River and the greater Yuba Watershed—from source to sea—and today our signature campaigns include the restoration of the Yuba’s wild salmon, improving water quality and native biodiversity through hydropower re-licensing, and protecting the South Yuba’s headwaters at Donner Summit.

For over 26 years, SYRCL has been the voice of the Yuba and as a tax-exempt (501c3) public benefit organization, all proceeds from the Wild & Scenic Film Festival are directed toward SYRCL’s mission-related campaigns and programs.