Inspiring Film Festival Comes to Kodiak

Films to help communities find environmental solutions

A section of award winning films that will leave you feeling inspired and motivated to go out ands make a difference in your community and the world will be in town. The largest environmental film festival in North America is coming to Kodiak when Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Future Farmers of America Kodiak Chapter and Sustainable Kodiak host the Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour at the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium Choral Pod on February 27^th, from 7:00 to 9:30 pm.

The tour brings together a selection of films from the annual festival held the second week in January in Nevada, City, CA. “The films include narratives coming directly from people throughout the world engaged in protecting our natural resources and wild places” says tour manager, Susie Sutphin. “The films highlight the “tipping points” that the planet is reaching, yet portrays the “Turning of the tides,” as communities realize what needs to change and how they are responding with creativity, resolve and heart.”

This will be the second annual film festival in Kodiak and this year films will carry viewers into the world of sharks and behavior different than most people would expect to a fantastic journey where a spell has been cast causing people to forget about the ocean and its importance to our lives. Explore two rules: nothing purchased for three months; and living off of only the things, clothing, and food found in the trash. Connect with activists confronting an emerging coal based United States energy policy who have experienced first hand the devastation caused by its extraction and then travel to Oaxaca, where unsustainable land use practices have made it one of the world’s most highly eroded areas.

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival was started by the watershed advocacy group, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL). The festival’s namesake is in celebration of achieving Wild and Scenic status for 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999. By partnering with grassroots organizations, SYRCL is sharing their success as an environmental group with other organizations nationwide. It is building a network of grassroots organizations connected by a common goal, to use film to inspire activism.

The festival is a natural extension of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), dedicated to making a positive difference by developing leadership, personal growth and career success through sustainable agricultural education, Alaska Marine Conservation Council, (AMCC) and their work to advance conservation solutions that address the interdependence between healthy marine ecosystems, strong local economies and coastal traditions and Sustainable Kodiak, working to identify, practice and promote sustainable methods and technologies to benefit our community island and ocean..

Tickets to the festival cost $5.00 and proceeds will go to benefit of the sponsoring organizations to support community conservation through education and awareness. Tickets for general seating will be available at the door and at the Treasury on the Mall. A silent auction featuring a variety of island artists and donated goods will be on hand in the foyer for those seeking treasures to further benefit the organizations. Supervised activities for children in the gym will be provided by FFA while adults sit back and enjoy the films. Complimentary snacks will be provided in the foyer at intermission. Take advantage of an evening to journey into global environmental issues from the comfort of our island home which we all have the power to impact.

See you there!