2023 Wild & Scenic Film Festival Official Selection Films Unveiled – Tickets Now On Sale

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The South Yuba Rivers Citizens League’s (SRYCL) Wild & Scenic Film Festival has unveiled its full 2023 lineup of over 100 environmental and adventure films to be shown at its 21st annual event happening February 16-20, 2023. The full lineup of films along with the schedule of programming are now available to review and reserve at WSFF.Eventive.Org.

Festival Passes and Tickets are now available for purchase. Current SYRCL members get a special discount code – keep an eye out for another email soon with that information. Not a SYRCL member? Click here to learn more and join today.

After two years of virtual festing, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival returns as an in-person event featuring many mainstay elements of the past. Festival goers will be treated to a wide variety of award-winning films, including those about nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy, wildlife, and environmental justice.

“With our 2023 theme, we reflect on the significance of grassroots movements, the importance of working as a unified community, and the power of film to inspire activism and promote social and environmental changes. After two years of gathering virtually amidst somewhat divisive times, the WSFF team greatly anticipates returning to in-person festivities and uniting our community around this beloved event and the many incredible stories and lessons it provides,” said WSFF Director Lívia Campos de Menezes. We’re pleased to highlight some more of our incredible 2023 lineup of films slated to be shown at the 21st annual event happening February 16-20, 2023.  Some of the films presented at the 21st Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival are listed below. Explore all the films at WSFF.Eventive.org.

2023 Official Selections

Exposure – Against all odds and polar advice, a Muslim chaplain, a French biologist, a Qatari princess, and eight other women from the Arab World and the West attempt to ski across the melting Arctic sea ice to the North Pole. During what could be the last-ever expedition over the disappearing ice cap, director Holly Morris and her crew capture this audacious team of underdogs as they navigate everything from frostbite and polar bear threats, to sexism and self-doubt in an intimate story of resilience, survival, and global citizenry.


From Light and Dust What is light? When you wake up every morning, open your curtains, and see that the day’s light has come again, it’s no big deal. For nature, however, it’s an important clue in controlling biological and physiological changes in life forms. Light controls plants’ growth and flowering hormones; it’s also linked to people’s emotions, often causing irritability for no apparent reason. Other times it’s about the oversaturation of light and the dissonant, artificial light ubiquitous in modern life. Shot from a photographer’s point of view, the film intuitively seeks good light while also examining light’s existence from agricultural and cosmic perspectives.


Hasta la última Gota follows the fight of those working to change a national charter that has privatized Chile’s vast natural water supply. Following an uprising in 2019 that drew millions of protestors across the country, and against the background of a 15-year drought that has left over half of the country in an official water emergency, a popularly elected body has been tasked with rewriting the constitution from scratch.


Stewart Udall: The Politics of Beauty introduces us to the birth pangs of modern environmental politics, to figures like Leopold, Rachel Carson, David Brower, and John Saylor. See how Stewart Udall’s ideas evolved, best illustrated in his conversion from a pro-power dam Arizona representative to the Interior Secretary who dealt the death blow to proposed Grand Canyon dams. It also examines his long fight to win compensation for Navajo and “downwinders” who got cancer from their exposure to radiation during the Cold War without being warned of the dangers. And we see the relevance of his concerns—he was the first public official to speak out about global warming, for example—to our current day crises


Range RiderAs wolves repopulate Washington State, conflict is heating up with rural, ranching communities. As a range rider, Daniel Curry is dedicated to reducing predation, by creating a buffer between wolves and cattle that roam on public lands. As poaching and state sponsored culls take their toll, can Daniel prove that coexistence between ranchers and wolves is possible?


Volunteer for WSFF 2023!

We rely on our team of volunteers to make this festival a success.  As you may know, this SYRCL fundraiser uses the helping hands of over 500 volunteers to host theater venues, headquarters, food prep, setup, and breakdown throughout the week. We are now searching for dozens of pass checkers, ushers, tech support, advocacy action crew, and more to help bring this festival to life!

There are so many ways to get involved at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival and take action for our planet. Join one of our hardworking festival teams and earn access to film sessions.

Click on the Learn More button below to see descriptions of each volunteer opportunity available. To register for volunteer shifts, select the “Volunteer” button or the job name. You will be redirected to our volunteer signup page to choose by volunteer job, shift time and/or location. For more information, please contact our Community Engagement Team at 530.265.5961 ext 201 or by email at maddie@yubariver.org. We can’t wait to return to in-person festivities with you in February!


Venue Captains Needed

Venue Captains are volunteer coordinators, SYRCL ambassadors and staff liaisons overseeing each venue to ensure all activities run on festival timeline.  They are festival leaders, empowered to be proactive problem-solvers during the festival, providing guest and volunteer support. 

We are still looking for Venue Captains

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

  • Ensure all activities run smoothly at your venue.  Each venue has a volunteer team of pass checkers, ushers, activist table, lights, tech crew, and tech lead. 
  • Help coordinate volunteers in your venue. Ensure your volunteers feel welcomed, prepared, appreciated and confident to accomplish their roles.  You will check-in volunteers, orient them to the venue and train them on their role, report to Volunteer HQ of no-shows and/or call for Wild Card volunteers to fill missing roles. 
  • Provide customer-service to all guests and make sure they have a positive, and comfortable viewing experience.  Be informed to provide information and answer questions regarding the festival, showtimes, films, and event locations. 
  • Serve as the main festival contact at your venue, be trained in using a radio headset to communicate to festival staff. Report guest capacity before the start of each film session.  
  • Restock venue supplies as needed, keep theaters neat and tidy before and after each film session.  Monitor trash receptacles and call Festival/SYRCL Staff as needed. 
  • Submit a venue report following the event to capture what worked well, any challenges encountered, and feedback for Festival Staff to consider. 

TIME COMMITMENT:

Venue Captains work 2-3 eight-hour shifts, assigned to one venue throughout the event.  

  • Evening Venue Captains work Friday 5:30pm-10:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 2:00pm – 10:00pm 
  • Morning Venue Captains work Saturday and Sunday 8:00am to 4:00pm 

This position comes with a stipend and venue captains receive complimentary session tickets

We currently need Venue Captains for the Stone House, Gold Miner’s Inn, Oddfellows Hall, Miners Foundry, and The Center For The Arts.

To find out more about becoming a WSFF Venue Captain, contact our Community Engagement Team at 530.265.5961 ext 201 or by email at maddie@yubariver.org


2023 Wild & Scenic Merchandise Now Available

This year’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival merch features the wonderful art of Shar Tuiasoa, the official artist for WSFF 2023.  

This year we have t-shirts, tank tops, leggings,  sweatshirts, hoodies, bags, facemasks, blankets, mugs, notebooks, and even a skateboard!  Everything comes in more sizes, colors, and designs for you to choose from.  All proceeds go to continuing the work of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival to inspire audiences to take action in protecting our planet. We hope you enjoy this huge selection of great gifts just in time for the holidays! 


Become a WSFF 2023 Lodging Host for Filmmakers and Special Guests

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival relies on the generosity and warmth of the Nevada City and Grass Valley communities to be a successful fundraiser for SYRCL’s year-round conservation work. Our lodging hosts play a crucial role in ensuring that our special guests and filmmakers have comfortable and welcoming stays during the festival.

Every year, we house upwards of 100 out-of-town filmmakers, jurors, and other special guests, which simply wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and hospitality of this community. This is a unique opportunity to spend time with WSFF guests, and a great way to earn some free access to sessions! The 21st annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival runs from February 16-20, 2023. If you are interested in hosting and would like to learn more, please click on the button below to fill out the form.


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