SYRCL to Honor John Olmsted with Special Showing of Son’s Personal Film

For Immediate Release

Contacts:
Caleb Dardick, Executive Director, 265-5961 x207
Shana Maziarz, Creative Director, 265-5961 x212

SYRCL to honor John Olmsted with special showing of son’s personal film

Nevada City – In honor of John Olmsted’s lasting contribution to the Yuba River Watershed, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) will show his son’s very personal, feature length documentary at this year’s Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Sunday, January 15, 2012.

“Although Alden Olmsted’s film, ‘My Father, Who Art in Nature,’ was not originally selected by the all-volunteer selection committee, SYRCL determined that local interest in John Olmsted’s story warranted making the exception,” said Caleb Dardick, SYRCL’s Executive Director. The committee spent several months conscientiously evaluating over 350 submissions by independent filmmakers.

“Selecting films for the festival is a complicated endeavor. We strive to create a balanced festival in terms of issues addressed, film lengths, current events, and many other considerations.  There were many incredible films that we were not able to fit into the 2012 festival program,” said Shana Maziarz, SYRCL’s Creative Director who oversaw the film selection process.

“Knowing how treasured John Olmsted is by SYRCL and this community, I reached out to Alden in various ways including an offer to host a special screening of the film as part of a community tribute in his father’s honor. Given the feature length of Alden’s film, which at 100 minutes will be the longest film shown at the festival, we thought a special screening appropriate. Regrettably, this offer was not acknowledged prior to the story appearing in this week’s Union article,” said Maziarz.

“Although I was disappointed my film was not initially chosen, I know in my heart that SYRCL has the deepest respect for my father,” said Alden Olmsted. “I appreciate this opportunity to show my film locally to an audience who knew him so well.”

The program for the Wild and Scenic Film Festival includes a tribute to John Olmsted.

SYRCL is co-sponsoring a Town Hall on “The Fate of the South Yuba River and Malakoff Diggins State Parks” on December 12^th where Alden Olmsted will join a panel discussion focused on saving state parks.