Please note: while there may be overlap, we will have two separate film programs for the Prescott and Phoenix festivals.
VIVA la VERDE! Hugh Denno
Viva la Verde! Running diagonally across central Arizona, the Verde River provides a ribbon of life through the harsh desert to form an important and rare ecosystem. Man has made use of the river for hundreds of years but today unrestricted groundwater mining threatens the Verde's future. Will citizens accept their role as stewards of this emerging national treasure before it's too late? Filmmaker Hugh Denno explores this question in Viva la Verde!, a film that will empower the viewer to take action to ensure the Verde River has a long and healthy future.
THE LAST OF THE GREAT UNKNOWN Dan Ransom
The Grand Canyon is an immense place, almost unfathomable in scale, and one of the last places in the American West to be explored. John Wesley Powell called it the "Great Unknown," having no idea what rapids, falls, or canyons awaited him on his first descent of the river in 1869. In the decades since, the Canyon has been a playground for dozens of explorers. River runners, backpackers, routefinders, lithic hunters, and peakbaggers have all laid claim to the Canyon's iconic landmarks, often seeking out the prestigious "firsts." While many significant points of interest were being explored, there was one feature that was left almost entirely ignored: the Canyon's innumerable technical slots.
Deep within this vast wilderness are secret and intimate tributaries rarely visited by man, hiding some of the Canyon's most remarkable features. The barrier to entry is steep. To explore them, one must have a knowledge of backpacking, packrafting, rappeling, anchor building, and off-trail navigation. The Last of the Great Unknown is the story of these slots, the canyoneers who systematically explored their drainages, and the secrets hidden deep within their walls.
The final Film Program is subject to change, and may or may not include the following films. Thank you for your understanding.
CHASING WATER Pete McBride
Follow the Colorado River, source to sea, with photographer Pete McBride who takes an intimate look at the watershed as he attempts to follow the irrigation water that sustains his family's Colorado ranch, down river to the sea. Traversing 1500 miles and draining seven states, the Colorado River supports over 30 million people across the southwest. It is not the longest or largest U.S. river, but it is one of the most loved and litigated in the world. Today, this resource is depleted and stressed. Follow its path with an artistic, aerial view on a personal journey to understand this national treasure. McBride teamed up with his bush-pilot father to capture unique footage and also shadowed the adventure of Jon Waterman who became the first to paddle the entire length of the river.
EEL * WATER * ROCK * MAN Hal Clifford / Jason Houston
A short documentary vignette celebrating nature’s cycles, contentedness, and the last man on the east coast who still fishes for eels using an ancient stone weir. Narrated by artist and author, James Prosek.
Connecting the Gems Deia Schlosberg / Gregg Treinish
Follow two National Geographic Adventurers of the Year on a 520-mile trek through one of the Northern Rockies’ premiere wildlife corridors. The two hikers traverse the Yellowstone to Frank Church region, paying particular attention to large carnivores and the challenges they face as they journey between these two ecosystem ‘gems.’
MOTHER NATURE'S CHILD: Growing Outdoors in the Media Age Camilla Rockwell / Wendy Conquest
Mother Nature's Child calls us to consider the future of that which we hold most dear: the health and well-being of our children. Visually rich, inflected with humor and the unexpected, the film examines the benefits of unstructured outdoor play, risk-taking, urban connection with nature, healthy rites of passage, the use of technology, and what it means to educate the “whole child”. Intimate scenes with children of all ages are discussed by experts Richard Louv, David Sobel, Stephen Kellert, Jon Young, Brother Yusuf Burgess and others. The film is stirring intense discussion among parents, teachers and health professions nationwide.
RETURN FLIGHT: Restoring the Bald Eagle to the Channel Islands Kevin White
The bald eagle was once an important avian predator in the Channel Islands, a group of islands just off the coast of Southern California. Then in the early 60¹s the bald eagles disappeared due to egg collecting, hunting, and DDT contamination. This short film chronicles how a dedicated team of biologists and their partners has been working tirelessly for decades to bring the bald eagle back to the Channel Islands, leading to some amazing results.
SECOND NATURE: The Biomimicry Evolution Guy Lieberman / Matthew Rosmarin
Second Nature: The Biomimicry Evolution explores biomimicry, the science of emulating nature’s best ideas to solve human problems. Set in South Africa, the film follows Time magazine “Hero of the Environment” Janine Benyus as she illustrates how organisms in nature can teach us to be more sustainable engineers, chemists, architects, and business leaders. After 3.8 billion years, nature has discovered not only how to survive but also how to thrive as a system. Benyus brings deep affection for the natural world as she guides us toward a vision of a planet in balance between human progress and ecosystem survival.
SEASONS: FALL Skip Armstrong / Ryan Bailey
Deep canyons with steep, spring fed creeks, make White Salmon, Washington a paddling paradise. This Autumn we caught up with White Salmon local Kate Wagner during a soul-session outside of her hometown.
For more information, to volunteer, become a sponsor of this event, or to reserve a block of tickets, contact: Carla Olson, carla@azwild.org, or 480-201-6762
