2006 Festival

2006 Festival Films

Affluenza
John de Graaf
Saturday morn, Great Hall, 9:30am
We have more stuff, but less time, and our quality of life seems to be deteriorating. With the help of historians and archival film, Affluenza reveals the forces that have dramatically transformed us from a nation that prized thriftiness—with strong beliefs in “plain living and high thinking”—into the ultimate consumer society. But there is another way, as well as hope for our materialistic ways. Best Documentary, National Wilbur Awards (US, 1997, 56 min.) In person: John De Graaf

Ansel Adams
Ric Burns
Saturday morn, Nevada Theatre, 9:30am
Few American artists have enjoyed more widespread popularity in their own lifetime than Ansel Adams. No other has had more profound an impact on how Americans grasp the majesty of their continent nor done more to transform how people think and feel about the meaning of the natural world. Ansel Adams is the intimate portrait of a great artist and ardent environmentalist for whom life and art, photography and wilderness, creativity and communication, love and expression were inextricably connected. News and Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Cultural and Artistic Programming; Nominated Best Documentary of 2002 (US, 2002, 100 min.) In person: Jim Branham, executive director, Sierra Conservancy; Elizabeth Martin, executive director, The Sierra Fund

Aoraki Ski Mountaineering
Gerald Salmina
Saturday eve, Stone Hall, 8:57pm
There are extreme skiers and there are extreme mountaineers. And then there are those who live completely on the edge and do both—at the same time. Ski mountaineering is a relatively new sport that combines alpine-style mountaineering with big-mountain skiing. Passion leads this international team to the top of Mt. Cook in New Zealand for the ride of their lives. (Austria, 2004, 32 min.)

Avalanche: Surviving Tragedy
David Hamlin
Saturday eve, Stone Hall, 9:30pm
For those who choose to travel in the backcountry during the depths of winter, nature’s harsh realities are all too evident. This dramatic narrative brings together the lives of 14 people who were killed by avalanches in ten days. Interviews with family members and survivors speak to the difficult aftermath. (US, 2004, 43 min.)
BirdBeat
Geoff Adams
Saturday aft, Great Hall, 12:15pm
If you have ever watched the dance at a birdfeeder, you know there is a true hierarchy in the backyard. This fun animated short brings together your favorite feathered friends with a backbeat of sax. MicroCineFest Best Animated Video; Portland International Short Short Film Festival, 1st Place, Audience Choice (United States, 2002, 4:05 min.)

Broken Limbs: Apples, Agriculture, and the New American Farmer
Jamie Howell, Guy Evans
Saturday aft, Oddfellows, 2:25pm
Wenatchee, Washington—Apple Capital of the World has prospered for nearly a century as home to the famed Washington apple. But the good times have vanished. Apple orchardists by the thousands are going out of business, and thousands more await the dreaded letter from the bank announcing the end of their livelihoods and a uniquely American way of life. After his own father received such a letter, filmmaker Guy Evans set out on a journey to discover what went wrong in this natural garden of Eden. (US, 2004, 57 min.) In person: Jamie Howell

Building One House
Reid Carolin, Christine Edwards
Friday eve, Great Hall, 7pm
Red Feather Development Group in Bozeman, Montana, works to educate and empower American Indian nations to create sustainable and replicable solutions to the severe housing crisis on reservations. In this wonderful public service announcement, you’ll experience the hope and support this organization brings to impoverished and desperate communities. (US, 2005, 5:30 min.) In person: Robert Young, Executive Director, Red Feather Development Group; Christine Edwards

Buyer, Be Fair: The Promise Of Product Certification
John de Graaf, Hana Jindrova
WORLD PREMIERE: Saturday aft, Oddfellows, 3:38pm
These days, you may think you are a conscious shopper by buying organic and non-GMO food. But take it one step further. The new rule in the consumer revolution is fair trade. From Amsterdam to Vancouver, and Seattle to Oaxaca, people are supporting fair trade coffee and FSC certified wood retailers and producers committed to providing fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide. (US, 2005, 60 min.) In person: John de Graaf and Hana Jindrova

Cache Creek Wild & Scenic
Debra and Tom Weistar
Saturday aft, Masons, 12:30pm
In the summer of 2005, an international team of students and teachers set out to document what has since become an environmental victory: the state Wild & Scenic designation of Cache Creek in California. The group explored the area’s habitat and wildlife by canoe, kayak, and raft. They interviewed lawmakers, citizens, and environmentalists. They not only learned much about the watershed, but they also became activists for the protection of this amazing wilderness, using “film” as their tool. (US, 2005, 20 min.) In person: Tom and Debra Weistar; Assemblymember Lois Wolk

Carhenge: Genius or Junk?
David Liban
Saturday eve, Oddfellows, 7:10pm
Did you know that America had its own version of Stonehenge? Located in Western Nebraska, Carhenge has become a huge tourist attraction—and also a center of local controversy. “Sculptor” Jim Reinders challenges a community’s definition of art, freedom of political expression, and appropriate land use development. Grand Festival, Special Recognition Award (US, 2005, 27:20 min.) In person: David Liban

Chernobyl Legacy
Andy Patrick, Paul Fusco
Saturday eve, Nevada Theatre 7:12pm
The Chernobyl accident spread radioactive fallout over vast parts of Asia and Europe, affecting the genetic makeup of citizens downwind. In this wrenching collection of photographs mostly unseen in the mainstream media, we bear witness to one of the most serious environmental tragedies of our time. (US, 2005, 5 min.) In person: Andy Patrick; Laura Christofferson, director, Nevada City’s Chernobyl Children’s Project

Chickens in the City
Christie Herring
Saturday aft, Great Hall, 12:25
Chickens in San Francisco? Allison adopted Miss MoneyHenny from her neighbor, who purchased the chicken to star in his audition tape for the TV show “Survivor.” A little hen with a big personality, she can lay eggs like no other, helping to bring the family farm to the big city. Although her owners are not vegetarians, Miss MoneyHenny has helped force them to face the means of modern food production and the dark side of their carnivorousness. (US, 2004, 7:21 min.) In person: Christie Herring

Coastal Clash
Elizabeth Pepin, Christa Resing
Saturday morn, Oddfellows, 10:48am
“Let’s go to the beach” has always been an entitlement of California living with 80 percent of Californians living within 30 miles of the water’s edge. But as urbanization continues its sprawl along the coast and every other corner of the state, access to beaches is being cut off—and some beaches are entirely disappearing. Travel the coastline to talk with representatives on all sides of the issue. (US, 2004, 60 min.) In Person: Willow Taraja, Rob Helms, Coastwalk Staff; Pat & Judith Ward, Richard Nichols, members of Coastwalk Board

Corsets to Crampons
Alison Gannett
Saturday eve, Stone Hall, 7:20pm
Inspired by the book AMC’s Women on High-Pioneers of Mountaineering by Rebecca Brown, world-class professional skier Alison Gannett shares with us the climbing women of Mount Blanc. Women battled convention every step of the way—from Marie Paradis’s first ascent in 1808 to Isabella Stratton’s 1876 first winter ascent to Marguette Bouvier’s first ski descent in 1929. (US, 2004, 15 min.)

Discover Hetch Hetchy
David Vassar
Saturday aft, Nevada Theater, 1:15pm
Called Yosemite’s twin, the Hetchy Hetchy Valley was lost to a dam and reservoir in 1923. But now, with the help of organizations like Restore Hetch Hetchy and Environmental Defense, its restoration could become a reality. Through magnificent cinematography, we learn more about one of the most epic campaigns of our time. (US, 2005, 18:56 min.) In person: Spreck Rosecranz, Environmental Defense; Ron Good, Restore Hetch Hetchy

Fields of Plenty
Virginia Bogert
FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERE: Friday eve, Nevada Theatre, 7:21pm
Against a gorgeous moving tapestry of fields and food—from one end of the country to the other—a cast of real-life family farmers describe the experience of farming and the sense of responsibility they feel for feeding people and nurturing the land. This trailer gives us a glimpse of a documentary in the works that will share the stories of America’s most accomplished master farmers. (US, 2005, 5 min. trailer) In Person: Virginia Bogert

Fire on the Mountain
Beth and George Gage
Saturday eve, Stone Hall, 7:35pm
This is the thrilling story of the courageous men of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division. Interviews with this elite group of champion skiers, climbers, and European mountaineers reveal that their love of the mountains is equaled only by their love for their fellow mountain soldiers; this was truly a band of brothers. The follow up of what these men did after the war is fascinating, as many have gone on to have a profound impact on the ski industry, the world of climbing, and the preservation and enjoyment of wild areas. Grand Prize, Telluride MountainFilm (US, 1995, 72 min.)

Flying Over Everest
Fabio Toncelli
Saturday aft, Stone Hall, 1:20pm
A man, a bird, and a mountain. Angelo d’Arrigo, world champion hang glider, attempts to be the first to hang glide over Mt. Everest. By his side will be two Steppe Eagles, now extinct in the region. As part of an attempt to reintroduce them to the area, he will teach them the ancient migratory routes that once took them from Tibet to Nepal each year. The tales and the legends of this ancient Himalayan land will form the backdrop of an adventure story like no other. Multiple awards, including 1st prize Chamois International Film Festival; Best Adventure Film, Telluride MountainFilm (Italy, 2004, 60 min.)

Garpenfargle
Bill Kersey, Edward Kim
Saturday morn, Stone Hall, 9:30am
Ever wonder what a dog does when left alone in a house? Watch Hobbes, the world’s cutest dog, when he is left alone and receives only one instruction: “Stay out of the trash!” Best Animal Film, Telluride MountainFilm; Best All-Ages Film, San Diego International Children's Film Festival. (US, 2004, 4 min.) In person: Bill Kersey

Genesis
Claude Nuridsany, Marie Perennou
Saturday eve, Oddfellows, 8:42pm
Six years in the making, this is the second opus from the writer/directors of Microcosmos. Blending humor with gravitas and innocence with wisdom, an African griot uses the evocative language of myth and fable to relate the birth of the universe and the stars, the fiery beginnings of our planet, and the appearance of life on earth. By focusing on the very basic yet beautiful elements of life, Genesis provides an in-depth panoramic view of time, matter, birth, love, and death. (France, 2004, 80 min.)

Grizzly Man
Werner Herzog
Saturday aft, Great Hall, 2:10pm
Timothy Treadwell, tireless and passionate advocate for grizzly bears, faced his demise in 2003 at the hand of the beast he so fervently adored and tried to protect. Acclaimed director Werner Herzog’s powerful and mesmerizing film, Grizzly Man, uses Treadwell’s own startling documentary footage to paint a nuanced portrait of this complex and compelling figure while exploring larger questions about this uneasy relationship between man and nature. Alfred P. Sloan Award, Sundance Film Festival (US/Canada, 2005, 100 min.) In person: Spence Palermo, Jewel Palovek

Grocery Store Wars
Louis Fox
Friday eve, Nevada Theatre, 7pm & Saturday morn, Stone Hall, 10am
Not long ago in a supermarket not so far away, the dark side of the “farm” was all too powerful. But don’t fret, because a growing resistance called the Organic Rebellion is fighting back. You, too, can learn the ways of the farm with your friends Obi Wan Cannoli, Tofu D2, Ham Solo, Cuke Skywalker, Princess Lettuce, C3 Peanuts, and ChewBroccoli. Together, we can conquer Lord Tater and the Dark Side of the farm. (US, 2005, 6 min.)

Highliner
Heinz Zak
Saturday aft, Stone Hall, 2:30pm
As climbers reach new heights, and routes though unclimable have been reduced to walk-ups, the adrenaline-challenged have grown bored with just playing hacky sack around camp. Slacklining has filled that gap. In Highliner, the amazing Dean Potter stetched the slackline beyond the limits of sanity. (Austria, 2003, 10 min.)

Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action
Roberta Grossman
Chapter screenings: Friday eve, Great Hall, 8:10pm; Friday eve, Oddfellows, 7:46pm; Saturday morn, Masons, 11:45am; Saturday aft, Great Hall, 1:27pm (see “Schedule at a Glance” for chapters);
Entire film: Sunday morn, Great Hall, 9:40am
One of the most critical but least known human-rights stories in America is the savaging of Native American lands and its impact on Native peoples. Nearly all Indian nations sit on land threatened by ruinous environmental hazards: toxic waste, strip mining, oil drilling, and nuclear contamination. Homeland tells the stories of five remarkable Native American activists in four communities who are fighting these “new Indian Wars”—dedicated to protecting the lands against disastrous environmental hazards, preserving their sovereignty, and ensuring the cultural survival of their peoples. Best of Festival, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival (US, 2005, 90 min.)

Icebreaker
Roxann Walters
Saturday morn, Stone Hall, 9:40am
Is it love? A polar bear meets the love of his life in this cleverly done 3D animated short with music to get you dancing. (US, 2005, 3 min.) In person: Roxann Walters

In Defense of the Biscuit
Pat Patterson, Justin Rohde
Saturday aft, Masons, 1:05pm
In the summer of 2002, a lightning-caused fire burned through the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area of Southwestern Oregon. The Biscuit Fire set off a major and historic controversy about what to do with a wild landscape that is trying to recover from a fire. On one side stand the passionate community activists, willing to lay their bodies down for the natural restoration of this forest. On the other, the Forest Service and the corporate timber companies. For one month, activists fought to make their voices heard. This is their story. (US, 2005, 89 min.) In person: Pat Patterson, Justin Rohde

Into a Desert Place… 20 Years Later
Spence Palermo, Yves Garceau
Sat aft, Stone Hall, 12:30pm
Follow Graham Mackintosh as he retraces his 3,000-mile hike around the coast of Baja 20 years later. In this film trailer, you’ll get a glimpse of what Graham discovers: the dramatic ecologic changes and a reconnection to the people, places, and landscapes he once knew. (US, 2005, 7 min. trailer) In person: Spence Palermo

Keep Towing That Line
Tim Lewis, Oxygen Collective
Saturday aft, Masons, 2:45pm
This is an inspirational short film filled with action footage from the 2004/5 Biscuit Forest Fire defense campaign. Activist Joan Norman makes an impassioned call to action to save our nation’s forest from the grip of greed. (US, 2005, 6:40 min.)

Kilowatt Ours
Jeff Barrie
Sat aft, Nevada Theatre, 3:25pm
From the coal mines of West Virginia to the solar panel fields of Florida, filmmaker Jeff Barrie journeys to discover solutions to America’s energy related problems. Along the way, he and his wife Heather share a plan to eliminate their use of coal and nuclear power at home by employing energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources. Through their learning experience, viewers discover how they, too, can save hundreds of dollars annually on energy bills. (US, 2005, 38 min.) In person: Jeff Barrie

Landscrape
Bill Kersey
Sat aft, Nevada Theatre, 2:05pm
Simply, a day in the life of a dump. (US, 2004, 5 min.) In person: Bill Kersey
Libby, Montana
Drury Gunn Carr, Doug Hawes-Davis
Saturday morn, Masons, 9:30am
Nestled below the rugged peaks of the Northern Rockies and along the crystal-clear Kootenai River lies the small town of Libby, Montana—an ironic setting for a town where many hundreds of people are sick or have already died from asbestos exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency calls Libby the worst case of community-wide exposure to a toxic substance in U.S. history. Libby, Montana is a journey into the world of a hard-working, blue-collar community that exemplifies the American dream gone horribly wrong. (US, 2005, 124 min.)

Life-Jacket
Francesca Talenti
Saturday morn, Oddfellows, 10:35am
Based on a poem by Susan Bright, Life-Jacket is a sensitively animated short about Alfred, a man afraid of water. Best Animation, Adobe Digital Film Festival (US, 2001, 2:30 min.)

Long Live a Free Magpie
Lisa Utronki
Friday eve, Stone Hall, 8:32pm
This film is for paddlers and river lovers alike as it brings you into the exciting world of whitewater kayaking like never before. Meet some of the biggest names in the sport and join them as they adventure down the Magpie River in Northern Quebec in an effort to save it from a dam. (Canada, 2005, 52 min.)

Mardi Gras: Made in China
David Redmon
Saturday eve, Nevada Theatre, 7:27pm ADULT CONTENT, NUDITY
Follow the bead trail back to China, where the blind eye of consumerism is opened. This film captures the humanity of globalization from the perspectives of the invisible teenage laborers who make it work on a daily basis for consumers in the US. Redmon’s documentary provides insight into the teenage migrants’ dreams of seeking a better life, the harsh discipline of living in the factory compound, and the blunt reality of whom globalization benefits. Multiple awards, including Best Documentary, Florida Film Festival; Audience Award, New Orleans Human Rights Film Festival (US, 2005, 62 min.)

Motel
Thor Freudenthal
Saturday aft, Great Hall, 2:00pm
A weary traveler stops at a motel for the night. When all of his desires are given to him, it may just be too good to be true. (US, 2004, 8 min.)

Navajo Dream 3
James Polk
Friday eve, Great Hall, 7pm
Travel through a dreamy native world of the American Southwest. Computer-animation veteran James Polk immerses us in the color of these incredible landscapes and guides us through with Navajo vocalizations. 1st Place Audience Award, Big Bear International Film Festival (US, 2003, 5 min.)
Ocean Revolution
Christian Scheider
Saturday morn, Oddfellows, 10:43am
Ocean Revolution is a program that believes in empowering new young leaders to influence their peers. This network of informed activist citizens learn to modify their lifestyles to eliminate additional environmental pressure on our oceans and create new solutions to the problems they will inherit. 15-year old Christian Scheider has taken interviews of members of the Ocean Revolution and woven them together into a portrait of youthful passionate involvement. (US, 2005, 5 min.)

Ocean Chronicles
Leo Blanco
Saturday morn, Oddfellows, 10:38am
Dive into the deep blue and explore the underwater wilderness with Spanish filmmaker, Leo Blanco. (Spain, 2004, 5 min.)

One Degree Factor
Mark Shelley, Rob Whittlesey
Saturday aft, Nevada Theatre, 2:15pm
Dust clouds are building high over the Atlantic. An entire population of caribou is declining while other species are pushed to the limits of physical survival in the oceans. A respiratory illness, once uncommon among children in Trinidad, is now widespread. Scientists believe these disparate phenomena may be linked to global climate change. Multiple awards, including Best Environment and Conservation Film, Japan Wildlife Film Festival; One Planet Award, Wildscreen International Wildlife and Environmental Film Festival (US, 2005, 60 min.) In person: Mark Shelley

Parashant: The Battle over No Man’s Land
Leighanne and Liam Gray
Friday eve, Oddfellows, 7:36pm
The Arizona Strip, or Parashant, encompasses one million acres in North Western Arizona and is one of America’s most remote wilderness areas. When President Bill Clinton designated most of the strip as a national monument, it set off a small firestorm of controversy over access issues between local Mormon homesteaders and environmentalists. (United States, 2005, 4:48 min.) In person: Leighanne & Liam Gray

Permian Flow
Bill Kersey
Saturday eve, Nevada Theatre, 7pm
Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose. (The more things change, the more they stay the same.) This film is a journey through time, nature, and collective memory. Radio voices from World War II to 911 provide counterpoint to the changing seasons in the mountains of Arizona and Colorado. (US, 2003, 5:40 min.) In person: Bill Kersey

Pike Place Market: The Soul of a City
Virginia Bogert
Friday eve, Nevada Theatre, 7:21pm
Pike Place Market, an enduring, nearly century-old Seattle institution, has seen four generations of immigrants and native Northwesterners forge their lives with spirit, toil, and passion. The Soul of a City portrays the colorful, multicultural life of the market: its rough and tumble beginnings in 1907, its heyday in the 1930s, the impact of WWII on Japanese American proprietors and their friends and neighbors, the market’s mid-century decline and urban renewal efforts that nearly caused its demise in the 1960s, a grassroots movement to save it, its end-century revitalization, and its humanity. 2000 Best Documentary, Best Photography, and Best Editing, NW Emmy (US, 2001, 60 min.) In person: Virginia Bogert

Return 2 Sender: Parallelojams
Peter Mortimer
Saturday aft, Stone Hall, 2:40pm
The latest from seasoned adventure director Peter Mortimer, Parallelojams is a hilarious and inspiring look at modern crack-climbing at Indian Creek, Utah. Hosted by the guy you’d want as your best friend, Timmy O’Neill. Jury Award, Telluride MountainFilm (US, 2005, 43 min.)

Salmon on the Backs of Buffalo
Klamath Salmon Media Collaborative
Friday eve, Great Hall, 7:35pm
Several dams block more than 350 miles of spawning habitat on the Klamath River resulting in a dramatic decline in salmon and other fish. At risk are not only a fishery, but also the physical health, spiritual well-being, and cultural survival of the Klamath Basin’s native peoples. Documenting the struggle of four Native American tribes on the Klamath River, this film shares the reality of what dams do to watersheds and the communities within them. (US, 2004, 25 min.) In person: Craig Tucker, Ron Reed, Karuk Tribe

Selling the Revolution
Liz McGregor
Saturday aft, Oddfellows, 1:45pm
This film is a two-wheeled journey that follows the highly-inspired visionaries behind the Xtracycle, the world’s first sports utility bicycle (SUB). Nevada County locals Ross and Kipchoge aren’t just selling a bike—they’re selling a vehicle for social change and starting the cultural revolution by way of the bike path. (US, 2005, 13 min.) In person: Kipchoge Spencer and Ross Evans, Xtracycle

Silent Killer
John de Graaf, Hana Jindrova
Saturday morn, Great Hall, 10:40am
There are still a billion hungry people in the world. Fifteen thousand children—the equivalent of five times the victims of the World Trade Center bombings—die each day of hunger. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. We can end hunger—if we make a commitment to doing so. Silent Killer shows how it can be done. Audience Award, Hazel Wolf Environmental Film Festival (US, 2005, 57 min.) In person: John de Graaf and Hana Jindrova

Slow Boat to Somewhere
Jon Bowermaster
Saturday eve, Great Hall, 7pm
Ride along on a rustic, and rusting, Polynesian cargo boat as it makes deliveries to 21 of the globe’s most isolated coral reef atolls in the heart of the South Pacific Ocean. Along the 3,000-mile route meet black pearl divers, the man who found the Kon Tiki, Marlon Brando’s ‘Mutiny’ girlfriend, a ship laden with NFL-sized crewman and many more—all set against the backdrop of a fast-and-forever changing Paradise. (US, 2004, 25 min.) In person: Jon Bowermaster

Sludge
Robert Salyer
Saturday aft, Masons, 3:34pm
Shortly after midnight on October 11, 2000, a coal sludge impoundment in Martin County, Kentucky, broke through an underground mine below, propelling 306 million gallons of sludge down two tributaries of the Tug Fork River. By morning, Wolf Creek was oozing with the black waste. On Coldwater Fork, a ten-foot-wide stream became a 100-yard expanse of thick sludge. The spill polluted hundreds of miles of waterways, contaminated the water supply for more than 27,000 residents, and killed all aquatic life in Coldwater Fork and Wolf Creek. The spill was 30 times larger than the Exxon Valdez and one of the worst environmental disasters ever in the southeastern United States according to the EPA. Sludge is a story of the residents and communities in the coalfields, but it is also a look behind the curtain—a story of the regulators responsible for the health and safety of the people. (US, 2005, 40 min.) In person: Mick and Nina McCoy

Stone Rising: The Work of Dan Snow
Camilla Rockwell
WEST COAST PREMIERE: Saturday eve, Oddfellows, 7:45pm
Stone waller Dan Snow is more creative artisan than stone mason. Devoted to his work through every season, this Northeast resident constantly surprises his clients and himself with the mystery of working with stone. Viewers will be reminded of artist Andy Goldsworthy and the unique creative relationship man can create with his outdoor environment. (US, 2005, 57 min.)

Tales of the San Joaquin
Christopher Beaver
Saturday aft, Nevada Theatre, 12:15pm
The second longest river in California, the San Joaquin has been called “the hardest working river in America” by many people—and “the most abused” by others. Once the birthplace of hundreds of thousands of salmon, the river now runs completely dry year- round—in two separate sections. Tales of the San Joaquin faces this harsh reality, but it also reveals how the doors have opened for the river’s eventual rebirth. Pare Lorentz Award Nominee, International Documentary Association (US, 2004, 28 min.) In person: Christopher Beaver

Texas Gold
Carolyn Scott
Saturday eve, Great Hall, 7:45pm
Diane Wilson, a fourth-generation fisherwoman and mother of five, began her fight against the giants of the petrochemical companies in 1989 when she discovered that her small Texas county had been named the most toxic place in America. Wilson witnessed the mass die-offs of dolphin on the Gulf Coast and the slow death of her once thriving fishing community. In Texas Gold, this “unreasonable” woman recounts the hunger strikes and civil disobedience that have made her Public Enemy No. 1 to the powerful and lawless industries. Best of Festival, Palm Spring International Film Festival of Shorts (US, 2005, 21 min.) In person: Carolyn Scott

The Adventure Is Not Yet Over
Richard Else
Saturday aft, Stone Hall, 3:23pm
Britain’s most legendary mountaineer, Sir Chris Bonnington, has been the king of climbing in Britain, the Alps, and the Himalayas for more than half a century. At age 70, he does not opt for the quiet life but instead chooses to grab his climbing shoes and join Leo Houlding, one of Britain’s best young climbers, on a jaunt to Australia’s Blue Mountains. The story is one of adventure but also of finding common binds between generations of climbers. Best Climbing Film, Telluride MountainFilm (UK, 2004, 39 min.)
The Big Swell
Mike Kasic, Peck Euwer, and David Pearce
Saturday morn, Oddfellows, 12:15pm
Join three big wave surfers and two elite weather forecasters as they chart the giant winter swells and share the passion these huge waves inspire. (US, 2004, 52 min) In person: Peck Euwer

The Channel Islands Fox
Sam Burbank
Saturday aft, Great Hall,12:52pm
What is the natural state of the Channel Islands? Animals have been brought by man to these islands off the coast of California for possibly thousands of years and have dramatically changed the nature of the islands. The Channel Islands Fox is just one animal that has historically thrived but has recently been under the threat of being wiped out due to human causes and species introductions. But has the fox always been there? (US, 2005, 13 min.) In person: Sam Burbank

The Greatest Good
Ann and Steve Dunsky, Dave Steinke
Friday eve, Oddfellows, 8:15pm
From the timbered shores of the Pacific Northwest to the marble halls of Washington, D.C., the fate of the forest is consistently challenged by the constraints of democracy. This film commemorates the centennial of the Forest Service with the epic story of the struggle to manage the nation’s resources amid global change. Cinematographer Award, MontanaCine Film Festival (US, 2005, 124 min.) In person: Dave Steinke, Ann and Steve Dunsky

The Hatch
Ben Knight and Travis Rummel
Saturday aft, Great Hall, 1:10pm
Once a year, an epic insect hatch pervades Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison River, sending tingles down the spine of every trout and angler. This film is a tribute to this beautiful place and the people who protect it. (US, 2005, 17 min.)

The Lost People of Mountain Village
Neal Marlens and Carol Black
Saturday eve, Stone Hall, 7pm
A lost backcountry skier stumbles onto a monumental labyrinth of structures—only to find them uninhabitable. World-renowned anthropologist Wade Davis calls the discovery “the most spectacular of our lifetimes.” Could other resort towns be subject to the same awful fate? (US, 2005, 14 min.) In person: Neal Marlens and Carol Black

The Real Dirt on Farmer John
Taggart Siegel, Teri Lang
Friday eve, Nevada Theatre, 8:40pm
After the death of his father during the late 1960s, John Peterson turned his traditional family farm into an experiment of art and culture, making it a haven for hippies, radicals, and artists. This award-winning documentary follows the tragic collapse of the farm in the 1980s to the present time, in which John has created an extended farm village where people and art can thrive alongside agriculture. Multiple awards, including Grand Jury Award, Wisconsin Film Festival; Best Documentary Feature, Audience Award (US, 2005, 90 min.) In person: John Peterson

The River Returns
Wes Skiles
Friday eve, Stone Hall, 7:15pm
Travel with the Water’s Journey team from the mouth of the mighty St. Johns River to its beginnings deep in the heart of Florida, enjoying striking underwater photography along the way. Like most rivers across the country, it runs through the heart of civilization, where the human and wildlife populations that cradle its banks struggle to coexist. Multiple awards, including Best in Florida, Made in Florida Award, Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (US, 2005, 57 min.) In person: Wes Skiles

The True Cost of Food
Tate Hausman
Saturday aft, Oddfellows, 2:10pm
Learn the truth behind your weekly grocery bills. The hidden environmental, health, and social costs of agribusiness food is scary, to say the least. This great animated piece shows that anything but local organic food is unaffordable. (US, 2004, 15 min.)

The Snowbowl Effect
Klee Benally
Friday eve, Great Hall, 8:48pm
A mountain in Northern Arizona sacred to 13 tribes. A ski resort proposal to expand and make snow with wastewater. When recreation and culture collide, who pays the price? This film explores the controversy surrounding the recently proposed ski resort expansion and snowmaking with wastewater on the San Francisco Peaks as Native American tribal officials and spiritual leaders, Forest Service officials, and concerned citizens discuss the issues: sacred lands protection, public health concerns associated with groundbreaking studies on wastewater, economic misconceptions, threats to the environment, global warming and a small community caught in the conflict. (US, 2004, 55 min) In person: Klee Benally

The Veggie Van Voyage
Josh Tickell
Saturday, Masons, 3:21pm
Here’s one slick solution big oil can’t keep down. It’s called the Veggie Van, and it’s powered by vegetable oil. Keen to clean America’s highways, this flower-powered van takes oil from fast-food fryers and turns it into clean biodiesel fuel. Join Josh Tickell, filmmaker and author of the hit cult book From the Flyer to the Fuel Tank, on a fossil-free road trip around the USA. (US, 2003, 12:10 min.)

The Yunnan Great Rivers Expedition
Jim Norton
Friday eve, Stone Hall, 9:34pm
In a remote corner of Southwest China, three of Asia’s great rivers plunge from the Tibetan Plateau through the deep Himalaya canyons. Incredible footage captures a beautiful trip into the heart of the regions. This two-month wild adventure was also a partnership between the Nature Conservancy and the Chinese government to help protect one of the most biologically and culturally diverse regions in the world. (US, 2003, 47 min.)

Tree Robo
Kim Young-min
Saturday morn, Stone Hall, 9:44am
In this beautifully animated short, a seed finds new life to bring hope to a devastated world. Nature gives us another chance. (Korea, 2005, 14 min.)

Trudell
Heather Rae
Saturday eve, Great Hall, 8:30pm
Native American poet and activist John Trudell was considered one of the most highly volatile political “subversives” of the 1970s, given his 17,000-page FBI file. With his lifeline as the narrative thread, the film journeys in and out of modern Indian history and politics and relives the heartache that prompted his activism to evolve abruptly into artistic expression. Complementing stunning images are Trudell’s poetic musings, set to electric guitars and drumbeats echoing from the earth and blurring lines between the conscious and the unconscious. Best Documentary, Seattle International Film Festival. (US, 2005, 75 min.)

Un Posh Teli Yeli Wan Posh (You Will Get Your Bread Only if the Forests Last)
Arvind Kapur, Enable India Foundation
Saturday aft, Masons, 3:07pm
War permeates every layer of human life, but rarely is war’s effect on the environment reported. For 15 years in Jammu Kashmir in India, terrorism and violence have ravaged the people and the land. For the first time, the people speak about how gun battles have destroyed their most precious resource—the forests. But the film is also about hope: how centuries’ old traditions of conservation have inspired people to act together to heal their environment. (India, 2005, 13 min.)

Vent
Erik van Schaaik
Saturday eve, Oddfellows, 7pm
In this short comical animation, a man struggles against a storm. He soon realizes that the source of the wind is not from where he thinks. (The Netherlands, 2005, 5 min.)

Wall Rats
Steve Edwards, Hans Florine
WORLD PREMIERE: Saturday morn, Stone Hall, 10:11am
Two very young hot shot sport climbers join veteran climbers on the world’s most famous bigwall to try their hands at free climbing a huge trad route. How will they fare? The incredible hardships of just surviving on a big wall are hard enough, see how the childish antics of senior, in his 40s, climber Steve Schneider compare to the true young adult interaction on the route. (US, 2005, 60 min.) In person: Hans Florine, Steve Edwards

What Remains of Us*
Francois Prevost, Hugo Latulippe
Saturday eve, Nevada Theatre, 8:40pm
Since 1950, Tibetans have been hoping that the Chinese government would allow the Dalai Lama to return to his home country. Kalsang Dolma Gya, a Tibetan refugee living in Quebec, carries a video message from the Dalai Lama to Tibet. There, families gather around a tiny screen, and, for the first time, the voices of this suffering people reach us from across the distance. Best of Festival, Telluride MountainFilm (Canada, 2004, 77 min.) *This film requires a security check. Please do not bring cameras, cell phones, backpacks, purses, or bags. Plan on arriving early. In person: Kalsang Dolma Gya

Where Rivers Meet
Rory Banyard
Friday eve, Oddfellows, 7pm
Located in the interior of Alaska, Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve includes 2.5 million acres along the Canadian border near the communities of Eagle and Circle. The preserve protects 115 miles of the Yukon River and the entire Charley River basin. The film details the landscape and wildlife of this area, with special focus on the peregrine falcon, and shows the lure these rivers have had for gold miners and modern-day wilderness travelers. (US, 2004, 15:50 min.) In person: Rory Banyard and Spence Palermo

Wild Horse Preservation
James Kleinert
WORLD PREMIERE: Saturday aft, Great Hall, 12:37pm
In November 2004, President George W. Bush passed the Burns Bill, legislature essentially allowing the slaughter of wild horses and burros. There were no hearings or opportunity for public review. This bill gutted the protection granted in 1971, when American citizens sent more letters to Congress over the threats to these animals than over any other domestic issue in U.S. history. Narrated by Viggo Mortensen. (US, 2005, 8 min.) In person: James Kleinert

Wings Over the Wild: Lighthawk in Mesoamerica
Kelly Matheson
Saturday aft, Stone Hall, 12:47pm
Combining a love of flight with a passion for wild places, a growing number of pilots fly volunteer missions over vibrant and threatened lands. This award-winning film introduces you to pilots who devote their time to fly above Mesoamerica with LightHawk, a conservation aviation organization. Fly to Costa Rica to learn about the famed sea turtle refuge and an area where the government proposes a huge hydroelectric project that would flood indigenous homelands. Bronze Remi, Silver Telly (US, 2004, 27 min.) In person: Kelly Matheson

Zoltan
Brendan Kiernan
Friday eve, Stone Hall, 8:22pm
Will Zoltan, international lover of rivers and “professional” tuber, ever gain respect in the world of whitewater? He may be up for a fight, but you can’t help but love the guy. (United States, 2005, 4:40 min.) In person: Brendan Kiernan