SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic® Film Festival – Fun For The Whole Family!
The Wild & Scenic® Film Festival sits apart from the hundreds of festivals around the world by leaving you feeling inspired and motivated to go out and make a difference in your community and the world. It’s never too early for young people to learn more about the issues and what they can do to be the positive change in their community. From free workshops at the festival’s Activist Center to a local filmmaker’s session and Saturday Morning Cartoons, there are plenty of things for the whole family to enjoy at this year’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival.
For the Young Activist
From Amanda Bontecou's film "Living Lands"
The festival’s Activist Center located at Nevada City’s City Hall on Saturday and Sunday, open at 9:30am, offers free workshops for those looking to get involved.
Native American Films & Stories
The Tsi-Akim Maidu Tribe will host a special film session on Sunday morning at the Vets Hall (main level) from 9am-12:30pm, highlighting indigenous leadership in the “environmental” movement, as well as hold space for gathering and sharing stories throughout the weekend.
For the Young Filmmaker
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is pleased to announce its first Local Filmmaker Session, Saturday morning at NC Elementary. We have a wealth of talented filmmakers, all in our own backyard. Their interests have created a variety of films that we hope you’ll enjoy:
Crepe Covered Sidewalks (Director Renee Wilson)
To Speak Without Words (Director Annabella Funk)
Dark Horizons (Director Jesse Hicks)
In the Wake of Giants (Director Lou Douros)
Sarcastic Fringehead Quarrel (Director Jeff Litton)
Living Lands (Director Amanda Bontecou)
Water Loving Doggies (Director Will Keir)
Filmmaker Jesse Hicks
Plus The Basics of Short Filmmaking, Sunday, 9:30am – 10:30am, at the Activist Center, City Hall, Led by young filmmaker, Jesse Hicks
The Internet and advancements in video technology have caused the creation and distribution of films and videos to be more accessible to more people than ever before. But as a filmmaker how do you separate your creation from the millions of amateur videos on YouTube? With a live demonstration, Jesse teaches how to light, shoot, capture sound, and edit a video so that it looks and sounds professional. He also shares tips on creating a great story. Get a sneak peak of Jesse’s work-in-progress called, Dark Horizon. Jesse traveled to the Gulf Coast immediately following the BP oil spill to document the disaster. Introducing Jesse are Tom and Debra Weistar of Finding the Good, who incorporate documentary and environmental filmmaking into a high school-based curriculum. This is a free workshop.
And don’t forget the YOUNG FILMMAKERS PROJECT. Young filmmakers are again convening at the festival to interview filmmakers and learn from activists. This year the students are from the Finding the Good Traveling Semester Program. Come by the big silver trailer mobile studio parked at the Miners Foundry, and see what the youth are up to. Students also screen their films, Poop Smart and Transitions in Baja, on Sunday afternoon at the Vets Hall. Debra and Tom Weistar, directors of the organization, introduce the films, and share the stories of their young student filmmakers.
For Kids of All Ages
The Happy Duckling
Kids of all ages are invited to attend the Saturday Morning Cartoons, 930am-noon, at The Nevada Theatre, 401 Broad Street, Nevada City. This popular family tradition features fun, entertaining, and inspiring children’s films from around the globe including First Snow in the Woods an endearing story of changing seasons, two award-winning children’s animation films Lost and Found about a boy who finds a penguin on his doorstep and decides to row it all the way home to the South Pole and The Happy Duckling about a boy and the relentless happy duck who follows him, and What’s on Your Plate, a documentary that follows two city kids who explore their place in the food chain.
Tickets for Saturday Morning Cartoons: $7 Adults & Children, in advance at www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org or in person Jan 3-14 at the Peace Center of Nevada County, Right across the hall from the SYRCL Office at 216B Main Street, downtown Nevada City. During the festival at Festival Headquarters 210 Broad Street or Day Of (if available) at the box office at the theatre (cash only, please). NEW THIS YEAR! Saturday Morning Cartoons requires a separate ticket, even if you possess a weekend pass. Buy your ticket early … they will sell out!
