Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival offers diverse crop of movies

Somehow, it makes sense that Nevada City hosts a film festival “for activists, by activists.” Kathy Dotson, director of the fourth annual Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival, feels that the dozens of films being shown Friday night and all day Saturday inspire activism.

The only selling out that this South Yuba River Citizens League (best known by its acronym SYRCL) fundraiser does is to sell out all of its tickets to the three venues where the films will be shown, including the Nevada Theatre, the two halls at the Miners Foundry Cultural Center and the Oddfellows Hall.

Workshops further infuse inspiration and activism with topics that include “How to Promote, Market, and Sell Your Film” and “Guerilla Filmmakers,” and this isn’t about King Kong. Live music plus art and wine venues extend the interaction around Nevada City’s downtown. An appealing aspect of a good film festival is the presence of the people involved in making the films, and there will be many at this festival.

Featured guests include Julia Butterfly Hill, an activist dedicated well beyond her famed tree-sitting protest. Jon Bowermaster accompanies his film, “Slow Boat to Somewhere,” but this lecturer has also written eight books. John de Graaf, with more than 15 programs on PBS, accompanies his films “Affluenza” and “Silent Killer” plus a world premier of “Buyer, Be Fair.”

SYRCL has selected diverse film subjects, but you might say there are two main flavors. Besides the salient inclination toward environmental protection themes, there are adventure-oriented films highlighting people who have a special relationship with the out-of-doors. Another theme promotes bridging “the ‘unreconciled relationship’ between native peoples and environmentalists.”

For summaries and schedules of films and festival guests and goings-on, check www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org or find a print copy in shops around Nevada City and at SYRCL’s office, 216 Main St.

SYRCL, in little Nevada City, holds the distinction of putting on the largest environmental film festival on the West Coast, perhaps not surprising for the “most effective and largest single-watershed protection organization” in the United States.

Know and Go

<B>What:</B> 4th annual Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival

<B>When:</B> Friday, 4:30 p.m. reception at Mowen Solinsky Gallery; at 6 p.m., film venues open with music and films start at 7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. workshop on how to do your own films. Film venues open at 9 a.m. with films starting at 9:30; evening venues open at 6 p.m. with films starting at 7. Sunday at 9 a.m. Miners Foundry opens with films starting at 9:30, with a champagne brunch and awards ceremony at 11:30 a.m.

<B>Where:</B> Miners Foundry (Stone Hall and Great Hall); Nevada Theatre: 401 Broad St.; Oddfellows Hall: 212 Spring St.; and around downtown Nevada City

<B>Admission:</B> from $5, $10, $20, up to $210

<B>Information:</B> www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org; SYRCL at 265-5961, or at Festival HQ (317 Spring St., Nevada City) during festival hours; tickets also available online.