The Ketchum-based Environmental Resource Center and The Elephant's Perch have come together to present "Patagonia's Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour" for an evening of environmental films that cover a bevy of topics from food to resorts. The one-night festival will take place Friday, Nov. 9, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum. Tickets for ERC members are $10, $20 for families, and for non-members are $15, $25 for families. They are available at the ERC and The Elephant's Perch outdoor sports store in Ketchum.
The touring festival is the offshoot of the South Yuba Rivers Citizens League, a grassroots activist group, which started the "Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival" in 2003 in Nevada City, Calif., as a fundraiser and call for advocacy for the Yuba River in Nevada County, Calif. The sixth annual home festival in Nevada City takes place Jan. 11 through Jan. 13, 2008.
"There are 50 films on tour and each group gets to pick 10 films, which include one feature film," said Susie Sutphin, tour manager. "It's my job to prescreen 250 films for the home festival and pare it down and provide each venue with a festival kit and give out tools and things necessary to make their festival."
The touring festival travels to 50 towns and cities across the country. It is partnered with Patagonia, a California-based clothing and outerwear manufacturer, to seek out environmental groups who would be interested in the tour. Patagonia gives 1 percent of its annual net sales to environmental groups. Recipients of the grants are invited to host the touring film festival.
"I worked for Patagonia when I found out about the festival," Sutphin said. "The core value and mission fit. It is an opportunity to inspire people and that's what Patagonia is about."
The films pose strong issues and the festival hopes it can provide common ground for people to come together in a comfortable setting and not feel forced to participate.
"Hopefully, the setting will spark conversations that will lead to solutions," Sutphin said. "We want people to share what they see with their family and friends and give back to the organization that hosts the festival."
Elephant's Perch co-owner Kate Rosso received a call from Sutphin to find out if there was any interest in having the festival come to Ketchum. Rosso had previously met Sutphin through Patagonia and immediately thought of the ERC, which promotes recycling and provides environmental education.
"We choose films that would work within the time we had and choose those with issues that were important to our community and cover a broad spectrum," said Wendy Crosby of the ERC.
The ERC and The Elephant's Perch screened films for more than two hours and chose a mix of short films, animated short films and a feature-length film to show. The ERC will have membership information and will give a complimentary ticket to new members who join on the night of the festival.
The Elephant's Perch plans to have information about Patagonia's Capilene fabric recycling and other programs the company supports in its own efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. In addition, there will be raffle items at intermission and free recyclable water bottles.
"For the first year we are keeping things quiet," Rosso said. "We would love to make this an annual event."
Festival films
"The True Cost of Food" is an animated short film by Tan Hausman and Free Range Studios. Learn the truth behind your weekly grocery bills. (U.S., 2004, 15 min.) freerangestudios.com.
"Kilowatt Ours" is a short film by Jeff Barrie. From the coalmines of West Virginia to the solar panel fields of Florida, filmmaker Jeff Barrie journeys to discover solutions to America's energy related problems. (U.S., 2005, 38 min.)
"Seeds, Hope, and Concrete" is a short film by Will Hommeyer and Heifer International. Arugula, squash, snap peas, all grown on concrete -- is this possible? This uncommon scenario is cropping up all over the U.S. due to the efforts of Heifer International. Communities are learning sustainable agricultural solutions, even where concrete is the norm. (U.S., 2006, 14 min.) heifer.org.
"Global Focus -- The New Environmentalists" is a short film by Will Parinello, John Antonelli and Tom Dusenberry. Grassroots environmental heroes too often go unrecognized. Yet their efforts to protect the world's natural resources are increasingly critical to the well-being of the planet we all share. (30 min.) goldmanprize.org.
"Wombat" is a children's animated short film by Jason Ables. Listen to this little wombat. He has our future in mind. (U.S., 2005, Kids' Animation, 1 min.) bumpercars.com.
"Resorting to Madness: Taking Back our Mountain Communities" is a film by Hunter Skyles and Darren Campbell. This film addresses the impacts of the modern ski resort industry on mountain communities and environments. (U.S., 2006, 45 min.) coldstreamcreative.com.
"Ride of the Mergansers" is a short film by Steve Furman. Hooded mergansers are fish-eating ducks found only in North America. Viewers get a rare view into a family of just-hatched ducklings and their perilous leap to the water below to begin life in the wild. A favorite of the 2005 Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival and the tour program, this delightful film has been re-released with narration. (U.S., 2006, 11 min.) rideofthemergansers.com.
"This Pretty Planet" is an animated short film by Darryl Van Citters. A short and sweet ode to the planet we call home to the tune of Grammy Award Winner Tom Chapin. (U.S., 2005, 2:08 min.)
The film ?Resorting to Madness: Taking Back our Mountain Communities? explores the impacts of the modern ski resort industry on mountain communities and environments.
Courtesy photo
