Every year, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival makes its way across the country, stopping in venues large and small to showcase films centered on environmental activism and nature. This year’s festival makes a stop in Fredericksburg March 16, presented by the Friends of the Rappahannock.
Staff and volunteers screened nearly 80 films to bring the evening’s selection down to a sampling that can be watched in under two hours.
“We tried to pick ones that speak to the work we’re doing and have as much possible relevancy to our watershed,” said Jennifer Gron, an environmental educator with the nonprofit.
The films were chosen by a diverse group of reviewers and cover topics such as community science, litter, outdoor recreation, ecotourism, wildlife and more. In one night, viewers can expect to watch a tale from the Chesapeake Bay (watch trailer above) and a film investigating surfers riding a tidal bore (large wave) in Indonesia.
“One of the films is about excessive water divergence from the Salt Lakes which is causing drought,” said Lis Heras, FOR’s development coordinator and volunteer and outreach manager. “That’s an issue hitting the Rappahannock River and many other waterways.”
Each selected film is meant to inspire, inform and encourage participation in conservation and environmental protection on a local level.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and films begin at 6:30 p.m. in the University Center’s Chandler Ballroom on the University of Mary Washington campus. Tickets are $20, students (all ages) are free. FOR is offering two tickets plus two raffle tickets and a FOR family membership for $60. RSVP here.
