21ST ANNUAL WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL FLAGSHIP EVENT

In February 2023, the Rivers are Life team proudly joined the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) as a Premier Partner for their 21st annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival. SYRCL, founded by grassroots activists in 1983, is a league of dedicated California conservationists. Their mission is to protect and restore the Yuba watershed through targeted projects focused on the river, meadow, and forest ecosystems.

THE HISTORY BEHIND THIS EVENT

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival celebrates nature, community activism, and conservation efforts through a five-day flagship event. With over 100 short films exploring these themes, the festival offers a captivating visual experience that sparks meaningful conversations. It also includes workshops, talks, art exhibits, and special recognition of the connection between nature and indigenous peoples. Through impactful storytelling and interactive events, the festival inspires greater care for our planet. What began as a single event has grown into a global tour with over 180 events annually. Organized by SYRCL, the festival partners with community conservation groups worldwide, raising awareness and funds for local environmental causes. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival reaches over 65,000 people each year, making a significant impact in promoting a conservation movement.

SYRCL, the organizer of the festival, is a vital advocate for California's endangered aquatic populations, particularly wild salmon. They work tirelessly to restore the Lower Yuba River and strengthen native fisheries within the Yuba watershed. Through their expertise in watershed science, SYRCL assesses the conditions of the area and develops projects that directly benefit the habitats of native salmon and steelhead. In addition to their restoration initiatives, SYRCL hosts the renowned Wild & Scenic Film Festival, named after their successful campaign to achieve state Wild & Scenic status for 39 miles of the South Yuba River. This festival serves as a platform to raise awareness, encourage greater protection for the Yuba River watershed, and inspire activism worldwide. It brings together filmmakers, adventurers, advocates, celebrities, volunteers, and environmental enthusiasts from around the globe. As the largest annual fundraiser for SYRCL, the festival supports their impactful restoration projects and showcases their dedication to environmental protection.

FILM SCREENING

Voices from the Water by Rivers are Life was a screen selection for the 21st annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. This film shares the inspiring stories of River Heroes who positively impact local ecosystems through strategic efforts. The film features individuals like Fred Tutman, the Patuxent Riverkeeper, Nathalie Lasselin, a scuba diver, Clint Willson, the director of the LSU Center for River Studies, and Max Steitz and Franziska Trautmann, co-founders at Glass Half Full. These River Heroes make unique contributions to conservation, from conducting scuba river cleanups to making polluting unprofitable for corporations and recycling glass for coastal restoration.