April 6, 2010
Environmental Film Festival Features Award-Winning Documentaries
Town & Gown Cultural Series Hosts the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival
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Images for Publication
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Redlands, California—Join hosts Esri and the University of Redlands for the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival, held at the Esri Conference Center on Friday, April 16, 2010, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The event is part of the cultural series that Esri and the University of Redlands cosponsor through the University's Town & Gown organization.
"These films are a great way to discover the wide range of environmental issues that people are working on around the world," says Shauna Campbell, Esri video editor and event co-coordinator. "The variety of topics makes the festival appealing to all ages and interests." She adds that the event also calls attention to the upcoming Earth Day 2010, which will be celebrated globally on April 22.
The films range from two-minute, humorous takes on recycling to longer, more detailed looks at conservation efforts. They will include Flathead Wild, documenting efforts to save Canada's Flathead River Valley from destructive mining and drilling activities; Papa Tortuga, relating one man's work to save endangered Lora sea turtles in Mexico; Planting Hope, following Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai's tree planting movement in Kenya; and Greenhorns, exploring the lives of young people who are repioneering farming practices in America.
The presentations are selections from more than 125 films that were shown at the 2010 Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival. Held annually in Nevada City, California, it is the largest environmental film festival in the United States. The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), a watershed advocacy group, started the festival in 2003. With the support of its national partners—Clif Bar, Osprey Packs, Patagonia, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and Tom's of Maine—the festival can reach an even larger audience. SYRCL now helps selections from the festival tour more than 90 communities nationwide.
The film festival is free and takes place in the Esri Conference Center at 380 New York Street in Redlands. Information about other Town & Gown Cultural Series events is available on the Internet at www.esri.com/culturalseries. To guarantee seating, attendees should register by visiting the Web site or calling 909-748-8011.
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About the South Yuba River Citizens League
The South Yuba River Citizens League is a watershed advocacy group that was started in 1983 by a small group of concerned citizens who banded together to fight against several proposed dams. SYRCL started the Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival in 2003 to promote community building within the Yuba Watershed and provide a way to explore environmental issues through an exciting and influential medium. The festival's name celebrates the achievement of Wild & Scenic status for 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999. Now the largest festival of its kind in the United States, the event is held annually during the second week of January. It features award-winning films plus speakers, celebrities, and activists who bring a human face to the environmental movement. SYRCL now helps selections from the festival tour communities nationwide to inspire activism.
About University of Redlands Town & Gown
The Town & Gown organization strives to promote a positive relationship between the university ("gown") and the Inland Empire area ("town"), provides scholarships to qualified area students, and showcases the cultural and entertainment activities on campus. Town & Gown membership, which costs $30 annually per household, provides access to specific events as well as a variety of other arts and cultural events on campus. To join, contact the university's Alumni Relations office at 909-748-8011.
Press Information:
Susan Harp, Esri
Tel.: 909-793-2853, extension 1-2860
E-mail (press only): press@esri.com
General Information: info@esri.com
