For a community that puts a large emphasis on doing its part in reducing carbon emissions and furthering a green lifestyle, Davis will host an environmentally-conscious event that hopes to raise funds for ecological conservation.
The Yolano group, a chapter of the Sierra Club, in conjuncture with environmental nonprofit Tuleyome, will be presenting the fourth annual Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival today from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Theater.
“This is the fourth year we are presenting this festival,” said Wendy Thomas, membership and events director at Tuleyome. “Every time we do the festival our main goal is to make the local community aware of the ecological situation.”
Currently on tour throughout the country, the festival started in Nevada City, and will be on tour through about 115 cities including Davis, Sacramento and the surrounding areas.
“Our hope with putting this festival on tour is that when people watch these films they will feel motivated to get involved with these issues,” said Susie Sutphin, tour director of Wild and Scenic Film Festival. “And these local venues, which are organized by local groups, provide an outlet for people to get involved right away.”
The festival and fundraiser will feature eight award-winning films from regional and national filmmakers that aim to inspire and educate.
The films this year include Big River, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis’s follow up to their Peabody-winning documentary King Corn. The film explores the impact that the Cheney and Ellis’s farm has on the environments downstream.
The Story of Cap and Trade is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the leading climate solution being discussed at Copenhagen and on Capitol Hill.
Nourish, which explores the ripple effect in each food choice that we make, is told with stunning visuals by Michael Pollan.
A compelling documentary, Split Estate, shows the dirty side of natural gas, an energy source the industry touts as a clean alternative to fossil fuels. Other films explore the themes of sustainability and eco-consciousness.
“The theme of this tour is ‘fresh, wild and local,'” said Carolyn Hinshaw, co-chair of the Yolano group of the Sierra Club. “Davis has got an environmental mindset to begin with, and it seems like it would generate a large audience that would raise lots of funds for both of our organizations.”
This is the first year that the event will also present live music, by artists Brian Hanover and Autumn Sky.
“Wendy has ties to the music scene in Sacramento,” Hinshaw said. “It will be nice to change things up a bit this year.”
Also speaking at the event will be Allison Cook, from The Story of Stuff Project. She will also be the host for the evening.
Tuleyome was founded in 2002 as a volunteer advocacy-oriented nonprofit organization that is focused on protecting both the wild and agricultural heritages of the Putah-Cache bioregion.
“We are very avid in our advocacy on wild and agricultural heritage,” Thomas said. “Hopefully this festival will raise enough funds to help us with all of our projects.”
These projects include the designation of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as a National Conservation Area, the Youth Outdoor Exploration Program, and Yolohiker.org.
The Yolano group for Sierra Club is active in Yolo County throughout Davis, Winters and Woodland. Part of Solano County and a small part of Colusa County and are concerned about the environment and work to protect local communities and the planet.
“We’ve had a very warm reception the last couple of years,” Hinshaw said. “We are hoping for an even bigger turnout this year.”
The Yolano group hopes to raise funds for printing its newsletter and its other projects.
The festival is supported by Clif Bar, Tom’s of Maine, Osprey Packs, Patagonia and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., as well as local partners F&F Multiprint, Talbott Corp, Shannon Ridge Vineyard and Winery, Rumsey Farms and Redwood Barn Nursery.
Tickets for the event are $10. $20 includes an exclusive one-year membership. Tickets are available at Armadillo Records, at the door the evening of the event or online at brownpapertickets.com.
ANASTASIA ZHURAVLEVA can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
