2019 NatureTrack Film Festival

NatureTrack FILM FESTIVAL

Igniting Passion for Nature Through Film 61 films from around the world Exhilarating Adventures • Compelling Stories

Photo by sharply_done

March 22 – 24, 2019 Los Olivos, CA • Santa Ynez Valley

www.NatureTrackFilmFestival.org

Welcome Over our film festival weekend, we hope the exhilarating adventures and compelling stories we present will entertain, educate, and ignite your passion for nature through film.

While you are here, please take time to enjoy the scenic surroundings of the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley by hitting the local trails with our NatureTrack docents.

Afterwards be sure to sample our world class wines, brews, and cuisine in local tasting rooms, tap rooms, and restaurants. And please support all of our sponsors who are so generously and graciously helping us.

We hope the NatureTrack Film Festival deepens your appreciation of our natural environment and inspires you to explore all that awaits us when we step outdoors.

Thank you for attending and supporting the NatureTrack Film Festival. We hope to see you at the movies and out on the trails!

Cheers, Sue Eisaguirre Founder/Executive Director

Holly Cline Co-Director

KC Murphy Thompson Co-Director

www.NatureTrackFilmFestival.org #NTFF2019 to share your pictures during the NatureTrack Film Festival

Enjoy the NatureTrack Film Festival VIP Lounge for Pass Holders

Located in the Hospitality Headquarters, Pass Holders can enjoy a private retreat stocked with beverages and snacks courtesy of El Rancho Market.

Buying Passes & Tickets

Passes, Ticket Packs (6 or 12), and General/Student tickets may be purchased online or at NTFF headquarters. Tickets may also be purchased at NTFF Tent in Lavinia Campbell Park and at each screening venue.

Screening Blocks

A screening "block" may contain multiple films.

Each ticket is good for one "block" of film(s). See schedule starting on pg. 29

Venues & Queuing - Please note a Pass or Ticket does not guarantee a seat.

Gates Foss Community Center (GFC) - LO Elementary School .Capacity: 200 seats Grange (G) - Los Olivos Community Organization.......................Capacity: 90 seats St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Church Stacy Hall (SM)..........................Capacity: 100 seats • Epic/Filmmaker/Sponsor passes: First entry up to 15 min. before screening.

• Patron passes: Pass Holder line to be second to gain entry.

• Online tickets: Online ticket line with printed receipts to be third to gain entry.

• General or Student tickets: Ticket line for entry after all other lines.

Voting for Audience Favorite

We invite our audience to submit their "vote" for their favorite films by texting NTFF2019 to 72345 to access VoteUp which allows users to privately rate the NTFF films they've seen.

"Change" any rating until Sunday at 4pm. Voters don't have to choose a favorite, they just honestly mark how much they like each option. On Sunday at 4pm, NTFF will close the poll and VoteUp will instantly reveal which film is the "Audience" favorite for 2019.

Starting Thursday, March 21 • Text NTFF2019 to 72345 to be Automatically Entered to Win Two NTFF 2020 Epic Passes!

Restroom Locations

• Gates Foss Community Center - Los Olivos Elementary School • Grange - Los Olivos Community Organization (not during film screenings) • St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Church • Portable restrooms on the corner of Grand Ave. and Jonata St.

Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Options

• Bear and Star at Fess Parker • 7am-10:30am; 11am-9pm • Menu • Corner House Cafe • 7am-4:30pm • Menu / Grab & Go • Chef's Touch BBQ Rig • Sat. 12pm-4pm • Food Truck • Chef Taco • Sun. 12pm-4pm • Food Truck • Los Olivos Cafe • Fri. 11:30am-8:30pm / Sat. 11am-8:30pm / Sun. 11am-8pm • Menu • Panino • 10am-4pm • Menu / Grab & Go • R Country Market • Store 6:15am-10pm • Deli Sat. 9am-5pm / Sun. 9am-4pm • Sides - A Brother's Restaurant • 11:30am-3pm • Menu

Hospitality Headquarters 2445 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos Open Thursday, March 21 – Sunday, March 24, NTFF Hospitality Headquarters is the central location to purchase passes, ticket packs, and general/student tickets.

Pre-purchased passes and ticket packs should be picked up here too. Browse our gift shop for exclusive NatureTrack Film Festival merchandise.

Expertly staged by Mia Dennee's Interior Design & Furniture, the headquarters will also display artwork by Nathan Snyder and samples of Pegilicious treats to taste.

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$50 6-Pack of tickets $90 12-Pack of tickets

 Buy a 6-Pack now  Buy a 12-Pack now

$200 Patron Pass - FULL EXPERIENCE NatureTra ck FILM FE STIVAL

• Admission to Opening & Closing Receptions • All Film Pass Lines • All Panel Discussion Pass Lines • VIP Lounge Buy a Patron Pass • Swag Bag *$100 value  • VIP Passport - valuable coupons • Bottle of wine

$400 Epic Pass - ALL INCLUSIVE

• Admission to Opening & Closing Receptions

• Priority entry to Films and Panel Discussions Track L

(up to 15 min. before show time) NatureFESTIVA FILM

• VIP Lounge  Buy a Epic Pass

• Spotlight Dinner

• VIP Swag Bag *$200 value

• VIP Passport - valuable coupons

• 2 bottles of wine

Swag Bag items courtesy: 4Ocean, Bee's Wrap, FinalStraw, Hitching Post Wines, IFIXIT, Los Olivos Lemons, MPOWERD, M.Special, Pegilicious, REI, and Stasher.

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* Check out our taproom * 6860 Cortona Dr. Building C Goleta, CA 93117

mspecialbrewco.com • instagram.com/mspecialbrewco P.6

2018 NatureTrack Film Festival

Index Welcome ...................................................................................................... p 3 Enjoy the NatureTrack Film Festival (NTFF).................................................. p 4 Index............................................................................................................. p 7 Thank You to Partners & Supporters ............................................................ p 9 Special Events ............................................................................................ p 10 Venue Locations / Films Listed Alphabetical . ............................................ p 13 Film Descriptions • Adventure.................................................................... p 19 Film Descriptions • Animation.................................................................... p 24 Film Descriptions • Biography.................................................................... p 26 Screening Schedule..................................................................................... p 29 Film Descriptions • Conservation................................................................ p 35 Film Descriptions • Kids Connecting with Nature....................................... p 41 Film Descriptions • Outdoors & Out of Bounds......................................... p 44 Film Descriptions • Scenic.......................................................................... p 47 Film Descriptions • Student........................................................................ p 51 Acknowledgments....................................................................................... p 58

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Celebrating 10 Years in the Santa Ynez Valley 7 Days a week • Happy Hour 4–6 PM

www.DosCarlitos.com

3544 Sagunto Street, Santa Ynez

Thank you to our Partners and Supporters

All our Partners and Supporters share our vision to ignite passion for the outdoors and foster a lifelong fascination with nature. Their support has sustained this annual film festival and has inspired audiences to fully enjoy and value our natural world for years to come. Please help us thank them by patronizing all the businesses and organizations that are generously supporting the second NTFF. Proud Host of the NatureTra

Closing Recept

Presenting Partners

Montana Canvas sidesrestaurant.com

Joe Olla Realty

WINES OF SANTA BARBARA CA

Condor Partners

Eagle Partners 4Ocean • Corner House Cafe • FinalStraw • Global Gardens • Hampton Inn & Suites • IFIXIT • KPIG • Nielsen Building Materials • Noozhawk • Pegilicious • Donor Advised Fund through SYV Foundation • SYV Youth Recreation • SYV Star • Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau

Raven Partners

Quail Partners

Rabobank • Stasher

Bee’s Wrap • Los Olivos Lemons

Supporters Los Olivos Elementary School • Los Olivos Community Organization • New Frontiers • St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church • SYV Rotary • Midland School • P.E.O. Chapter XH P.9

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Special Events Friday

4:00-6:00 pm • $20  Purchase opening reception tickets now Opening Reception St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church Courtyard, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos Enjoy live music by O.n.E, tasty bites provided by Full of Life Flatbread, and Pegilicious, and wine, beer, and hard lemonade provided by Hitching Post Wines, M. Special Brewing Co., and Los Olivos Lemons.

Saturday

12:30-1:00 pm • Free Panel Discussion: Young and Emerging Filmmakers Global Eye Art Collective Patio, 2935 Grand Ave., Los Olivos UCSB Film Professor Chris Jenkins, Director Andrew Schoneberger, Director Chris Smead, and John Seigel Boettner.

Spotlight Dinner  Buy dinner tickets now

5:30 pm • $75 (reservations required by March 15) 3569 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez NTFF Spotlight Dinner & Special Presentation

Purchase online or at NTFF Headquarters.

Don’t miss this opportunity to dine with fellow NTFF patrons and visiting filmmakers as we present a must-attend Spotlight Dinner event featuring famed Canadian painter Cory Trépanier, director of Into the Arctic: Awakening. Cory will offer a multi-media presentation about his many plein-air painting trips “into the Arctic” to capture the icy grandeur of Canada’s farthest northern reaches.

Dinner prepared by Chef Budi Kazali, with wine provided by Hitching Post Wines and craft beer provided by M. Special Brewing Co.

Sunday

10:45-11:15 am • Free Panel Discussion: The Role of Filmmaking in Land Preservation Global Eye Art Collective Patio, 2935 Grand Ave., Los Olivos Director Michael Love, Director Matthew Testa, and others.

Nibbles provided by Global Gardens.

4:00-5:30pm • $20  Purchase closing reception tickets now Closing Reception & Presentation of Awards Sides - A Brothers Restaurant • 2375 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos Tasty bites and cash bar provided by Sides. Wine and beer provided by Hitching Post Wines and M. Special Brewing Co. P.10

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Nature Hikes Saturday & Sunday

8:30 am • Free (Limit 15 participants) Midland School Trails (show NTFF pass or ticket stub) Figueroa Mountain Rd. (6.9 miles from the intersection of Hwy 154 and Figueroa Mountain Rd. to the trailhead parking area)

Join NatureTrack docents and NatureTrack docent-geologist, Susie Bartz, for a hike in Birabent Canyon to discover the geological treasures of this area along with the wildflowers blanketing the hills. Plan 2-3 hours.

Moderate with elevation gains.

All participants must have good balance and be in good physical condition. Bring water and wear closed-toe sturdy shoes.

Writer's Corner Saturday – Sunday

Corner House Cafe 2902 San Marcos Ave., Los Olivos Visit with authors and writers on the topic of nature throughout the weekend.

Demonstrations Saturday

8:00 am: Trailhead - NTFF Nature Hike (see above) 10:00 am-6:00 pm: Lavinia Campbell Park Mountain Air Sports will be at NTFF with demo shoes from Salomon footwear for anyone who wants to give them a spin!

Saturday

12:00 – 12:30 pm Lavinia Campbell Park Following the screening of his film, watch filmmaker Boston Jade Fitzpatrick, Panna and Street Soccer champion, demonstrate the art of his "natural flow" in Freestyle Football.

Sunday

12:45 pm NTFF Tent in Lavinia Campbell Park Infrared camera footage frequently appears in films about poaching and fire. Join FLIR thermal imaging camera specialist, Sam Thompson, as he demonstrates this versatile technology and gives you a chance to handle and experience infrared cameras.

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Proud partner of the NatureTrack Film Festival

Venues Gates Foss Community Center - LO Elementary School •GFC........Capacity 200 .2540 Alamo Pintado Ave. Grange - Los Olivos Community Center •G........................................Capacity 90 .2374 Alamo Pintado Ave. . t. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church Stacey Hall •SM...............................Capacity 100 S .2901 Nojoqui Ave.

Films in Alphabetical Order (✼) indicates two screenings of a film

The Adventures of Zack and Molly •GFC.............................................. pg 24 Animation Altay Wild Snow •G................................................................................. pg 19 Adventure The Amazing Coral Lifecycle •GFC........................................................ pg 35 Conservation ✼ The Ario Dream •G / •SM....................................................................... pg 19 Adventure The Australian Giant Cuttlefish •GFC.................................................... pg 41 Kids Connecting with Nature Birds of the Lakes Return •G.................................................................. pg 35 Conservation ✼ Boy Nomad •SM / •SM............................................................................ pg 41 Kids Connecting with Nature ✼ Break on Through •G / •SM.................................................................... pg 26 Biography ✼ Clay Bolt •G / •G..................................................................................... pg 51 Student Come Hell or High Water •G.................................................................. pg 20 Adventure Crane Story from Hortobágy •GFC........................................................ pg 24 Animation ✼ Curiosity (Premiere) •GFC / •GFC.......................................................... pg 42 Kids Connecting with Nature ✼ D. plexippus •GFC / •G........................................................................... pg 36 Conservation ✼ The Elephant’s Song •G / •SM................................................................ pg 25 Animation P.13

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Proud sponsor of the VIP Experience at the NatureTrack Film Festival •Sushi - made fresh in-store daily •Espresso Bar - fresh coffee roasted on site •Organic Juice Bar •Full Service Meat Counter USDA Choice and Prime Meats •Craft beers, Fine Wines and Premium Spirits •Natural and Organic selections throughout •Salad Bar, Wing Bar and Olive Bar •Organic Scratch Made Artisanal Breads •McConnell’s Local Ice Cream Bar •Fresh Local Seafood and Produce

STORE OPEN 6 AM TILL 11 PM 805-688-4300 2886 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA www.elranchomarket.com

Evolution in Isolation •G......................................................................... pg 36 Conservation Forbidden Zone - Wildlife on the Battlefield •G................................... pg 47 Scenic ✼ Free Solo •GFC / •G................................................................................ pg 44 Outdoors & Out of Bounds The Frenchy •SM..................................................................................... pg 26 Biography ✼ From Golf Course to Wetland •GFC / •GFC.......................................... pg 36 Conservation ✼ The Great Pretender •G / •G.................................................................. pg 51 Student The High Sierra Trail •GFC...................................................................... pg 20 Adventure The Human Element •GFC...................................................................... pg 37 Conservation ✼ In the Starlight •SM / •SM...................................................................... pg 27 Biography India’s Healing Forest •SM...................................................................... pg 37 Conservation Into the Arctic: Awakening •G............................................................... pg 47 Scenic ✼ Into the Canyon •SM / •GFC................................................................... pg 20 Adventure The Last King of India (Premiere) •SM................................................... pg 21 Adventure Last of the Big Tuskers •G...................................................................... pg 37 Conservation Lean Against the Wind •G...................................................................... pg 27 Biography Loved by All: The Story of Apa Sherpa •GFC....................................... pg 27 Biography The Malaysian Snake Guardian (USA Premiere) •GFC.......................... pg 38 Conservation Natural Flow (Premiere) •G.................................................................... pg 42 Kids Connecting with Nature NatureRx Presents the LivingPlant™ - Product Research •GFC.......... pg 38 Conservation P.15

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NatureRx Presents the LivingPlant™ - Rediscover the Future Today.. pg 38 Conservation •GFC ✼ Never Too Young •GFC / •GFC.............................................................. pg 42 Kids Connecting with Nature No Man’s Land - Expedition Antarctica •SM......................................... pg 45 Outdoors & Out of Bounds A Nordic Skater •G................................................................................. pg 21 Adventure North of Nightfall •SM............................................................................ pg 45 Outdoors & Out of Bounds Our Last Trash •GFC................................................................................ pg 52 Student ✼ The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle •G / •GFC...................................... pg 39 Conservation The Patterns of the Ocean •GFC........................................................... pg 39 Conservation ✼ Persian Powder •SM / •G........................................................................ pg 21 Adventure Rodents of Unusual Size •SM................................................................. pg 39 Conservation ✼ Rooted: The Rock Splitter (Premiere) •GFC / •G.................................. pg 48 Scenic ✼ A Sense of Wonder •GFC / •GFC........................................................... pg 48 Scenic The Smog of the Sea •GFC..................................................................... pg 40 Conservation Sons of Enkai •SM................................................................................... pg 48 Scenic Stone Giants •G....................................................................................... pg 52 Student ✼ Stumped •G / •SM................................................................................... pg 23 Adventure Tobias Tatu •SM....................................................................................... pg 25 Animation Trail Heads •G.......................................................................................... pg 52 Student The Tree Farmer (Premiere) •GFC.......................................................... pg 40 Conservation P.16

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Trial By Fire •G......................................................................................... pg 53 Student ✼ Unbounded •GFC / •SM.......................................................................... pg 23 Adventure Voice of a River (Premiere) •G................................................................ pg 53 Student ✼ Volkswagen presents Warren Miller’s Face of Winter •SM / •G.......... pg 44 Outdoor & Out of Bounds ✼ Water •G / •GFC................................................................................... pg 49 Scenic We are the Rovers, NORWAY •G........................................................... pg 23 Adventure ✼ White Wolves - Ghosts of the Arctic •G / •GFC.................................... pg 49 Scenic Wild Toddler Chronicles •GFC................................................................ pg 43 Kids Connecting with Nature A Word to the Wise •SM........................................................................ pg 40 Conservation

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| Woodward

FREE INSTALLATION SNOW | BIKE | SURF sport carriers and luggage boxes Luggage box rental available

Kayaks SUP Ski & Snowboard Travel Camping Footwear Car Racks

mountainairsports.com

Film Descriptions Adventure Few things are more exhilarating or rewarding than an outdoor experience that opens our eyes and our hearts to the natural world we live in. These filmmakers literally went a step further to film places, animals, and activities in their quest to share the wonders of the world with us.

Climb the mountain, not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.

David McCullough Jr. ~ Author, Historian, Pulitzer Prize Winner

Altay Wild Snow Sat. 9:00 AM •G

China, 2017, 28 mins.

Journey to the birthplace of skiing in the remote mountains of northwestern China. One of the few female adventure filmmakers in the world, Li Shuang has made a unique film that takes us on an epic ski adventure into mountains of powder, juxtaposing the use of fur skis Directed by Li Shuang (yes, skis of fur!) with the modern skis we carve downhill on today. Along the way, we are introduced to the ingenious and ancient craft of handmaking skis.

The Ario Dream

Sat. 6:45 PM •G | Sun. 12:45 PM •SM United Kingdom, 2017, 24 mins.

This gripping account of “expeditionstyle” cave exploration takes place in the deep underwater caves of Ario, in the Picos de Europa mountains of Northern Spain, where the penalties for unforeseen emergencies are severe. As the cave divers push into the unknown Directed by Paul Diffley of deep sumps, rescue is not an option.

The tension, as they disappear into the blackness, is genuine as they attempt to explore one of the last few connections of what could be the deepest cave system in Europe.

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Come Hell or High Water Fri. 8:15 PM •G

USA, 2011, 41 mins.

There are a lot of surfing films out there, but few documentaries shoot the curl with bodysurfers. Shot mainly on 16-millimeter film, director Keith Malloy traveled the globe to dive deep into an underground (and almost underwater!) sport that most people know little about. Directed by Keith Malloy Not only does Come Hell or High Water have incredible wave, water imagery, and energy, but it will also make you laugh and get your heart pumping!

The High Sierra Trail Sat. 10:45 AM •GFC USA, 2018, 39 mins.

Director Chris Smead returns with another entertaining account of backpacking the high Sierra, this time with his co-worker John. Together they have some close calls with lightning and climb the highest mountain in the continental US. Chris creatively reveals the history of the trail Directed by Chris Smead via 3D animations created from historic photos provided by the National Park Service.

Into the Canyon

Fri. 8:15 PM •SM | Sat. 8:45 PM •GFC USA, 2019, 84 mins.

In 2016 filmmaker/photographer Pete McBride and writer Kevin Fedarko set out on a 750-mile journey to walk the entire length of the Grand Canyon. More people have stepped on the moon than have completed a continuous throughhike of the canyon, and others have lost Directed by Pete McBride their lives trying. As they grappled with the realities of accomplishing their goal, McBride and Fedarko encountered an astonishingly diverse and powerful landscape, rich in legacy, that is now facing the most serious crisis in the 98-year history of the Grand Canyon National Park.

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The Last King of India Sun. 2:15 PM •SM

Australia, 2017, 39 mins. PREMIERE

Director Adam Thorn searches for members of the last surviving population of Asiatic lions in India. Though the country is home to the largest number of tigers on the planet, only a very few lions reside in a small forest in northwest India.

The Australian filmmaker is an amusing Directed by Adam Thorn character who swaggers through the jungle like a cross between Crocodile Dundee and the late Steve Irwin before he finally locates India’s elusive and endangered lions.

A Nordic Skater Sat. 9:00 AM •G

Lithuania, 2018, 5 mins.

There’s “skating on thin ice,” and then there’s the real thing - Scandinavian style cross-country ice skating on frozen lakes and fjords. A Nordic Skater follows Per Sollerman, a photographer who has been Nordic skating for the past ten years using every sense he has to travel Directed by Paulius Neverbickas on the thin ice around Oslo. Per shares the story of how the little-known sport of Nordic skating came to play such an important role in his life.

Persian Powder

Sat. 11:00 AM • SM | Sat. 8:15 PM •G Belgium, 2017, 13 mins.

Endless powder fields and a magnitude of potential downhill lines aren’t immediately what you think of when talking about snowboarding in Iran. In fact, you may not even think about snow in Iran. Iranian pro snowboarder Mona Seraji invites two fellow snowboarders Directed by Erik Bulckens from Australia, Amber Arazny and Michaela Davis-Meehan, to come discover the snow-packed slopes of Iran. Fretted lutes, ancient Persian percussions, and haunting Farsi vocals complement the very modern soundtrack. Take a seat and watch as these women shred Persian powder.

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Birds of a feather!

Noozhawk is proud to support the NatureTrack Film Festival.

SEE A LIFE, SAVE A LIFE FLIR is helping to save our most precious resources, the world’s wildlife. See how FLIR is using thermal technology to take a stand against poachers. www.flir.com/wwf

Stumped Sat. 6:45 PM •G | Sun.12:45 PM •SM USA, 2017, 25 mins.

Maureen Beck doesn’t want to be known as an inspiration just because she scales vertical rock faces without a lower left arm. Beck wants to be known as a climber, a really good one. Born without her lower left arm, Beck’s skill and passion have taken her to the loftiest Directed by Cedar Wright and Taylor Keating levels of her sport, accomplishing what very few of us with two perfectly good arms ever will. Sheer athleticism is on full and glorious display in this riveting biography of a fully formed woman enthralled with the thrill of the climb.

Unbounded

Sat. 5:30 PM •GFC | Sat. 8:30 PM •SM USA, 2018, 75 mins.

An unaided crew of four young travelers encounter dense forests, snow-capped mountains, active volcanoes, and barren deserts, as they spend four months following the route of the Greater Patagonian Trail, the longest continual trail network in South America. Directed by Garrett Martin When they’re not slipping down steep embankments, bushwhacking trail, or fending off a wasp attack, they immerse themselves in the history and culture of this extraordinary region, discovering the beauty, volatility, and fragility of the Patagonian landscapes.

We are the Rovers, NORWAY Sat. 9:00 AM •G

France, 2018, 25 mins.

Three “rovers” take to the Norwegian skies on a fantastic human paramotoring adventure over spectacular and untouched scenic beauty. Gliding over land and sea, we feel the adrenaline rush and follow the mishaps of these three intrepid flyers as they reveal the Directed by Antonin Michaud-Soret stunning landscapes of Norway from their perch in the clouds. Their trip is a whirlwind tour of propellers, waves, and rocky roads. Experience a “high” human adventure where laughs, discoveries, and the unexpected make every moment unforgettable.

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Animation Many of our first childhood memories and impressions of nature on film were created through the indelible art form of animation. Whether it was Bambi in the forest or SpongeBob underwater, animation always delivers a colorful take on life and the natural world around us.

Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.

Ralph Waldo Emerson ~ Author, Philosopher, Poet

The Adventures of Zack and Molly Sun. 1:15 PM •GFC USA, 2018, 12 mins.

Zack is more interested in his smart phone, and Molly, a tech-savvy octopus, is on a mission to tell the world about the importance of the deep ocean. Molly wants to use Zack’s apartment for her global communications headquarters, but Zack is skeptical. To win Zack over, Directed by Jim Toomey Molly takes him to her deep ocean home in the Gulf of Mexico to see its unique features and diverse marine life, and to help him understand how human activities threaten its health.

Crane Story from Hortobágy Sat. 10:45 AM •GFC

Hungary, 2018, 14 mins.

The Crane family is moving. Their destination is the Hortobágy plain, a colorful Hungarian island habitat full of life. Their little boy, however, knows nothing of the new world in which he finds himself. Curious, he sets out to discover his new home, and as he Directed by István Lugosi wanders, he meets an array of witty, interesting creatures, including a silly sheepdog who becomes his best friend.

Lugosi’s colorful animation is rendered in a classic style that recalls early HannaBarbera cartoons.

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The Elephant’s Song

Sun. 11:15 AM •G | Sun 2:15 PM •SM USA, 2018, 8 mins.

The Elephant’s Song tells the true and tragic tale of Old Bet, the first circus elephant in America, as recounted in song by her friend the farm dog.

Illustrated in verse using vibrant clay-onglass animation, a stop-motion process using colored modeling clay spread Directed by Lynn Tomlinson thinly on glass sheets, this animated musical film also alludes to other related themes, like the ivory trade and the discovery of an extinct mastodon skeleton, an “ancestor,“ just across the Hudson River from Old Bet’s home.

Tobias Tatu

Sat. 9:00 AM •SM Brazil, 2017, 1 min.

Tobias Tatu, the armadillo, is “no bigger than a minute!” This adorable 60 second stop-motion animation is produced in felt patchwork, illustrating the joyful journey of Tobias, a happy little armadillo who just wants to play and roll. The short film’s sing-song narration by children Directed by Júnia Consani feels delightfully appropriate as Tobias cavorts across the screen. Blink and you might miss him!

Let The Whole World Be Your Playground.

Get Outside with REI.

www.REI.com/events

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Biography People do and experience the most “unreal” things, and true stories often make the best stories. Few books or movies are as compelling as the real-life adventures of people who attempt, pursue, and accomplish the unthinkable, insane, and impossible. We can all thank a filmmaker for following these amazing people around!

We live our lives by falling into experiences.

Things happen to us. Something you do takes hold of you, and then you do a lot of it.

Art Garfunkel ~ Singer, Actor, Writer

Break on Through

Sat. 6:45 PM •G | Sun. 12:45 PM •SM USA, 2017, 29 mins.

19-year-old Margo Hayes is on a quest to make history and become the first woman to ascend two of the most revered climbs in the world – La Rambla in Spain and Biographie in France. Can she conquer a 5.15 grade that only a select few male climbers have ever Directed by Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen, attempted, let alone attained? Blessed and, Matty Hong with super human strength and flexibility, the petite former gymnast defies all conventional expectations and heads straight up on a record setting climb.

The Frenchy

Sat. 3:15 PM •SM USA, 2017, 14 mins.

Jacques “The Frenchy” Houot is a Colorado icon, an 82-year-old who gets after it non-stop on skis and mountain bike. But the real story is how he inspires us with his contagious love of life, epic tales of survival, ability to counter aging through laughter, and the impact he’s Directed by Michelle Smith had on his community over the decades.

With joie de vivre to spare, Jacques is a happy rambler who has never met a trail he doesn’t want to tackle, on skis or bike.

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In the Starlight

Fri. 6:30 PM •SM | Sat. 5:00 PM •SM France, 2018, 53 mins.

While the rest of the world is sleeping, photographer Paul Zizka ventures into the wilderness in search of the world’s starriest skies, from his home among the peaks of the Canadian Rockies to the wild, desert dunes of Namibia and the remote ice caps of Greenland. Directed by Mathieu Le Lay Paul works to balance his passion for photography with his devotion to family, capturing the night skies and reflecting on what his time spent under the stars has taught him about life, love, adventure, and our place in the universe.

Lean Against the Wind Fri. 8:15 PM •G

USA, 2018, 12 mins.

Champion paddler and Olympic athlete, Lauren Spalding, was introduced to canoeing at age three by her dad. By age nine she was paddling around Maui, learning how to deal with trade winds, currents, and waves. The first MolokaiOahu race was organized in 1952 to Directed by Andrew Schoneberger reenact what Hawaiian warriors did to get from island to island. The 40+ mile race has been called the “Mt. Everest of canoe racing.” The first time Lauren entered the race she beat the record by 15 minutes, winning 12 of 13 solo races after that!!

Loved by All: The Story of Apa Sherpa Fri. 8:30 PM •GFC

Canada, 2017, 14 mins.

Every spring the summit of Mount Everest draws people from around the world. As a child, growing up in Nepal’s remote Khumbu Valley, Apa Sherpa dreamed of being a doctor. But at the age of 12, after his father passed away, he took a job as Directed by Eric Crosland a porter to support his family. Despite the risks of one of the world’s most dangerous jobs, he would become a Himalayan legend, climbing Mt. Everest 21 times, more than any other human. But he wouldn’t wish this for anyone.

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Gates Foss Center

Grange

St. Mark’s

Events

FRIDAY • Click  to buy an advance ticket to that screening or event 4:00 – 6:00 pm

4:00 pm 4:15 pm 4:30 pm

Opening Reception Located: St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Courtyard 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos

4:45 pm 5:00 pm 5:15 pm

Tickets $20 *Pass holders gratis

5:30 pm 5:45 pm 6:00 pm 6:15 pm

6:15 – 8:00 pm

6:15 – 7:45 pm 6:30 – 7:45 pm

6:30 pm

White Wolves Ghosts of the Arctic pg. 49

6:45 pm 7:00 pm 7:15 pm

Free Solo pg. 44

The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle pg. 39 Q/A

7:30pm

Boy Nomad pg. 41 In the Starlight pg. 27

7:45 pm 8:00 pm

8:15 – 9:30 pm

8:15 pm 8:30 pm

8:30 – 10:00 pm

8:45 pm 9:00 pm 9:15 pm 9:30 pm

8:15 – 9:45 pm

Loved by All: The Story of Apa Sherpa pg. 27 The Malaysian Snake Guardian pg. 38

Lean Against the Wind pg. 27 Come Hell or High Water pg. 20

Into The Canyon pg. 20

Q/A

Q/A

10:00 pm

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2019 NatureTrack Film Festival

Gates Foss Center

Grange

St. Mark’s

Events

SATURDAY 9:00 – 10:00 am

9:00 am 9:15 am

9:15 – 10:15 am NatureRx Presents the LivingPlant™

9:30 am

Product Research pg. 38

9:45 am

The Tree Farmer pg. 40

10:00 am 10:15 am

11:00 am 11:15 am 11:30 am 11:45 am

Altay Wild Snow pg. 19 A Nordic Skater pg. 21 We are the Rovers: NORWAY pg. 23

Rooted: The Rock Splitter pg. 48

Tobias Tatu pg. 25 Rodents of Unusual Size pg. 39 Q/A

10:30 – 12:15 pm

10:30 am 10:45 am

9:00 – 10:30 am

10:45 – 12:00 pm Crane Story From Hortobágy pg. 24 Wild Toddler Chronicles pg. 43 The High Sierra Trail pg. 20 Q/A

12:00 pm

The Great Pretender pg. 51 Voice of a River pg. 53

11:00 – 12:30 pm

Stone Giants pg. 52 Trial by Fire pg. 53 Trail Heads pg. 52 Natural Flow pg. 42 Q/A Followed by Freestyle Football Demo in Lavinia Campbell Park

Persian Powder pg. 21 No Man’s Land: Expedition Antarctica pg. 45

12:15 pm 12:30pm 12:45 pm 1:00 pm 1:15 pm

12:30 – 1:30 pm The Smog of the Sea pg. 40

Panel Discussion: Young/Emerging Filmmakers 2935 Grand Ave., Los Olivos

Trail Heads

1:00 – 2:45 pm 1:15 – 2:45 pm

1:30 pm

1:45 – 3:30 pm

2:00 pm

NatureRx Presents the LivingPlant™

2:15 pm

Rediscover the Future Today pg. 38

2:30 pm

The Human Element pg. 37

2:45 pm

(See Next Page)

Demonstration Freestyle Football Lavinia Campbell Park

12:30 – 1:00 pm

Our Last Trash pg. 52

1:45 pm

12:00 – 12:30 pm

Into the Arctic: Awakening pg. 47 Q/A

A Word to the Wise pg. 40 Sons of Enkai pg. 48

Gates Foss Center

Grange

St. Mark’s

Events

3:00 pm 3:15 pm

Q/A

3:30 pm 3:45 pm

3:45 – 5:00 pm

4:15 pm

Water pg. 49

A Sense of Wonder pg. 48

Birds of the Lakes Return pg. 35

Curiosity pg. 42

Q/A

D. plexippus pg. 36 4:00 pm

3:15 – 4:30 pm

3:15 – 4:30 pm

The Frenchy pg. 26 North of Nightfall pg. 45

Never Too Young pg. 42 4:30 pm 4:45 pm

From Golf Course to Wetland pg. 36 Q/A

5:00 – 6:15 pm

5:00 pm

5:15 – 6:15 pm

5:15 pm 5:30 pm

5:30 – 6:45 pm

Clay Bolt pg. 51

5:45 pm

The Great Pretender pg. 51

6:00 pm

Forbidden Zone: Wildlife on the Battlefield pg. 47

6:15 pm

Unbounded pg. 23

Boy Nomad pg. 41 In the Starlight pg. 27

6:30pm

6:45 – 8:00 pm

6:45 pm 7:00 pm 715 pm 7:30 pm 7:45 pm

6:45 – 8:15 pm

7:00 – 7:45 pm

A Sense of Wonder pg. 48 Curiosity pg. 42 Never Too Young pg. 42 From Golf Course to Wetland pg. 36 Water pg. 49

Stumped pg. 23 Break on Through pg. 26 The Ario Dream pg. 19

Volkswagen Presents Warren Miller’s

Face of Winter pg. 44

8:00 pm

8:15 – 10:15 pm

8:15 pm 8:30 pm

8:45 – 10:15 pm

9:00 pm 9:45 pm 10:15 pm

Into The Canyon pg. 20

Persian Powder pg. 21

8:30 – 9:45 pm

Volkswagen Presents Warren Miller’s

Unbounded pg. 23

Face of Winter pg. 44

5:30 – 8:00 pm

Spotlight Dinner Guest Speaker Cory Trépanier Located: 3569 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez Limited Tickets Available Online Now $75/person *Epic Pass Holders gratis Reservations required

Gates Foss Center

Grange

St. Mark’s

Events

SUNDAY 9:00 am

Mar. 24

9:15 – 10:30 am

9:15 am 9:30 am 9:45 am

D. plexippus pg. 36

10:00 am

Evolution in Isolation pg. 36 Q/A

10:15 am 10:30 am

10:45 – 11:15 pm

10:45 am

Panel Discussion: The Role of Filmmaking in Land Preservation 2935 Grand Ave Los Olivos

11:00 am

11:15 – 12:45 pm

11:15 am 11:30 am 11:45 am

The Elephant’s Song pg. 25

12:00 pm

Last of the Big Tuskers pg. 37

12:15 pm

Q/A

12:30pm

12:45 – 2:00 pm

12:45 pm

1:00 – 2:00 pm

1:00 pm 1:15 pm 1:30 pm

1:15 – 2:15 pm

The Australian Giant Cuttlefish pg. 41

1:45 pm

The Amazing Coral Lifecycle pg. 35

2:00 pm

The Adventures of Zack & Molly pg. 24

2:15 pm

The Patterns of the Ocean pg. 39

2:30 pm 2:45 pm

2:45 – 4:00 pm (See Next Page)

Clay Bolt pg. 51 Rooted: The Rock Splitter pg. 48

2:15 – 4:00 pm

Break on Through pg. 26 Stumped pg. 23 The Ario Dream pg. 19

2:15 – 4:00 pm

Free Solo pg. 44

The Elephant’s Song pg. 25

(See Next Page)

(See Next Page)

12:45 – 1:15 pm Demonstration Infrared Camera Tech Lavinia Campbell Park

Gates Foss Center

Grange

St. Mark’s

3:00 pm

2:45-4:00 pm cont.

2:15-4:00 pm cont.

2:15-4:00 pm cont.

3:15 pm

White Wolves: Ghosts of the Arctic pg. 49

3:30 pm 3:45 pm 4:00 pm

The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle pg. 39

Free Solo continues

Events

The Last King of India pg. 21 India’s Healing Forest pg. 37

4:00 –5:30 pm

4:15 pm 4:30 pm 4:45 pm

Closing Reception

5:00 pm

Located: Sides Restaurant

5:15 pm 5:30 pm 5:45 pm 6:00 pm 6:15 pm 6:30pm 6:45 pm 7:00 pm 715 pm 7:30 pm 7:45 pm 8:00 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm 9:00 pm 9:45 pm 10:15 pm

2375 Alamo Pintado Tickets $20 *Pass Holders gratis

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Conservation We know this planet is our one and only natural home and environment; all of us want to keep it healthy and hospitable for all life forms. Films submitted in this category focus on ecological conservation efforts and the creative ways humans honor and care for Earth’s precious resources and inhabitants.

In the end, we will conserve only what we love.

We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.

Baba Dioum ~ Senegalese Conservationist, Forestry Engineer

The Amazing Coral Lifecycle Sun. 1:15 PM •GFC

Germany, 2018, 2 mins.

Vanessa Cara-Kerr started underwater filming in 2014 and now collaborates with ocean conservationists to draw attention to the plight of our diminishing coral reefs. Her film introduces us to the tiny coral eggs that spawn just once a year after a full moon. As they develop Directed by Vanessa Cara-Kerr into baby corals they move around the reef searching for the perfect place to build their new coral colony homes, which will survive and thrive only if we do our part to protect our underwater worlds.

Birds of the Lakes Return Sat. 3:15 PM •G

Slovenia, 2018, 55 mins.

With beautiful cinematography and informative narration, we observe the return of birds to an environment once devastated by industry. While some industry continues to coexist alongside the vibrant and often hidden life of the birds, Birds of the Lakes Return also Directed by Matej Vraničc̆ offers a hopeful message of how man can transform a once devastated natural area into a much friendlier environment for other species that cannot clean up after us.

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D. plexippus

Sat. 3:45 PM •GFC | Sun. 9:15 AM •G Mexico, 2018, 8 mins.

Danaus plexippus, more commonly known as the Monarch Butterfly, is a familiar sight in our region, though their diminishing population is troubling.

This film takes a meditative look at the lifecycle of this beautiful butterfly, inviting us to reflect on its place in our Directed by Canek Kelly world, and consider how tragic it would be never to see the D. plexippus spread its wings again.

Evolution in Isolation Sun. 9:15 AM •G

Spain, 2016, 52 mins.

Unique in the world, the Balearic lizard thrives where atmospheric conditions are severe and adverse, and where the wind and sea conspire to challenge its island habitat. Cameras located inside the plants where the lizard hunts and feeds capture never before seen interiors Directed by Toni Escandell of these foreign plants, and the lizard’s sophisticated feeding behaviors. 15 years of recording the private life of this little reptile has led to scientific discoveries that help explain how they are surviving in such a hostile and isolated environment.

From Golf Course to Wetland

Sat. 3:45 PM •GFC | Sat. 7:00 PM •GFC USA, 2017, 17 mins.

Director Michael Love documents the beginning stages of the restoration of Goleta’s Ocean Meadows Golf Course to the wetland it was historically. An ambitious undertaking, this local project is still in progress connecting several existing preserved properties. The Directed by Michael Love restoration of the estuary and natural flood plain will support a diversity of birds, fish, and wildlife. Over 2.5 miles of trails will provide scenic views and connectivity to the California Coastal Trail across a wetland expanse.

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The Human Element Sat. 1:45 PM •GFC

USA, 2018, 76 mins.

Human activity alters the basic elements of life - earth, air, water, and fire - and those elements in turn change human life. In this riveting and visually rich drama, blending art and science, we follow renowned National Geographic photographer James Balog as he Directed by Matthew Testa explores hurricanes, sea level rise, a struggling coal mining community, and our changing air supply. The fire section of the film takes a hard look at one of California’s recent mega-fires.

India’s Healing Forest Sun. 2:15 PM •SM

India, 2018, 51 mins.

Traveling through lush rainforests, sacred groves, cloud forests, city forests, food forests, and deep valleys of the Himalayas, this gorgeous film unravels some of life’s natural mysteries. India is a country of breathtaking natural beauty, with a wealth of ancient knowledge about connecting Directed by Nitin Das with nature to create a more meaningful life. India's Healing Forest unfolds through inspiring stories of people whose lives are intricately woven with forests.

Last of the Big Tuskers Sun. 11:15 AM •G

USA, 2018, 60 mins.

In December of 2013 the largest elephant in the world was seen for the last time. His name in Zulu was Isilo, which means “King of Kings.”

Conservationists searched months on end for his body until late March of 2014 when the carcass of the giant was found Directed by James Currie in the African bush, his magnificent ninefoot tusks gone. Only 100 years ago, thousands of “big tuskers” roamed the wilds of Africa. Sadly today, only 22 remain.

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The Malaysian Snake Guardian Fri. 8:30 PM •GFC

Spain, 2018, 50 mins. USA PREMIERE

On the Malaysian island of Langkawi, we meet Othman, who earned the title of “World Champion in Snake Handling.”

Rescuing and interacting with some of the most exotic animals of the rainforest, Othman gets uncomfortably close to both the harmless and the deadly Directed by Manuel Coronado Acevedo snakes he works to protect. His intimate understanding of the massive pythons, venomous cobras, and other creatures in the forest, provides a fascinating look into a little understood environment.

Nature Rx Presents the LivingPlant™ – Product Research Sat. 9:15 AM •GFC USA, 2018, 3 mins.

Often the news about our planet is overwhelming, leaving many of us wondering what we can do. Nature Rx wants to create a different approach to inform and motivate change, to have more people see themselves as a part Directed by Justin Bogardus of nature and not separate from it.

Preserving and supporting nature is a direct benefit to you, your family, friends, and everyone else. Nature Rx tells that story in ways that are funny, but also accessible and inspiring, sparking conversation around creating nature everywhere.

Nature Rx Presents the LivingPlant™ – Rediscover the Future Today Sat. 1:45 PM •GFC USA, 2018, 3 mins.

A breakthrough in workspace technology will soon revolutionize the ways humans collaborate at work. This game changer is so powerful, so ahead Directed by Justin Bogardus of its time, and yet so familiar, intuitive, and appealing it’s a wonder we didn’t see it the whole time. In our busy and crowded world, it’s easy to forget the value of getting outdoors.

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The Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Fri. 6:15 PM •G | Sun. 2:45 PM •GFC USA, 2017, 8 mins.

When research scientists attach a satellite transmitter to a critically endangered Pacific leatherback sea turtle, they discover an unprecedented and epic 7,000-mile migration across the Pacific, from Monterey Bay to the leatherback’s remote nesting beaches in Indonesia. Directed by John Dutton This discovery highlights some of the greatest conservation challenges in the western Pacific today: the protection of the last remaining nesting beach, promotion of sustainable fishing practices, and the reduction of plastics in the ocean.

The Patterns of the Ocean – Protecting Indonesia’s Manta Rays Sun. 1:15 PM •GFC

Germany, 2018, 45 mins.

According to a new trend in Chinese medicine, manta ray gill rakers allegedly cure all kinds of ailments and fetch very high prices. Within only a couple of years, this demand has had a negative impact on the population of these fascinating Directed by Hendrik S. Schmitt and gentle creatures. This informative film explains current scientific research on manta rays in Indonesia, and shows the conservation contributions that can be made through “citizen science,” meaning divers and snorkeling tourists with cameras.

Rodents of Unusual Size Sat. 9:00 AM •SM

USA, 2017, 71 mins.

Gigantic rodents are eating up Louisiana wetlands, threatening the very existence of the human population. This invasive South American species breeds faster than roving squads of hunters and trappers can control them. But the people who have lived here for generations are Directed by Chris Metzler, Jeff Springer, and Quinn Costello not the type of folks who let their land, and their livelihoods, recede into the Gulf without a fight. It is man vs. rodent. May the best mammal win.

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The Smog of the Sea Sat. 12:30 PM •GFC USA, 2016, 30 mins.

Surfers Keith and Dan Malloy, musician Jack Johnson, spearfisher Kimi Werner, and bodysurfer Mark Cunningham become citizen scientists on a mission to assess the fate of plastics in the oceans.

The crew discovers that a “smog” of microplastics permeates the world’s Directed by Ian Cheney oceans with trillions of nearly invisible plastic shards making their way up the marine food chain. Using nostalgic super-8 footage, and an original score by Jack Johnson and shipmate Simon Beins, the film is an artful call to action for rethinking the scourge of the sea - single-use plastic.

The Tree Farmer

Sat. 9:15 AM •GFC USA, 2017, 3 mins. PREMIERE

Director Jeremy Roberts introduces viewers to Reese Thompson who grows trees for a living. But it’s the wild parts of his plantation which make up the heart of his work. The film follows Reese through the backwoods of Georgia to find the federally listed Indigo Snake and the Gopher Tortoise, and to learn why he wants to set all his trees on fire.

Directed by Jeremy Roberts

A Word to the Wise Sat. 1:15 PM •SM

Spain, 2017, 27 mins.

A Solomon Islands native is our guide as we travel around some of the islands’ amazing locations, slowly understanding the idyllic qualities of this archipelago and its people. We learn of the country’s origins, the past role of cannibalism in tribal wars, and the spiritual power of Directed by Jordi Esgleas Marroi sharks and other animals. Respect for nature and the environment as a means to achieve happiness and a peaceful existence is a reminder of how complex issues can be so simply expressed.

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Kids Connecting With Nature If you’ve ever watched a kid running around outside you know children joyfully interact with our natural world, taking delight in the simplest things. Films submitted in this category highlight how kids express wonder and joy connecting with nature - learning through exploration and discovery.

All my life through, the new sights of nature made me rejoice like a child.

Marie Curie ~ Chemist, Physicist, first woman to win a Nobel Prize

The Australian Giant Cuttlefish Sun. 1:15 PM •GFC

Australia, 2017, 5 mins.

Young director Zelly Been brings us a delightful short documentary following the migration and breeding season of the Australian Giant Cuttlefish off the coast of South Australia. Zelly’s middle school humor shines through in the opening scene and his enthusiasm for Directed by Zelly Been these iridescent cephalopods results in a very educational and entertaining short film.

Boy Nomad

Fri. 6:30 PM •SM | Sat. 5:00 PM •SM Canada, 2018, 20 mins.

This coming of age story from the roof of the world takes us through a year in the life of nine-year-old Janibek, who lives with his family in Mongolia’s Altai Mountains. His first love is racing horses, but this winter, his father will bring him on the toughest journey in a nomad’s Directed by Niobe Thompson and Dennis Wells life: the winter migration. But the Altai is gripped by a “zhut,” a hard winter that blocks the passes and threatens to wipe out the family’s only possession – their animals.

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Curiosity

Sat. 3:45 PM •GFC | Sat. 7:00 PM •GFC USA, 2018, 6 mins. PREMIERE

This thoughtful film offers a tender look at an elderly woman reflecting on her lifelong love of the river she has flyfished since she was a young girl. Her thoughtful narration accompanies closeups of her tying her own flies, while she thinks about how she is passing on her curiosity and love for the outdoors to the next generation.

Directed by Jason Harrington

Natural Flow

Sat. 10:30 AM •G USA, 2018, 6 mins. PREMIERE

Santa Ynez Valley teenager, Boston Jade Fitzpatrick, takes us on a journey through Iceland to find out what his “natural flow” in freestyle football is and how he is inspired by nature. The Panna and Street Soccer champion offers a fascinating look at the way being outdoors informs Directed by Boston Jade Fitzpatrick the natural flow required to pull off the amazing stunts he accomplishes with a soccer ball. All soccer moms, dads, and kids will want to see the spins, kicks, and tricks that Boston pulls off in his debut film!

Never Too Young

Sat. 3:45 PM •GFC | Sat. 7:00 PM •GFC USA, 2017, 10 mins.

A group of Montana middle schoolers working with the Forest Service learn what it takes to participate in trail conservation and grassland maintenance, all while discovering their own unique connections to the outdoor world. This is a film that is truly in the spirit of NatureTrack.

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Directed by Marc Leonard

2019 NatureTrack Film Festival

Wild Toddler Chronicles Sat. 10:45 AM •GFC USA, 2018, 10 mins.

With humor, emotion, and general toddler craziness, this film offers a realistic look at one family’s motivations for introducing their young daughter to adventure in wild places. On their trip to Moab, Utah to meet up with other wild toddlers and their parents, director Directed by Brian Lewis Lewis shows us all the glorious reasons why a wild toddler trip is worth it, despite all the messy baby “accidents” he colorfully relates.

Proud Host of the NatureTrack Film Festival Closing Reception

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Outdoors & Out of Bounds Why? That seems to be the question on everyone’s lips when we watch intrepid athlete-adventurers risk it all to reach impossible heights in life-threatening conditions. Films submitted in this category focus on extreme outdoor activities and interaction with the natural environment and attempt to answer the question, “Why?”

To uncover your true potential, you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.

Picabo Street ~ Olympic gold medalist skier

Volkswagen presents Warren Miller’s Face of Winter Sat. 6:45 PM •SM | Sat. 8:15 PM •G USA, 2018, 101 mins.

This film brings new and veteran athletes together to pay tribute to the late Warren Miller. Watch as the world’s best skiers and riders cover ground in some of the most legendary destinations to Directed by Chris Patterson honor a face that launched a thousand quips and got us all started on this long, crazy downhill ride. Come along to far off regions, meet the locals, carve faces of remote mountain ranges, and celebrate the thrills of a life lived in high places.

Free Solo

Fri. 6:15 PM •GFC | Sun. 2:15 PM •G USA, 2018, 100 mins.

Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature, Free Solo is a breathtaking portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he prepares for an unprecedented feat: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock...the 3,000 ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park… Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin without a rope. The filmmakers succeed in beautifully capturing deeply human moments, as well as the death-defying climb, with exquisite artistry and masterful, vertigo-inducing camerawork. The result is a triumph of the human spirit.

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No Man’s Land – Expedition Antarctica Sat. 11:00 AM •SM

Austria, 2018, 72 mins.

Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, with the highest average elevation of all the continents.

Until now, only scientists, polar explorers, or mountaineers have traveled there.

Directed by Matthias Mayr Due to the extreme cold, the glaciated terrain and the desert climate, freeskiing seemed impossible in such an inhospitable place. But freeskier adventurers, Matthias “Hauni” Haunholder and Matthias Mayr, don’t care if regions are too remote or harsh for skiing. In fact, the more hostile the conditions, the better!

North of Nightfall Sat. 3:15 PM •SM

USA, 2018, 65 mins.

High in the Arctic Circle, on Axel Heiberg Island, are mountain bike lines too incredible to ignore. Since the last ice age, glaciers have exposed massive polar deserts with terrain unlike anything ridden in the history of the sport.

Veteran freeride mountain bikers, Darren Directed by Jeremy Grant and Darren Berrecloth Berrecloth and Cam Zink, embark on an expedition to the top of the world to explore this relatively unknown land. With guidance from scientists based on the island they discover a rapidly changing environment steeped in history, along with descents dropping 2,500 feet!

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DRE # 01891927

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Scenic Nature, in all its subtle and majestic glory, constantly stuns our senses. Any outdoor experience brings a rush of sights, sounds, and smells in a natural world that has the power to literally stop us in our tracks. And when we stop to fully appreciate our planet’s scenic beauty, we deepen our connection to the only precious home we know.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

Albert Einstein ~ Theoretical Physicist, Nobel Prize winner

Forbidden Zone: Wildlife on the Battlefield Sat. 5:15 PM •G

Hungary, 2017, 43 mins.

A semi-desert landscape in Hungary has been closed for nearly one and a half centuries. It is a military area. Throughout history, Hungarian, Soviet, and American soldiers with heavy artillery practiced here, and it is still an active NATO Directed by Szabolcs Mosonyi training site. The sounds of shots and blasts are as natural as birdsong. Yet despite the danger, the shooting range is not bleak and dreary. With no large-scale agriculture, no construction projects, and no roads, the plants and animals have learned to thrive on this battlefield.

Into the Arctic: Awakening Sat. 1:00 PM •G

Canada, 2018, 77 mins.

Untamed beauty and the lure of the north have drawn Cory Trépanier to paint the Canadian Arctic for over a decade. As he heads back on another expedition he immerses himself in the Arctic landscape, explores with Inuit elders, and paddles the most northerly Directed by Cory Trépanier canoe route in North America. Walking in the footsteps of early explorers he voyages through the Northwest Passage, deeply connecting with a changing land to share these images with those who will never experience the Arctic in person.

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Rooted: The Rock Splitter

Sat. 9:15 AM •GFC | Sun. 1:00 PM •G USA, 2018, 48 min. PREMIERE

The Namaqua Rock Fig Tree stands rooted on the slope of a rocky hill in South Africa. To endure the worst drought in over a hundred years it sends an aggressive root system deep into the earth to search for water. Not even stone can get in the way. With temperatures Directed by Barend van der Watt steadily increasing each year, the rock splitter sends its roots even deeper through the boulders in search of water. It’s the ultimate survivor in a barren land.

A Sense of Wonder

Sat. 3:45 PM •GFC | Sat. 7:00 PM •GFC France, 2017, 3 mins.

A Sense of Wonder is a cinematic poem featuring a lone adventurer who seeks wonder in the jagged Dolomite Mountains. Guided by wild environments, mysterious atmospheres, and dream-like camera angles, Le Lay allows his poetic film to gently unfold. A Directed by Mathieu Le Lay Sense of Wonder is a genuine story of the interaction we humans seek in nature when we travel, discover, and feel the raw subtlety of the world.

Sons of Enkai

Sat. 1:15 PM •SM Spain, 2017, 62 mins.

A Maasai warrior guides us through his iconic homeland – the extraordinary Maasai Mara of Kenya. Secret stories of strength and balance in the tradition of the Maasai are set against the spectacular backdrop of a savannah teeming with wildlife. Breathtaking cinematography Directed by Nacho Ruiz reveals a beautiful culture rooted in ancient beliefs and deeply connected to the natural events and awe-inspiring wildlife of this majestic land. Sons of Enkai invites the viewer to absorb the splendor of man’s enduring relationship with nature.

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Water

Sat. 3:15 PM •G | Sat. 7:00 PM •GFC USA, 2017, 4 mins.

Take a four-minute journey to some of the world’s most spectacular glaciers, waterfalls, beaches, rivers, and waterways as director Mark Knight draws our senses into Earth’s watery landscapes and captures the disappearing natural resources of our planet. This short film Directed by Mark Knight brings awareness to the incredible beauty of water, and its critical place of importance in the survival of our planet.

Feast your eyes and ears on Water, paying careful attention to “breathe” during the final shot.

White Wolves: Ghosts of the Arctic

Fri. 6:15 PM •G | Sun. 2:45 PM •GFC Germany, 2018, 56 mins.

At the very northern edge of Canada is Ellesmere Island, where the unforgiving Arctic winds dip temperatures to – 40º.

Running through this shifting sea of snow and ice is one of the most hardened predators on the planet, the Arctic wolf. Directed by Oliver Goetzl This first full-length documentary on Arctic wolves reveals their astonishing dedication to pack survival in one of the last great wildernesses on Earth. Some hard to watch sequences depict the harsh reality and hardships wolves experience in order to survive in the Arctic.

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2019 NatureTrack Film Festival

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Student Films submitted in this category were produced while the filmmaker was a student. These thoughtful films focus on nature and the environment, bringing a fresh perspective to the way we interact with and care for our local and global environmental communities.

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature.

It will never fail you.

Frank Lloyd Wright ~ Architect, Writer, Educator

Clay Bolt

Sat. 5:15 PM •G | Sun. 1:00 PM •G United Kingdom, 2017, 4 mins.

Meet Clay Bolt, a natural history and conservation photographer for the World Wildlife Fund who has been featured in prominent magazines like National Geographic. Affectionately referred to as the “bug guy,” Clay explains how and why he focuses on the 99% of life Directed by Chema Domenech on earth that is smaller than your finger.

Grateful that he is “able to speak up for these beautiful little creatures” Clay’s exquisite photography is beautifully enhanced by Domenech’s keen eye for feeling and perspective.

The Great Pretender

Sat. 10:30 AM •G | Sat. 5:15 PM •G USA, 2017, 12 mins.

After the loss of an important display feather, a famous lyrebird struggles to win a mate during the most competitive song and dance competition in Australia. When human birder, Jan, who has been watching the “Great Directed by Nardine Groch Pretender” for over 50 years, discovers the loss of one of his curved “lyrate” tail feathers, a suspenseful drama ensues as the Pretender enters the battle of the birds, which requires great mimicry and - usually - two tail feathers. Watch Pretender shake a tail feather and attempt to best his rivals for a mate.

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Our Last Trash

Sat. 12:30 PM •GFC USA, 2018, 20 mins.

With plastic straws no longer welcome in our drinks or in our oceans, we are beginning to see and sense a “sea change” in the way we use, discard, and recycle plastic products. Humans continue to produce far more plastic than the earth can ever bury, recycle, or reuse. Directed by Joanne Yue A “zero waste” lifestyle is the answer for some consumers and hopefully points to a future where we manufacture less plastic and reuse more of the plastic we already have.

Stone Giants

Sat. 10:30 AM •G USA, 2018, 6 mins.

This touching short film about a daughter’s close relationship with her mother, and the desert her mother loves, demonstrates the allure of the outdoors and the healing places we are drawn to.

Mother and daughter journey to Bears Ears and Escalante National Monuments Directed by Camille del Duca to process impending loss and explore the inextricable link between family and connection to place. Stone Giants delivers a tender narrative with effective touches of music and watercolor animation which enhance the natural beauty of the umber desert tones.

Trail Heads

Sat. 10:30 AM •G USA, 2018, 15 mins.

After last year’s massive Thomas Fire and its subsequent deadly debris flows, many of Santa Barbara’s front country trails were completely devastated, destroyed, gone. Trail Heads follows several trail communities who are working to rebuild those trails, despite a history of conflict Directed by Dani Rodriguez in a region where mountain bikers, equestrians, and hikers all covet the off-road routes that lead away from the city and into nature’s bliss.

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Trial by Fire

Sat. 10:30 AM •G USA, 2018, 14 mins.

Confinement for days on end will inevitably lead to perpetual torment of the mind. Inmate firefighters relish the opportunity to emerge from their restraints, finding serenity and a sense of purpose through firefighting. With wildfires becoming more prolific Directed by Alex Astrella and destructive, many of our homes, businesses, and wild lands may owe their preservation to the diligent efforts of an inmate. In Trial by Fire we learn how fighting fires also helps to preserve the mental and emotional health of these imprisoned, hardworking first responders.

Voice of a River Sat. 10:30 AM •G

USA, 2018, 6 mins. PREMIERE

This scenic short from student filmmaker Ashley Siana depicts the ecology and identity of the Yellowstone River in a meditative narration and guided tour “voiced” and conducted by the breathtaking river itself. Gorgeously shot and creatively presented, Voice of a Directed by Ashley Siana River ripples on after the closing credits and beckons the viewer to visit the grandeur of one of America’s most treasured national parks.

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T H E G AT H E R I N G TA B L E

AT T H E

(800) 638-2466 • ballardinn.com • 2436 BASELINE

Photo Tenley Fohl Photography

www.fulloflifefoods.com

Solar. Compact.

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Special offer for festival attendees!

Visit mpowerd.com and enjoy 30% off your next purchase. Use promo code NatureTrack30 at check out.

Inflatable Solar Light

Restaurant Dinners Nightly “HP 2 YOU” Lunch Daily 11:30am-2pm

Winery Tasting Room Sun.-Thurs.

11am-5pm Fri.-Sat. 11am-8pm

West Coast BBQ At Its Best Fine Wines of Santa Barbara Enjoy our Natural Setting!

406-420 E. Hwy. 246, Buellton 805.688.0676 www.HPwines.com

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Lodging, dining & details at

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Acknowledgments

NatureTrack Film Festival Sue Eisaguirre Founder/Director

Pam Layton Data Management

NatureTrack FILM FESTIVAL

KC Murphy Thompson Holly Cline Co-Director Co-Director Anton Byers Social Media

Pam Miller Volunteer Coordinator

Thank you to our Film Festival Volunteers!

The NatureTrack Film Festival thanks all of our dedicated volunteers for generously helping us present a fun and memorable film festival for patrons and filmmakers.

We could not produce the NatureTrack Film Festival without our superstar volunteers. Please take a bow!

Curtain call and standing ovation for our outstanding judges!

Stephanie Austin

Brenda Juarez

Stacey Otte-Demangate

Skip Boyland

Doug MacLean

Renee Pasquinelli

Curt Cragg

Jayne Martin

Joan Singleton

Pamela Harris

Ralph Singleton

Richard Harris

Scott Thaler

Fostering a lifelong fascina on with nature

NatureTrack Board Sue Eisaguirre Founder/Director

In memory of Dan Conaway’s dedication and invaluable contributions to the NatureTrack Foundation as a board member and docent, we are honored to present the “The Dan Conaway Award” for the best film in the “Kids Connecting with Nature” category.

Randy Pace Secretary Stephen Palmer Treasurer Gary Crispin Alfred Holzheu Katie Holzheu Dennis Nord P.58

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Are you Ready for

Glamping Montana Canvas Luxury Camping

Montanacanvas.com

1-800-235-6518

NTFF Spotlight Dinner & Special Presentation This multi-media presentation by Canadian landscape painter, filmmaker and explorer Cory Trépanier will take you on a compelling journey to some of the most remote regions on the face of our planet in Canada’s wild Arctic.

Experience the places, people, and processes that have inspired Trépanier's canvases and films for over a decade.

• Cuisine courtesy of award-winning chef Budi Kazali of The Gathering Table at The Ballard Inn, with ingredients provided by El Rancho Market.

• Fine wines donated by the Santa Ynez Valley’s famous Hitching Post Wines and craft beer donated by M. Special Brewing Co. Saturday, March 23, 2019 5:30-8:00 pm 3569 Sagunto Street, Santa Ynez

$75 (Complimentary for Epic Pass Holders) Limited Seating. Reservations are required by March 15.

Purchase Tickets at www.NatureTrackFilmFestival.org P.60

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