Representation Matters Film Festival

About the Wild and Scenic Film Festival

Considered one of the nation’s premier environmental and adventure film festivals, Wild & Scenic features award-winning short films about nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, Native American and indigenous cultures.

Film Selection List

Our film selections from the Wild and Scenic Library focus on themes related to recreation, activism, community, indigenous culture, finding belonging, and more! These stories highlight diverse voices in the outdoors.

JoJo – A Toad Musical (8 min)

JOJO” celebrates a creative and musical portrait of JoJo Nyaribo, a young nature lover and wildlife advocate as he explores the meaning of biodiversity and stewardship in his own backyard.

Inseparable: Skye (15 min)

For time immemorial, climbing has been a traditional activity for Kanaka Maoli. While history shows Native Hawaiians climbed over mountains and scrambled rocks to trade goods and information with their neighbors, today few Indigenous members of the tropical islands practice climbing actively. For Skye Kolealani Razon-Olds, climbing is a way to connect with her ancestors.

Tracing History (13 min)

Tracing History follows a Chinese American filmmaker and her mother as they contemplate loss, legacy, and the stories that get left out of history while visiting sites where their Chinese ancestors labored to build the transcontinental railroad six generations ago. They travel to locations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Great Basin Desert. From Montgomery Pass where 150 year old artifacts lay strewn across the ground, to catfish pond where catfish brought by Chinese laborers still survive a 7,000 feet elevation, to Paoha Island on Mono Lake where Chinese finally found refuge after a racist mob chased them out of town. As they travel and retrace their own history they find the space to open up about the present and deepen their relationship to each other.

Forward (16 min)

While navigating a myriad of life challenges, Anjelica turned to the outdoors to improve her mental health only to discover a noticeable lack of other plus-size women of color on trail. By posting a simple flyer looking for more women to hike with, Anjelica created a community she never could have imagined.

Miles to go (8 min)

In 2022 alone there have been over 300 anti LGBTQ+ bills proposed in various states across the country. Refusing to sit idly by, trans trail runner Perry Cohen formed a team of fellow runners, who identify as trans men, with an aim to compete in trail races in states proposing and passing hateful legislation. Miles to Go follows their journey into the world of trail running and the freedom to be themselves on the trail.

Chicas al Agua (18 min)

You can count the number of female paddlers in Futaleufú, Chile on one hand… and they want to change that. After many riverside matés and floating conversations, the idea to create a kayak course for local teenage girls was hatched. Thanks to a committed group of women, what started as a dream is now an inspirational contribution to the community.

The Studio (12 min)

Scot Simmons has dealt with various forms of anxiety, PTSD and depression for most of his adult life. He admits he hasn’t always made the best choices in life. He is committed to creating a better life for himself and others, and he strives to be a better role model for his own family. Fly fishing has helped him find this equilibrium.

Soundscape (14 min)

Soundscape features Erik Weihenmayer, a global adventure athlete and author who is fully blind, as he ascends a massive alpine rock face deep in the Sierra Nevada. Using expert camera work and emotive, novel animation to bring to life a concept by adaptive climbing pioneer Timmy ONeill, the film is a surprising and soulful adventure.