POST and Midpen Present the Third Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Present Third Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival

The free, environmental film festival opens virtually at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 21 and runs for one week only

Palo Alto, Calif. – April 26, 2021 — From wildfire management to the culture of local Indigenous peoples, the 2021 edition of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival has something for every nature lover in the Bay Area.

Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) today announced the third annual presentation of the jointly sponsored Wild & Scenic Film Festival. The free, virtual festival goes live online beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, May 21 and can be watched at any time, on demand, through midnight Friday, May 28, 2021. Advance registration is available here.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival showcases award-winning environmentally inspired short films. POST and Midpen’s 2021 presentation features a curated selection of 14 films and offers viewers an opportunity to learn more about POST and Midpen’s work protecting and managing open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.

“The films of the Wild & Scenic Festival this year combine beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling,” said Mark Medeiros, senior manager of community engagement at POST. “For this year’s presentation, we’ve selected works that we believe will inspire Bay Area film and nature fans to find ways to get involved and make a difference.”

The two-hour program consists of 14 films, which range in length from two to 15 minutes each. Highlights include:

• “In the Land of My Ancestors” This short film about settler colonialism in the San Francisco Bay Area features one Ohlone elder who has devoted her life to preserving the culture of her indigenous ancestors and is directed by South Asian photojournalist Rucha Chitnis. To watch the trailer, click here.
• “Fighting Fire with Fire” Directed by filmmaker and UC Davis alumnus Sinead Santich, this film is an immersive experience in the Native American cultural tradition of burning. A California tribal leader teaches UC Davis students about preparing the land, igniting the fire and restoring the landscape.
• “Immolation” A cinematic journey, filmed over several years, of the destruction and rebirth of California lands — a cycle caused by wildfires. This film is directed by San Francisco-based filmmaker and cinematographer David Elkins.

The complete list of films included in this festival is available here.

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About the Peninsula Open Space Trust

POST protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. As a private nonprofit land trust, POST has been responsible for saving more than 80,000 acres since its founding in 1977. POST works with private landowners and public agencies to connect people and nature. Visit openspacetrust.org for more information.

About the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s mission is to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land of regional significance in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. On the San Mateo County coast, our mission also includes preserving agricultural land of regional significance and rural character and encouraging viable agricultural use of land resources. Midpen has successfully protected nearly 65,000 acres of public open space land in the Santa Cruz Mountains region since 1972. Learn more at openspace.org.