Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Mike Wilkinson
A group of watercraft and people by the water.
A still from the film "River Cowboys: Keepin' It Wild."
media release: Tickets: $20.00 Advance/$23.00 Day Of Show.
Wild & Scenic + Fly Fishing Film Tour (March 21) Ticket Bundle: $36.00
We are STOKED to bring you films that will inspire you to get outside, explore our world, and be a voice for our water. Come to our 16th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Barrymore Theatre on March 20 at 7 p.m.!
Buy tickets online or skip the fees and get tickets from Barrymore Theatre ticket outlets.
This year’s films profile science and recreation trailblazers, drinking water advocates fighting PFAS contamination, dedicated river cleanup volunteers, Tribal leaders and scientists working to save manoomin (wild rice) in northern Wisconsin, and people who turn to nature in places like the Boundary Waters to support their mental health.
“We are excited to share these inspiring films that cover issues from restoring manoomin (wild rice), to breaking barriers to outdoor recreation, and addressing PFAS contamination in drinking water,” said River Alliance of Wisconsin Executive Director Allison Werner. “River Alliance works with local organizations and clean water advocates across the state and region who are passionate about the topics these films cover. We hope everyone will come away inspired to get outdoors and to be vocal activists for water protection.”
New this year: River Alliance offers Wild & Scenic video on demand to the organization’s supporters. All current donors and those who contribute to River Alliance during Community Shares of Wisconsin’s Big Share on March 4 can watch the film festival from anywhere March 20-26. Thanks to video on demand sponsor Wisconsin Public Radio.
Business sponsors make the event possible: Rutabaga Paddlesports, Deer Creek Cheese, Fontana Sports, Delta Beer Lab, MG&E Foundation, Ecology Sports, Heartwood Tree Company, Park Bank, Spencer Real Estate, Community Shares of Wisconsin, Inter-Fluve, Econoprint, Lauer Realty Group, Delta Properties, 98.7 WVMO, and more.
Check out what we have for you this year in our lineup below. Take a peek at some of the films' trailers too!
- River Alliance of Wisconsin staff and board
Judy’s Creek - Discovering the Secret Life of the Streambed: Follow ecologist, educator, and author Dr. Judy Li into the world of caddisflies, the artisans of the aquatic world. With contagious passion, Judy shares how her childhood curiosity led to a career in freshwater science, and how she has found ways to share the joys of science with audiences of all ages.
Who will love this movie: anyone who is curious about bugs, caddisflies fans, and those who want to be inspired by trailblazers.
The Cost of Forever: Riverkeepers uncover the hidden and costly dangers of ‘forever chemicals’ in our rivers and drinking water sources, following water protectors as they strive to protect communities—and themselves—from PFAS contamination.
Who will love this movie: those who want to be inspired by advocates who overcome steep odds to work for clean drinking water.
t’s Time: Set in the early spring thaw, "It's Time" weaves together maple syrup harvesting, Indigenous wisdom, and environmental awareness on the banks of the Sangamon River.
Through mesmerizing visuals and flute melodies, this poetic film celebrates ancient traditions while awakening viewers to nature's delicate balance and our role in preserving it.
Who will love this movie: fans of maple syrup and respecting the pace of nature.
Return to Spur Lake: Bringing back the food that grows on water: There’s always been only a few special places in the world where wild rice (known as manoomin to the Ojibwe people), grows. Which made it troubling when manoomin stopped growing in the early 2000’s at Spur Lake, a 113 acre lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
A group of conservation partners have come together to bring wild rice back to Spur Lake because of its environmental and cultural importance.
Who will love this movie: those who think about Wisconsin land and water conservation in terms of seven generations in the future.
River Cowboys: Keepin’ it Wild: This short film showcases the stunning landscapes of the internationally recognized Red River Gorge, and Kentucky's only Wild & Scenic Red River. It highlights an ongoing environmental challenge: the removal of scores of discarded tires and trash from Red River (and dumping as a statewide and national issue) and one humble cleanup leader, the original River Cowboy, Russ Miller.
Who will love this movie: anyone looking for inspiration for spring river cleanup volunteer days.
Saving Silence: Follow action photographer Emily Tidwell to her hometown of Grand Marais, Minnesota, portal to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, as she investigates the importance of our public lands for our mental and planetary health.
Emily chats with local legends, Olympians, and multi-generational business owners about why our wild spaces are so important. While home, she discovers a threat hidden in our fresh waters.
Who will love this movie: Boundary Waters lovers, those who are concerned about microplastics, and anyone whose mental health is supported by being outdoors.
Mother River: After pursuing and achieving career goals on the East Coast, Devin Brown realized that corporate life was not for her. Her childhood roots in paddling and connecting to nature brought her to Minnesota where she would pursue her dream to become the first black female to kayak the entire Mississippi river.
Devin has overcome many complexities in pursuit of this dream, including the harsh realities of being a minority in the paddling community and the nuances of being a single Mother. The challenges continue as Devin listens to the river and follows her guidance.
Who will love this movie: paddlers, barrier breakers, and those to know that representation matters.
Canyon Chorus: Join Mikah Meyer, his mentor Larry, and three friends as they journey down Utah's Green River, in Desolation Canyon, on a river rafting trip centered around friendship and joy. Canyon Chorus is a story about being your true self in the outdoors, about advocacy, and about recognizing the important people in our lives.
Who will love this movie: singers, adventurers, queer community members and the people who love them.