Film lineup for the 2026 Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Ashland, OR

See descriptions and trailers for this year’s chosen films below.

Note: Trailers are not available for all films.

Native to the klamath - michael wier | 2025 | 13 min.

“Native to the Klamath” is a story told through the voices of the salmon people. The Klamath River is currently going through one of the largest transformations in history. Native to the Klamath intertwines environmental restoration, reconciliation ecology, social justice, and traditional ecological knowledge. Hear the story of this river renewal through the words of the Klamath River peoples who live by the sacred obligation of stewardship.

film themes: wildlife, native communities, rivers

Monumental moment - pete mcbride, isaiah boyle, michelle smith | 2025 | 15 min.

For years, shy and soft-spoken teenager Maya Tilousi-Lyttle has been protesting uranium mining on the border of Grand Canyon National Park with her mother, Havasupai advocate Carletta Tilousi. On Aug. 8, 2023, she spoke powerfully from a podium moments before President Joe Biden signed the proclamation declaring Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The monument represented a form of long-sought permanent protection for a region that holds irreplaceable significance to the Indigenous peoples who have called it home for millennia. But in January 2025, the Arizona legislature and others filed lawsuits attempting to overturn the monument designation and attacking the Antiquities Act as unlawful. The fight continues, and it is up to Maya’s generation to make their voices heard.

Film Themes: land preservation, native communities

what the river knows - diego riley, will buckley | 2025 | 34 min.

For years, a lost Eden beneath Lake Powell has been re-emerging, revealing past follies and a new way forward for the Colorado River. What The River Knows explores this unique inflection in a centuries-long history. As the West faces the urgent need to redesign water management, we are offered the chance to restore one of the planet’s most stunning landscapes.

Film themes: water, river issues, conservation

Valley under fire - gregory robinson | 2025 | 10 min.

When climber and National Park Service employee Nate Vince was fired under controversial circumstances, he staged a protest by hanging an upside-down American flag off Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan, an act that captured national attention. This short documentary tells the story behind that moment and explores Nate’s deep connection to the park, his passion for climbing, and his commitment to protecting public lands and the communities built around them.

I first heard about Nate after his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. I reached out to him, and before long, he was at my place. We ended up chatting on camera about everything he'd been going through recently. We posted a short clip together on Instagram and to our surprise, it had a huge impact. At the very least, it gave us the motivation to tell the full story.

So I headed to Yosemite to spend three days with Nate. We climbed, talked with friends, met new people, and simply enjoyed our time in the Valley. It gave me a glimpse into the beautiful lives of climbers and park staffers who spend seasons—or even years—living there.

This documentary is our attempt to capture that world. It's a story we hope will inspire others to care a little more deeply about our national parks and recognize how fragile they really are. It takes a village to keep these places running. The pay isn't great, and the work is hard. But the passion for the land keeps these folks going and that's something worth having compassion for.

film themes: Land Preservation

The Yosemite Toad - Steven M. Bumgardner | 2025 | 10 min.

First identified in Yosemite National Park in the early 1900s, and found only in the Sierra Nevada, the Yosemite Toad is adapted for life at high elevation. Rarely seen, the male toads possess a vocal sack that allows them to produce a melodious, trilling call. As the snow melts, you may have a chance to hear these “singing” toads during the brief mating season.

film themes: wildlife

hyperscaled - maya estrera, michele forman | 2025 | 20 min.

Increased energy and water demands from the seemingly overnight rapid development of large data centers, and driven by technological advancements like “AI”, are increasing threats to communities across the Southeast, including Alabama. HYPERSCALED unearths the real world cost of AI as residents fight to get answers about the environmental, community, and other costly impacts of this water and energy sucking industry. Much like a vampire, the proposed “Project Marvel” is projected to consume unprecedented amounts of water and energy – right in their backyards.

film themes: environmental justice

SALABAMA - nicholas hess, michele forman | 2025 | 20 min.

Meet Alabama’s salamanders like you’ve never seen them before and fall for their undeniable charm.

We dive into the salamanders’ hidden world of wonder, crawling right under your feet and all around you, with the scientists and salamander superfans who can’t get enough of these quirky critters.

Film themes: wildlife

Heritage and Harvest: Quinault razor clams - sonny depasquale | 2024 | 3 min.

After fighting for decades for recognition of their treaty fishing rights, the Quinault Indian Nation—located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington—now exclusively manages the northern razor clam harvest on their reservation and co-manages the harvest with the state within their treaty area. This fishery is rated green for environmental sustainability by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program thanks to a strong management plan rooted in both traditional knowledge and modern science. This highly effective blend of management systems includes regular population assessments and strong policies to prevent overharvest.

film themes: food, farming

See something that piqued your interest? We hope so!

Join us for this year’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival showing at the Ashland Armory on Saturday, March 14th.

Tickets are available now but will sell out. Get yours here!