Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2025 (Virtual Viewing)

The 2025 Films

POST selected films from the vast Wild & Scenic Film Festival Library that feature stories about science, conservation, and adventure. Read about the films selected below.

Aldo’s Bug Extravaganza

In “Aldo’s Bug Extravaganza,” join 5-year-old Aldo and his dad on a backyard safari filled with tiny wonders and big laughs. With a camera and boundless curiosity, Aldo embarks on a bug-hunting escapade, narrating his discoveries with adorable wit and charm. As the week unfolds, Aldo’s wide-eyed explorations not only capture the audience’s imagination but also subtly echo the timeless wisdom of Aldo Leopold, making for a delightful and endearing ode to the joy of nature’s smallest marvels.

The Fire Poppy

Fire is a natural and necessary part of our ecosystem, though it’s often feared as a threat to our landscapes and communities. “The Fire Poppy” profiles female firefighter Sasha Berleman and her enduring relationship with fire. The short film delves into her evolving perspective, from seeing fire as a threat to developing a deep interest in it, and eventually recognizing fire as a valuable tool to heal and protect.

Wild Hope: Cougar Crossing

Los Angeles is well known for its celebrities, so when the fearless cougar P-22 gained fame for making its home amid the city, he inspired an effort to build the world’s largest wildlife crossing. He helped spark a national campaign to support crossings and corridors everywhere.

Flora, Fauna, Funga

This short film follows mycologist Giuliana Furci’s search for new mushrooms in far southern Chile. She’s joined by biologist and author Merlin Sheldrake and mycologist Toby Kiers. Together, the three scientists illuminate how fungi underpin every ecosystem on Earth through nutrient cycling and the essential relationships they form with plants and outline a strategy for greater fungal inclusion in conservation policy.

One Inch From Flying

A young climber grapples with the complexity of modern life and celebrates the sense of balance he gets from walking high lines while rigging and walking an alpine highline in Washington’s North Cascades.

Unseen Peaks

Unseen Peaks follows Addie, a blind athlete who seeks freedom and belonging in the outdoor community through skiing, ice climbing, and rock climbing. Amidst breathtaking landscapes and personal challenges, Addie redefines perceptions of disability and resilience. Directed, produced, filmed, and edited by filmmaker Roo Smith, the film highlights the transformative power of adventure and advocates for inclusivity in the outdoors.

Here the Wild Things Are

Aotearoa joins a fun, global competition where ecologists and enthusiasts scour cities to uncover the weird and wonderful wild. But can they save the planet, one photo at a time?

Wingspan

Over the past six years, wildlife and conservation photographer Joshua Asel has climbed the peaks of Pinnacles National Park countless times to document the critically endangered California condor population that calls this stunning mountain range home. Wingspan follows Joshua on one of his expeditions and explores photography’s vital role in creating awe and awareness for these incredible animals.

Don’t Doubt the Trout

Bernard and Rebecca of the band, Par Avion, are not your average surf rock musicians. They’re passionate fly-fishing anglers and conservationists who are advocating for the protection of California’s endangered Steelhead trout. As ambassadors to CalTrout, they’ve become observers on the ground to document the health of Southern California’s waterways, especially around Malibu’s 100-ft Rindge Dam, a significant obstacle to wildlife. Thanks to the efforts of CalTrout and advocates like Bernard and Rebecca, the Rindge Dam will be removed, with demolition work planned to begin in 2028 and finish in 2035.