39 FILMS ABOUT OUR WORLD - OCTOBER 4-6 & 11-13, 2019 SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV - CONSERVATIONFILMFEST.ORG
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39 FILMS ABOUT OUR WORLD.
OCTOBER 4-6 & 11-13, 2019
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV
CONSERVATIONFILMFEST.ORG
THE AMERICAN CONSERVATION FILM FESTIVAL:
Curates and presents contemporary films
on conservation issues.
OUR MISSION Supports emerging filmmakers and new
film projects.
The American
Conservation Film Provides educational, interactive
Festival presents
conservation-focused opportunities for filmmakers, audience
films and programs members, and youth.
that engage, inform,
and inspire. Partners with organizations, businesses,
and individuals to share information and
strengthen resources.
2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF
Alexandra Hazel Jeffrey Gustafson Bill McShea Jennifer Lee
President Board Member Board Member Executive Director
Elise Baach Michael Hobert Nicholas Snow Hilary Lo
Vice-President Board Member Board Member Festival Manager
Janna Bond Dennis Liu Christina van Hilst Jen Rolston
Secretary Board Member Board Member Communications
Liaison
Mark Burgess, CPA
Treasurer Anna Perkins
Intern
PAST BOARD MEMBERS
Keith Alexander John Grabowska Ed Leavy Anne Sechler
Lauren Ames Jeff Groff David Lillard Vanessa Serrao
Amy Mathews Amos Thomas Harding Mark Madison Thomas Sherwood
Alice Barkus Don Henry Farzad Mahootian Barbara Spicher
Sue Caperton Chris Hoelzl Rachel Dorsey Susan Walter
Steve Chase Catherine Irwin McGowen Ann Watson
Lawrence Cumbo Judy Katz-Leavy John McGrath Lisa Welch
Chuck Dunkerly Alex Kemnitzer Stan Mopsik Susan Womeldorf
Jeff Feldman, Karen Kinnett Wendy Mopsik Lynn Yellott
President Emeritus Dave Kirkwood Sue Pellish
On cover: Bertie Gregory, Filmmaker, Wild_Life - Resurrection Island
B conservationfilmfest.org
LETTER FROM ALEXANDRA HAZEL
Dear Attendees!
It is my honor to welcome you to the 2019
American Conservation Film Festival! Our festival
is the culmination of a year of dedication and
hard work by our selection committees,
executive director, festival manager, and board.
We are all so excited to share these beautiful and
Alexandra Hazel
timely films with you. ACFF Board President
This year, global warming and the changing environment have increasingly
been in the spotlight. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change recently published a report on how world food security is
increasingly at risk due to unprecedented climate change. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced this July was the
hottest ever since the NOAA began keeping records in 1880.
I recently had my first baby and reading stories like this can be
overwhelming. I worry what kind of future my child will live in.
But a friend recently shared with me a reminder that nature is resilient. She
is adaptive. Beautiful and fierce, untamable and also forgiving. There is still
time to take a lesson from nature and adapt as well. There is still time to
improve our relationship with the natural world around us so that future
generations may marvel at the grace and strength of our environment.
I hope this year’s selections engage your sense of wonder as they have mine,
and that you may be inspired to continue improving your relationships with
each other as well as with our environment.
Please enjoy!
conservationfilmfest.org 1
2019 TICKET PRICING & POLICIES
FULL FESTIVAL PASS 1ST WEEKEND PASS 2ND WEEKEND PASS
$55 $40 $25
Good for all films & programs at Good for all films & programs at Good for all films on our Encore
all venues during the festival. all venues Oct 4-Oct 6 Weekend Oct 11-Oct 13.
(Add the October 5 (Add the October 5
Party with Cerphe for $30) Party with Cerphe for $30) See all of the award winners!
BLOCK TICKETS $8-$10 KIDS ARE FREE! FREE w/ RAMBLER ID
Good for films during a specific
All students 18 or younger are All film blocks at The Frank
time block at a specific venue.
admitted FREE to all films at all Center are FREE to Shepherd
Blocks 1 & 17: FREE venues as space allows. students, staff, and faculty with
Blocks 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, their Rambler ID.
PARENTAL DISCRETION RECOMMENDED.
and 22 $8. All others $10.
EARLY BIRD PASSES!
Be an early bird and get 10% off your festival passes before September 15th.
Just use the sales code EARLY on your order.
Seniors can apply 10% discount code: SENIOR2019 (Seniors = 65 or better)
HELPFUL TIPS:
National Conservation Training Center
Government-issued ID is required at the gate for all guests 16 and over.
Pass and Advance Ticket Holders
We recommend arriving 30 minutes before the beginning of each film block.
PURCHASE TICKETS . . . Bring a friend!
ONLINE AT: We’ve arranged for large venues
CONSERVATIONFILMFEST.ORG again this year so, if you want
AT THE VENUES
to support conservation arts in
(during the Festival) your community, we encourage
everyone to reach out and invite
someone who might not know
about all that ACFF offers.
conservationfilmfest.org 3
TAKE ACTION
Want to learn more about topics covered in
this year’s films and what you can DO?
Visit the Action Opportunities page of our website, under the support
tab, to explore links and resources that will help you engage with issues
addressed in ACFF films. We also list action opportunities on each film’s
description page on our website.
Some examples of ways to take action:
• Learn about the environmental conditions near your home by zip code.
https://www3.epa.gov/enviro/myenviro/
• Commit to personal lifestyle actions that improve sustainability.
http://www.cdc.gov/sustainability/lifestyle/index.htm
• Write your elected officials.
https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
• Spread the word – educate your community via social media, letters to the
editor, local radio etc.
• Attend local meetings of water and garbage/recycling committees.
• Promote youth initiatives that foster connections with the natural world.
• Join a local group that works toward conservation goals.
• Look up your elected officials’ rating on their environmental scorecards.
• Contribute to or volunteer for conservation organizations fighting for change.
• Share a film that made an impact. Many of the films we screen become
streamable online within a few months for a nominal fee. Most all of
our official selections have a website where you can find specific action
opportunities.
• Last but not least: Consider a contribution to ACFF to help us bring
you the best in conservation filmmaking, provide a supportive platform to
filmmakers, and develop educational programming.
Contributions can be made through our website at conservationfilmfest.org or
may be sent to ACFF, P.O. Box 889, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. Thank you.
Please note that the American Conservation Film Festival welcomes diverse voices to the conservation dialogue. We establish
partnerships with and seek support and sponsorship from a range of artists, individuals and organizations expressing varied
perspectives on the complexities of human and environmental conservation. While we greatly value these relationships, they
do not necessarily reflect the views or values of the ACFF board or staff, nor do they influence the selection and programming
of ACFF films, performances, or other engagements.
conservationfilmfest.org 5
ACFF AWARDS: RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE
In 2019, we received hundreds of submissions from 44 countries and 39
outstanding films were selected on the strength of their conservation message,
storytelling, and visual impact. Our selection committees felt that these seven
films particularly distinguished themselves by bringing critical issues to the public
and offering suggestions for change.
Green Fire Award - $500
Our most prestigious award is named in honor of Aldo Leopold
and bestowed upon the film that exhibits an extraordinary level of
excellence in filmmaking and helps us look anew at our relationship
with our environment. Films are selected on the strength of their
conservation message, storytelling, and visual impact
THE 2019 ACFF GREEN FIRE AWARD GOES TO:
Artifishal FILMMAKER: Josh Murphy
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 12 | FRANK CENTER | 5:15PM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | BLOCK 20 | FRANK CENTER | 7:30PM
Foreign Film Award - $500
This award is granted to an outstanding conservation film from outside
the U.S. that illuminates conservation issues to help us transcend
geographic boundaries. Multiple factors are taken into consideration
when determining international eligibility such as primary shooting
location, language(s) spoken in the film, and/or the nationalities of key
members of a film’s cast and crew.
THE 2019 ACFF FOREIGN FILM AWARD GOES TO:
The Green Lie FILMMAKER: Werner Boote
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 6 | FRANK CENTER | 2:50PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 | BLOCK 21 | FRANK CENTER | 4:00PM
Short Film Award - $500
ACFF recognizes the challenge of creating compelling conservation
stories that engage, inform and inspire audiences in a concise format.
THE 2019 ACFF SHORT FILM AWARD GOES TO:
Grizzly Country FILMMAKER: Ben Moon
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 18 | FRANK CENTER | 7:30PM
6 conservationfilmfest.org
Student Filmmaker Award - $500
Cash prize sponsored by Friends of NCTC
Supporting emerging filmmakers is a major tenet of ACFF. We
encourage student filmmakers to submit their work for review and
potential inclusion in the festival. This year 60 student films were
submitted from around the world.
THE 2019 ACFF STUDENT FILM AWARD GOES TO
Dead in the Water FILMMAKERS: Lizzie Bankowski,
Paige Marsicano, Tito Barbosa, and the entire student team
from University of NC Wilmington
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 14 | NCTC | 11:30AM
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 17 | FRANK CENTER | 6:00PM
Green Spark Award - $500
Multiple Green Spark awards (GSA) may be granted annually.
This award is reserved for films that distinguish themselves in
one of three ways:
• by drawing attention to a conservation hero
• by highlighting a pathway to environmental sustainability
•b
y inspiring the next generation to take on conservation challenges
THE 2019 ACFF GSA FOR HIGHLIGHTING CONSERVATION HEROES GOES TO:
The Beaver Believers FILMMAKER: Sarah Koenigsberg
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 10 | FRANK CENTER | 1:00PM
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 18 | FRANK CENTER | 7:30PM
THE 2019 ACFF GSA FOR HIGHLIGHTING PATHWAYS TO ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY GOES TO:
Current Revolution FILMMAKER: Roger Sorkin
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 4 | FRANK CENTER | 11:00AM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | BLOCK 19 | FRANK CENTER | 4:30PM
THE 2019 ACFF GSA FOR INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION GOES TO
Messages from the End of the World
FILMMAKER: Matteo Born
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 2 | FRANK CENTER | 5:45PM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | BLOCK 19 | FRANK CENTER | 4:30PM
Audience Choice Award - $500
Attendees vote for their favorite film of the festival. Pass and ticket
holders can go to a screening to cast a single vote at any time during
first weekend. Voting will end at 9:30PM on Sunday, October 6th
and we’ll announce the winner on social media and in our newsletter
prior to encore weekend. The ACFF Audience Choice award-winning
film is honored with an additional screening on Sunday, October 13
at 7:00PM. Please join us!
conservationfilmfest.org 7
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY OCTOBER 4 SATURDAY OCTOBER 5
All Films Show at the Frank Center All Films Show at the Frank Center
9 AM
9AM - 4:30PM
CONSERVATION
FILMMAKER WORKSHOP
LOCATION: NCTC
10 AM SESSIONS FREE/OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Pitch Panel 12:30PM - 2:30PM
Keynote 2:45PM - 4:00PM
11 AM
9AM - 5PM AFTER THE FILMS:
BLOCK 4
Vegetarian Food Tasting
CONSERVATION 11:00 - 12:45
NOON FILMMAKER WORKSHOP Current Revolution* (37) #Powerplant:
Plants Could Save the Planet (60)
LOCATION:
National Conservation
1 PM
Training Center (NCTC)
(Pre-registration required.) BLOCK 5
FREE: PITCH PANEL & KEYNOTE
1:15 - 2:30
NatureRx (3) Plastic Pollution (4)
Women in Fire (8) Parrots in Peril (8)
Return of the Desert Bighorn (9)
2 PM
Conserving Ibera (10) Grizzly Country*
(12) Misunderstood: A Brief History of
Hemp (15)
3 PM
BLOCK 6
2:50 - 4:30
The Green Lie* (97)
4 PM
BLOCK 1 FREE!
4:00 - 5:15
In Your Hands (1) Ocean Short
5 PM Films (13) Humpback Whales (60)
AFTER THE FILMS:
BLOCK 7 Population
BLOCK 2 Discussion w/
5:00 - 6:45
the Vasectomist
5:45 - 6:45 The Vasectomist (52)
6 PM himself and
A Message From... Alexandria Earth Overshoot (30) Earth Overshoot
Ocasio-Cortez (7) filmmaker.
Messages from the End of World *(51)
7 PM
BLOCK 3 BLOCK 8
8 PM 7:15 - 9:00 7:15 - 8:55
Woman at War (101) The Biggest Little Farm (91)
9PM
9PM - 11PM
PARTY: Saturday Night with Cerphe
*Denotes a 2019 Award Winner “Greenest DJ in America”
8 conservationfilmfest.orgSUNDAY OCTOBER 6
Blocks 9 - 13 Show at the Frank Center Blocks 14 - 16 Show at NCTC
11 AM
BLOCK 9
11:00– 12:30 STUDENT FILMS
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating (15) BLOCK 14
A Meeting of Migrations (33) 11:30– 1:15
NOON
Treeline (40)
Fueling Faith: The Oily Secrets Behind
(15) The Final Breach (17)
Borneo’s Vanishing Tribes (23)
Dead in the Water* (43)
1 PM
BLOCK 10
1:00 – 2:30
Akashinga-Hunt My Animals & BLOCK 15 FAMILY FUN!
I’ll Catch You (4)
2 PM There’s Something in the Water (8) 1:45– 2:45
The Beaver Believers* (64) 1000s of Bugs, 100s of Islands,
1 Happy (6) Wild_Life: Resurrection
Island (44)
3 PM
AFTER THE FILM:
Overcoming Eco-Grief
BLOCK 11
3:00– 4:45 BLOCK 16
4 PM Anthropocene: The Human Epoch (87) 3:30– 5:00
Shad Run (26)
Dynasties: Painted Wolf (59)
5 PM
ADDITIONAL EVENTS:
BLOCK 12 Healing Planet Flows with Jala Yoga
5:15– 6:45 (Sundays at 9am; see page 35)
6 PM
Artifishal* (80)
Eco-art show at Evolve Gallery
(Daily 12pm - 7pm; 106 W. German St.)
7 PM Conservation-focused Book Sale
BEFORE & AFTER at 4 Seasons Bookstore
THE FILM: (Fri-Sat 10-6; Sun 12-5 • 114 W. German St.)
BLOCK 13
Mushroom Expert
8 PM
7:15 – 9:00 Sunday Farmers Market
Fantastic Fungi (79) 9am - 1pm.
Behind the Shepherdstown Library
9PM
conservationfilmfest.org 9ENCORE WEEKEND
FRI OCT 11 SAT OCT 12 SUN OCT 13
All Weekend: All Films Show at the Frank Center
4 PM AFTER THE FILM:
Sustainable Business
BLOCK 19 BLOCK 21
5 PM 4:30 - 6:00 4:00– 5:40
Current Revolution* (37) The Green Lie* (97)
Messages from the
End of the World* (51)
6 PM
BLOCK 17 FREE!
6:00 – 6:45
Dead in the Water* (43)
Student Film
7 PM
BLOCK 22
7:00 - 8:30
BLOCK 18 BLOCK 20 AUDIENCE CHOICE!
8 PM 7:30 – 8:50 7:30 – 9:00 TBD by Audience Votes
on Monday, October 7.
Grizzly Country* (12) Artifishal* (80)
The Beaver Believers *(60)
9PM
SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE;
please check our website for updates
and schedule confirmation.
PLEASE PLAN TO ARRIVE 30 MINUTES
in advance of the film block start time.
*Denotes a 2019 Award WinnerVENUES & MAP
THE FRANK NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE
ARTS CENTER CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS
Shepherd University TRAINING CENTER Saturday Night with
260 University Drive (NCTC) Cerphe Party
Shepherdstown 698 Conservation Way 4419 Kearneysville Pike
Shepherdstown Shepherdstown
IMPORTANT: Government-
issued ID is required at the
gate for all guests age 16+
To NCTC
Follow Shepherd Grade Road
for 4.2 miles. Turn right at
E
AD
THE FRANK Conservation Way.
GR
ART CENTER
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ON
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TO SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTIONS
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To Charles Town /
Harper’s Ferry
conservationfilmfest.org 11Proud Sponsor
of the American
Conservation Film Festival2019 FILM DESCRIPTIONS
1000s of Bugs, 100 Islands, 1 Happy Entomologist 6 min
FILMMAKERS: Meigan Henry and Grant Callegari
Crystal Earnst and her team are on a mission to catalogue the
largely unknown insects on the islands off the coast of British
Columbia. They’re creating a baseline of data that can tune
scientists in to future changes and help them make decisions
about what to protect.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 15 | NCTC | 1:45PM
A Meeting of Migrations 33 min
FILMMAKER: Michael Oates
Considered one of the top ten environmental phenomena on the
planet, every spring two huge animal migrations congregate on
the shores of Delaware Bay. Millions of horseshoe crabs arrive
to spawn and hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop on their
way to the Arctic to gorge on the crab eggs.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 9 | FRANK CENTER | 11:00AM
A Message from the Future with Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez 7 min
FILMMAKER: Molly Crabapple
Watch a hand-painted thought experiment narrated by the
congresswoman. It’s a flat-out rejection of the idea that a
dystopian future is a forgone conclusion. This short poses a
question: What if we chose to radically change course to save both
our habitat and ourselves, actually pulling off a Green New Deal?
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 2 | FRANK CENTER | 5:45PM
Akashinga: Hunt My Animals and I’ll Catch You 4 min
FILMMAKER: Charlotte Pamment
Akashinga means “brave ones.” Zimbabwe’s armed female
anti-poaching unit protects one of Africa’s biggest elephant
populations. This inspiring model of empowering disadvantaged
women to manage large networks of wilderness areas has
exceeded expectations.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 10 | FRANK CENTER | 1:00PM
conservationfilmfest.org 13The Downstream Project is proud to support the
American Conservation Film Festival and
our partners working to save land and protect water
in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
A nonprofit serving the conservation
community through digital design,
video, strategic planning, and data
visualization and integration.
thedownstreamproject.org
ACFFb July 2019.indd 1 8/6/19 4:44 PM
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Aaron Riddle Photography (ACRiddle.com)Anthropocene: The Human Epoch 87 min
FILMMAKERS: Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier
and Edward Burtynsky
A stunning sensory experience and cinematic meditation on
humanity’s massive reengineering of the planet, this is a years-
in-the-making feature film. These filmmakers have traversed the
globe using state-of-the-art camera techniques to document the
evidence of human planetary domination. At the intersection
of art and science, Anthropocene witnesses a critical moment
After the film: Join us for a in geological history, bringing a provocative and unforgettable
discussion on how to cope experience of our species’ breadth and impact.
and hope in a time of
eco-anxiety. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 11 | FRANK CENTER | 3:00PM
Artifishal 80 min
FILMMAKER: Josh Murphy
The road to extinction is paved with good
intentions. As salmon demand rises, largely
tax-funded fish farms and hatcheries are unintentionally causing
the decline of wild salmon and the many species that depend on
them. Ultimately, the film sets two ideologies at odds - those who
embrace the power of nature to heal and those who believe in a
world that requires our attempts to control it.
2 019 Green SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 12 | FRANK CENTER | 5:15PM
Fire Award SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | BLOCK 20 | FRANK CENTER | 7:30PM
Borneo’s Vanishing Tribes 23 min
FILMMAKER: Kent Wagner (student filmmaker)
In the forests of Borneo, a native community struggles to protect
its ancestral homeland from an industry poised to destroy one
of the Earth’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests. It offers a
glimpse into the lives of those most at risk, the Dayak “people of
the forest,” who have relied on the forests for thousands of years.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 14 | NCTC | 11:30AM
Conserving Iberá 10 min
FILMMAKERS: Andreea and Justin Lotak
Witness rewilding done right. Learn about the effort to
restore the biodiverse ecosystems of northern Argentina.
Kris Tompkins tells the story about how her organization has
worked to bring back native species and involve communities in
their conservation work.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM
conservationfilmfest.org 15Uncommon Vernacular The Early Houses of Jefferson County, West Virginia 1735-1835 John C. Allen, Jr. Large hardcover book includes 700 black & white images, 80 drawings, and 120 floor plans. Available at: Four Seasons Books, Shepherdstown and West Virginia University Press Order online at wvupress.com
Current Revolution 37 min
FILMMAKER: Roger Sorkin
The brilliant solutions and
success stories in this film will
light you up! It tackles the
challenge of how the utility, auto, tech and defense industries
can help modernize the aging power grid to make it more secure
and responsive to the needs of its users, while enhancing
environmental performance. Learn how the nation can embrace
smart investments that support grid modernization through
distributed renewable energy generation and the development of
an electric vehicle infrastructure.
G reen Spark Award for SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 4 | FRANK CENTER | 11:00AM
Highlighting a Path to SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | BLOCK 19 | FRANK CENTER | 4:30PM
Sustainability
(CO-PRESENTED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL)
Dead in the Water 43 min
FILMMAKERS: Lizzie Bankowski, Paige Marsicano,
Tito Barbosa, and the entire student team from
University of NC Wilmington
A team of ambitious film students at the University of North
Carolina Wilmington brings us a documentary about the
2 019 ACFF STUDENT FILM
AWARD environmental impacts of the 2,000 concentrated animal
feeding operations that litter southeastern North Carolina. They
After the film: Lizzie also offer alternatives that minimize harm to water quality and
Bankowski and her team from
UNC Wilmington will accept
don’t threaten the health of local residents.
the award. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 14 | NCTC | 11:30AM
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 17 | FRANK CENTER | 6:00PM
Earth Overshoot 30 min
FILMMAKERS: Terry Spahr and Victor Velle
Do we want a world of more people with less or less people
with more? Today, humanity’s demand for resources vastly
exceeds nature’s ability to supply them. Food, water, climate
and extinction emergencies are unfolding before our eyes. Earth
After the film: Earth Overshoot tells the truth about the conflict between the size of
Overshoot producer Terry our global population and the sustainability of our planet.
Spahr joins us to talk about
his work. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 7 | FRANK CENTER | 5:00PM
conservationfilmfest.org 17SERVING THE TRI-STATE
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304 876 9277 www.facebook.com/thehivehouseDynasties: Painted Wolf 59 min
FILMMAKER: Nick Lyon
In this gorgeous film, narrated by David Attenborough, Tait is a
painted wolf, matriarch of one of the last great families of this
endangered animal. Her rule on the banks of the Zambezi River
kept peace within her sprawling family. Her daughter Blacktip’s
pack is growing, running out of space and forcing her into battle
for her own mother’s lands.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 16 | NCTC | 3:30PM
Fantastic Fungi 79 min This film is sponsored by Harrison & Johnston, PLC.
FILMMAKER: Louie Schwartzberg
Fungi fans will love this film featuring mycologist Paul Stamets
and writer Michael Pollan! Including mind-boggling time-lapse
Before and after the film: footage, this documentary is a journey into the mysterious and
Mycologist William Padilla
Brown, one of the subjects beautiful subterranean world of mycelium and mushrooms. On
in the film, will speak to the way, we learn about amazing medicinal properties and the
the audience and display capacity to bioremediate waste of some types of fungi.
examples of cultivated and
foraged mushrooms. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 13 | FRANK CENTER | 7:15PM
Fueling Faith: The Oily Secrets Behind Climate Denial 16 min
FILMMAKER: Abigail Mellinger (student filmmaker)
An evangelical organization, The Cornwall Alliance, is cultivating
the ideology that humanity’s future is doomed in the eyes of god if
we step toward a greener future. Scientists, economists, and other
experts uncover a complex web of financial and political ties to
fossil fuel companies, revealing the organization’s hidden agenda.
Mellinger, an Ithaca student, directed this investigative short.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 14 | NCTC | 11:30AM
Grizzly Country 12 min
FILMMAKER: Ben Moon
After serving in the Vietnam War, author and
naturalist Doug Peacock spent years alone in
the Wyoming and Montana wilderness observing grizzly bears.
His time in the wild changed the course of his life. With the
protection of Yellowstone grizzlies now under threat, Peacock
reflects on the importance of habitat and why he continues to
fight for wild causes.
2 019 ACFF SHORT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM
FILM AWARD FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 18 | FRANK CENTER | 7:30PM
conservationfilmfest.org 19Learn more at: jeffersonartscouncil.org
The Finest in Contemporary
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304–876–0657Humpback Whales: A Detective Story 59 min
FILMMAKER: Tom Mustill
In 2015, a 30-ton humpback whale breached onto Tom Mustill
and his friend Charlotte’s kayak in Monterey Bay. Incredibly,
both survived. Tom returns to California to find the whale and is
drawn into an extraordinary community of whale obsessives and
an urgent story about the future of these colossal animals.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 1 | FRANK CENTER | 4:00PM
Into the Deep Unknown 3 min
FILMMAKER: Steven Bedard
A team of scientists ventures a thousand kilometers off the coast
of Brazil to explore the seafloor. Diva Amon, a deep-sea biologist
from the Natural History Museum of London, describes what it’s
like to venture into a dark, unknown world 3,280 feet below the
Screened in partnership
with Jackson Hole Films
surface—and why this type of research is key to understanding
On Tour with the UN - and protecting our oceans.
Living Oceans.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 1 | FRANK CENTER | 4:00PM
In Your Hands 1 min
FILMMAKER: Brandon Moore
Through use of imagery, an emotional score, and powerful
repurposing of a forgotten recording of a John F. Kennedy
presidential speech, a timeless theme emerges. In Your
Hands begs viewers to look inward and rediscover our
connection with the natural world, specifically the ocean.
The message is a comforting reminder of our origin but also
our responsibility to honor it.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 1 | FRANK CENTER | 4:00PM
Messages from the End of the World 52 min
FILMMAKER: Matteo Born
Convinced that the solution is in the hands of young people,
these two retirees sell their house in Zürich and buy a boat. Their
idea is simple. Take five young Swiss people to the Arctic Circle
to observe the signs of global warming and then raise awareness
through social media amongst their generation. Armed with
cameras, these kids are going to document the health of the
planet at the end of the earth.
2 019 GREEN SPARK AWARD
FOR INSPIRING THE NEXT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 2 | FRANK CENTER | 5:45PM
GENERATION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | BLOCK 19 | FRANK CENTER | 4:30PM
conservationfilmfest.org 21Celebrating Conservation
Farmland for the Future : 4,500 Acres Protected
jefferson@wvfp.org Gap View Farm, Jefferson County WV
www.jefferson.wvfp.org Photo : Mark Muse
All concerts held at 7:30 pm in Shepherdstown’s
historic Trinity Episcopal Church.
2019-2020
CONCERT SEASON
October 5, 2019 November 23, 2019
Chamber Music CLASSIC CONTOURS MAGIC AND MAJESTY
at its best!
Two Rivers String Quartet performs Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra
Pärt, Gounod & Mozart performs Mendelssohn,
de Falla & Beethoen with
Kyle Engler, mezzo-soprano
March 28, 2020 April 18, 2020 May 16, 2020
UNTRIED AND TRUE BUT OF CHORUS HIGHLAND/LOWLAND
Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra Winchester Musica Viva performs Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra
performs Bennet, Grant, Schubert, Bach, Toole performs Neilsen & Schubert
Borodin & Grieg with
Anjan Shah, tenor saxophone
TICKETS & INFORMATION: FRIENDSWV.ORG | 304-876-5765Misunderstood: A Brief History of Hemp 15 min
FILMMAKER: Campbell Brewer
Natural. Misunderstood. Legal. This is the story of hemp in the
United States. A forbidden fiber in the U.S. since 1970, hemp
has taken the heat for almost five decades. Until the Farm Bill
passed in December of 2018, hemp was federally illegal to grow
for commercial purposes, making it risky for businesses to invest
in a new crop that was incorrectly classified as a drug.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM
NatureRx Presents: The LivingPlant™ 3 min
FILMMAKER: Justin Bogardus
In the not too distant future, a breakthrough in workspace
technology will revolutionize the ways humans collaborate and
work. This game-changing workspace technology is so powerful, so
ahead of its time, and yet so familiar, intuitive and appealing – it’s a
wonder we didn’t see it the whole time. Rediscover the future today!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM
Parrots in Peril: Miami’s Wild Macaws 8 min
FILMMAKER: Neil Losin
Daria Feinstein is on a mission to protect Miami’s wild blue-and-
yellow macaws. Indigenous to Central and South America, these
colorful parrots were introduced into Miami in the 1950s and
have since established a small but beloved breeding population
in the city. Today, however, their numbers are crashing as
poachers capture the macaws and their chicks to sell them into
Filmmaker Neil Losin will be the lucrative pet trade.
joining us for the screening.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM
Plastic Pollution and the Pristine Arctic 3 min
FILMMAKER: Charlotte Pamment
Plastic waste is increasing in the once ‘pristine’ wilderness of the
Arctic. In the fjords of Norway, one man is on a mission to pick
up as much plastic as he can. But could bottle deposit schemes
help turn the tide? Norway’s system is the best in the world – but
is it enough if the rest of the world doesn’t act? A duo of two short
films take a look at both the problem and a possible solution.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM
conservationfilmfest.org 23Shepherdstown
Art Glass
And Jewelry
Fran Brolle
AVAILABLE AT:
Over the Mountain Studio Tour
Dickinson & Wait
Gifts Inn Boonsboro
Museum Shop
next to Jefferson County Museum in Charles Town
304.268.5767
fbrolle@hotmail.com
Shepherdstown Jewelry#Powerplant: Plants Could Save the Planet 60 min
FILMMAKER: Robert Van Tellingen
Marianne Thieme, a Dutch politician, speaks to experts about
the need for a protein transition and an economy that no longer
exceeds the carrying capacities of Earth in terms of resources
and environmental space. As vegan and vegetarian options are
becoming more culturally mainstream, the film documents the
After the film: Join us for process of developing a plant-based steak.
delicious vegetarian bites to
inspire your cooking! SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 4 | FRANK CENTER | 11:00AM
Radio Free Orca: A Broadcast for World Peace 4 min
FILMMAKER: Andrew Lampard
As a young neuroscientist in the 1960s studying orcas at an
aquarium, Paul Spong quickly understood how badly these
highly sentient creatures suffered in captivity. On a remote
island six hours north of Vancouver, he founded OrcaLab to
Screened in partnership study orcas in the wild without disturbance. Using hydrophones
with Jackson Hole Films
On Tour with the UN - and video cameras, his team can listen to and track orcas within
Living Oceans. a 31-mile radius.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 1 | FRANK CENTER | 4:00PM
Return of the Desert Bighorn 9 min
FILMMAKERS: Ben Masters and Charles Post
After all native desert bighorn sheep were eliminated from Texas
by the 1960s, conservationists began the long fight for their
return. Return of the Desert Bighorn follows wildlife biologists
as they capture, collar, and relocate desert bighorn to restore a
healthy population in West Texas.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM
Shad Run 26 min
FILMMAKERS: Ben Dorger and Becky Harlan
Description: This short documentary film chronicles the
abundance, demise, and triumphant revival of a fish, the
American Shad, that is both famous and forgotten. The film
highlights the citizens who refused to let them fade away and
those who are still united by the quest to fish the Potomac’s
renowned shad run.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 16 | NCTC | 3:30PM
conservationfilmfest.org 25A Taste of Paris
IN SHEPHERDSTOWN
Andrew C. Skinner • Stephen G. Skinner
Laura C. Davis • Bryan Ogilvie • Levi Pellegrin
304.725.7029 bistro112.com
www.SkinnerFirm.com 3 0 4. 8 76. 8 47 7The Beaver Believers 64 min
FILMMAKER: Sarah Koenigsberg
The Beaver Believers is the urgent yet
whimsical story of an unlikely cadre of activists
2 019 GREEN SPARK
AWARD FOR HIGHLIGHTING
who share a common vision: restoring the North American
CONSERVATION HEROES Beaver, that most industrious, ingenious, bucktoothed engineer,
to the watersheds of the arid West.
Filmmaker Sarah Koenigsberg
will join us for the screening. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 10 | FRANK CENTER | 1:00PM
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 18 | FRANK CENTER | 7:30PM
The Biggest Little Farm 91 min
FILMMAKER: John Chester
This uplifting documentary chronicles the eight-year quest of
John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of
barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature.
Featuring breathtaking cinematography, captivating animals,
and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature’s call, The
Biggest Little Farm provides us all a vital blueprint for better
living and a healthier planet.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 8 | FRANK CENTER | 7:15PM
The Final Breach 17 min
FILMMAKER: Jess Webster (student filmmaker)
The inland waters of the Pacific Northwest play host to some of
the world’s most spectacular wildlife, including the killer whale.
But this is no paradise for the ocean’s top predator, and below
the surface a disturbing scene is unfolding. Following a series of
tragic deaths, the Southern Resident Killer Whales go missing.
Determined to find the pod, two of their biggest advocates take
to the seas, on a mission to protect them.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 14 | NCTC | 11:30AM
The Green Lie 97 min
FILMMAKER: Werner Boote
Eco-friendly electric cars, sustainably produced
palm oil, fair trade goods: hooray! Trust the
corporations that tell you we can save the world by buying the
right things. This is a popular and dangerous lie, as Werner Boote
and environmental journalist Kathrin Hartmann explain in this
2 019 ACFF INTERNATIONAL controversial documentary. STOP THE GREEN LIES!
FILM AWARD
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 6 | FRANK CENTER | 2:50PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 | BLOCK 21 | FRANK CENTER | 4:00PM
conservationfilmfest.org 27call now to make reservations
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downtown shepherdstown
wvdomestic.com COFFEE & CANDLERY
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Shepherdstown, WV 25443
daily specials featuring
the best of the area’s bounty. 304-876-1106
from here, for you
ART FOR NATURE
OCTOBER 4–6, 2019
Practice Dedicated to Painting, Photography,
and Mixed Media
Patient Comfort & Excellence
Susan Loonsk • Doug Kinnett • Gary Bergel
in Dental Care
OCTOBER 11–14, 2019
We Love Our Patients Woodwork, Paper Art,
and Ceramics
Bob Gallienne • Kristine Smith • Liz Goines
John T. Gibson, DDS
304.267.7880 11am – 7pm | 106 West German Street
evolveshepherdstown@gmail.com
Martinsburg, WV
On Facebook & InstagramThe Snail-Smashing, Fish-Spearing,
Eye-Popping Mantis Shrimp 4 min
FILMMAKER: Elliott Kennerson
The killer punch of the mantis shrimp is the fastest strike in
the animal kingdom, a skill that goes hand in hand with its
Screened in partnership extraordinary eyesight. They can see an invisible level of reality
with Jackson Hole Films using polarized light, which could lead to a breakthrough in
On Tour with the UN - detecting cancer.
Living Oceans.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 1 | FRANK CENTER | 4:00PM
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating 15 min
FILMMAKER: Elisabeth Tova Bailey
When a woman is bedridden by a mysterious pathogen, a snail
unexpectedly takes up residence on her nightstand. An interspecies
relationship unfolds as the two share a journey of survival and
resilience. Their captivating, graceful explorations expand the
boundaries of the bedroom. An intimate true story, adapted from
the award-winning book and narrated by Daryl Hannah.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 9 | FRANK CENTER | 11:00AM
The Vasectomist 52 min
FILMMAKER: Jonathan Stack
Dr. Doug Stein, a Florida urologist, has committed to the quest
of lowering population on the planet, one vasectomy at a time.
We follow him to Haiti, the Philippines and throughout the state
Dr. Doug Stein, the
Vasectomist himself, of Florida, tirelessly advocating for men to take responsibility for
will join us to talk family planning. The questions Doug raises about the future of
about his life’s work. humankind are critical to our collective well-being.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 7 | FRANK CENTER | 5:00PM
There’s Something in the Water 8 min
FILMMAKER: Rory Waudby-Tolley
“There’s two kinds of lakes in the South: them that’s got Giant
Salvinia and them that’s about to have Giant Salvinia.” Caddo Lake
is the only natural lake in Texas, but its eco-system is threatened
by an invasive species of floating fern: Giant Salvinia. This
animated documentary interviews people who live and work on
the lake about the damage caused and possible solutions.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 10 | FRANK CENTER | 1:00PM
conservationfilmfest.org 29HARRISON & JOHNSTON, PLC
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Engaged in the General Practice of Law
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Facsimile 540.667.1312
www.harrison-johnston.com Amy K. Slaughter,
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Studios in Shepherdstown & WinchesterTreeline 40 min
FILMMAKER: Jordan Manley
Treeline is about our oldest living companions on earth: trees.
The film brings extraordinary forests in British Columbia, Japan,
and Nevada “to life” through cinematic exploration of the playful
yet powerful experience of gliding through each forest on snow.
We accompany scientists who translate what the oldest trees
have to teach us.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 9 | FRANK CENTER | 11:00AM
Wild_Life: Resurrection Island 44 min THIS FILM IS SPONSORED BY
FILMMAKER: Bertie Gregory the Jefferson Arts Council
Tag along with a National Geographic Wildlife Filmmaker to
explore an island in the sub-Antarctic that was discovered by
Captain Cook, was once home to a huge whaling settlement
and almost cleared of animal life. Now protected, it claims one
AFTER THE FILM: Kids can of the highest concentrations of animals on the planet. Bertie
visit the bug petting zoo Gregory’s contagious enthusiasm will make even adults feel like
with the Leskey Lab from
the USDA Appalachian Fruit
a kid again.
Research Station. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 15 | NCTC | 1:45PM
Woman at War 101 min
FILMMAKER: Benedikt Erlingsson
A movie that seems to be perfectly suited for the times. This
Icelandic-Ukrainian drama centers on a middle-aged woman
who lives a secret life as a radical environmental activist. Her
latest mission to sabotage an aluminum factory is complicated
when she is approved to adopt a child. Though dealing with
very serious and relevant subject matter, the film has been
celebrated for its unexpected and light approach to the material.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 3 | FRANK CENTER | 7:15PM
Women in Fire 8 min
FILMMAKER: Tim Kressin
Less than 4% of firefighters are women. As a young girl, Lacey
England never considered being a firefighter an option because she
had never seen a female firefighter. After her friend encouraged
her into the work, she joined the Helitack crew to rappel out into
distant wildfires. Now Lacey is on a mission to show young girls the
power of her example – anyone can be a firefighter.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM
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OCTOBER 4 & 5 CONSERVATION FILMMAKER WORKSHOP
National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown The Conservation Filmmaker
Workshop is generously
Expert instruction from filmmakers and media experts on a variety sponsored by HHMI Tangled
of topics are offered to emerging and seasoned filmmakers in this Bank Studios and the Oak
2-day intensive workshop. $75/student; $200/filmmaker. Spring Garden Foundation.
OCTOBER 4 FREE OPENING FILM BLOCK
4PM – 5:15PM, The Frank Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, Shepherdstown
Start the festival with a free special film block featuring three short films from the United
Nations/Jackson Hole Wild Ocean Tour as well as feature film, Humpback Whales – A
Detective Story, about filmmaker Tom Mustill’s encounter with a humpback whale when it
landed on his kayak, drawing him into a community of whale experts concerned about the
future of these colossal animals.
OCTOBER 4 – 6 & 11 - 14 ART FOR NATURE EXHIBITS
Noon – 7PM, Evolve Shepherdstown, 106 W. German Street, Shepherdstown
Visit Shepherdstown’s new pop-up art space for two exhibits celebrating nature. Painting,
photography, and mixed media from artists Susan Loonsk, Doug Kinnett, and Gary Bergel on
October 4-6. Woodwork, paper art, and ceramics from artists Bob Gallienne, Kristine Smith,
and Liz Goines October 11-14.
OCTOBER 4 – 13 CONSERVATION-FOCUSED BOOK DISPLAY & SALE
Thursdays – Saturdays, 10AM – 8PM, Sundays Noon – 5PM
Four Seasons Books, 114 W. German Street, Shepherdstown
Stop in Shepherdstown’s one and only wonderful bookstore for a special selection of nature
and environment-centric books (as well as so many others). Show your festival pass to
receive a 15% discount on selected books!
OCTOBER 5 FILMMAKER WORKSHOP SESSIONS FREE & OPEN TO PUBLIC
12:30PM – 4PM, National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown
A special opportunity to sit in on two sessions of this exciting and interactive workshop.
12:30PM – 2:30PM – Pitch Panel for New Projects – our version of “Shark Tank” where
filmmakers pitch conservation film projects to a panel of esteemed experts for feedback and
the possibility of winning seed money for their projects.
2:45PM – 4PM – Keynote address from an award-winning conservation filmmaker on the
challenges, triumphs, and impact of conservation filmmaking.
OCTOBER 5 VEGETARIAN FOOD TASTING
12:45PM, The Frank Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, Shepherdstown
Following the film #Powerplant in Block 4 about a plant-based diet and its positive impact
on the planet, join us for some delicious vegetarian and vegan food tastings.
(SEE THE SCHEDULE FOR MORE SPEAKERS & FILMMAKERS
ACCOMPANYING SPECIFIC FILMS.) continued next page
conservationfilmfest.org 33OCTOBER 5 DISCUSSION ON HUMAN POPULATION 6:30PM, The Frank Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, Shepherdstown Following two films in Block 7 on the implications of over 7 billion humans inhabiting the earth, come hear Earth Overshoot’s writer and producer, Terry Spahr, and Dr. Doug Stein, The Vasectomist himself, speak about their work and solutions for the future. OCTOBER 5 SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY WITH CERPHE 9PM – 11PM, Sustainable Solutions, 4419 Kearneysville Pike, Shepherdstown Join us and our very special guest, Cerphe Colwell, “greenest DJ in America,” for a festival party inspired by rock-n-roll, people who tell powerful stories, and a love for our planet. Noshes, drinks, Cerphe’s “green playlist,” book signing, and tons of fun! $30/person. Filmmakers and sponsors free. OCTOBER 6 & 13 HEAL OUR PLANET WITH JALA YOGA 9AM – 10:15AM, Jala Yoga, Oct 6: 117 W. German Street, Shepherdstown / Oct 13: Outdoor location TBA Relax and restore with two special Sunday morning all-levels classes that celebrate nature on a global scale. By donation. Oct 13 class will be held outside, weather permitting. OCTOBER 6 FAMILY FILM BLOCK & ACTIVITY 1:45PM – 3:00PM, National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown Nature fans young and old will enjoy these two fantastic films on bugs and wildlife. Stick around for a bug petting zoo with the Leskey Lab from the USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Center. Free for kids 18 & under. OCTOBER 6 OVERCOMING ECO-GRIEF 4:30PM, The Frank Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, Shepherdstown Feeling anxious and overwhelmed by all the distressing news about our planet? Join us for a candid and hopeful presentation from an expert on how to process all this information while staying optimistic and action-oriented. The speaker will directly follow the screening of Anthropocene: The Human Epoch at 3PM. OCTOBER 6 MORE ON MUSHROOMS! 7PM & 9PM, The Frank Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, Shepherdstown Before and after Fantastic Fungi in Block 13, learn about foraging and cultivating mushrooms from expert mycologist and contributing editor at FUNGI Magazine, William Padilla-Brown, who also appears in the film! OCTOBER 6 & 13 SUNDAY FARMER’S MARKET 9AM – 1PM, behind the Little Library on S. King Street, Shepherdstown Visit our local farmer’s market to pick up the freshest locally grown produce, meats, and cheeses as well as baked goods, salsas, lotions, and much more. Live music, too! OCTOBER 11 - 13 ACFF ENCORE WEEKEND Friday 6PM – 9PM, Saturday 4:30PM – 9PM, Sunday 4PM – TBA. The Frank Art Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, Shepherdstown Join us for encore showings of our eight award-winning films, including the ACFF Audience Choice Award winner! Grab a bite in town during the breaks on Saturday and Sunday. conservationfilmfest.org 35
SPECIAL GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Become an ACFF Conservationist!
In 2017, we established the Conservationist Fund to create an on-going financial
support system made up of ACFF donors who pledge $1,000 or more to ACFF’s
general operations.
It’s an exciting time of growth and strength for the organization and festival, one
of only four of its kind in the mid-Atlantic. It is more important than ever that we
build a foundation of fiscal support among our most loyal fans and contributors.
As added incentive, The Campbell Foundation has offered us a
challenge grant that will match, dollar for dollar, any gift of $1,000
or more from donors who have never given to ACFF before.
Please see the list of Conservationist Fund donors on our donor page in the back
of the program. We welcome the opportunity to add your name and build this
impactful group of donors. Thank you.
ALEX KEMNITZER
Emerging Filmmaker Fund
In the winter of 2015, ACFF lost a dear friend and board
member when Alex Kemnitzer died from injuries sustained
in an automobile accident. With support from Alex’s
parents, David and Sue, we established the Alex Kemnitzer Emerging Filmmaker
Fund that year to honor Alex and create a dedicated fund to support the
participation of student and emerging filmmakers in the festival.
Over $18,000 has been raised for this fund thus far, allowing us to assist in
travel and lodging expenses as well as provide scholarships for several student
filmmakers to our Conservation Filmmaker Workshop. Encouraging and
supporting emerging conservation filmmakers is one of the primary tenets of
ACFF. Alex was an enthusiastic ambassador of ACFF and emerging filmmakers
in particular, and we know he would be honored to see your generosity and
support of this initiative in his name.
Donations may be sent to ACFF, PO Box 889, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 or
made online at conservationfilm.org/take-action/donate.
36A NOTE FROM JENNIFER LEE
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find
reserves of strength that will endure as long as life
lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the
repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that
dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
Jennifer Lee, -RACHEL CARSON, SILENT SPRING
Executive Director
A timeless notion from one of the pioneers in conservation rings more true
today than ever. Finding reserves of strength to keep doing the little things
that protect our environment, our health, and our future has never been more
important. Amidst the news of habitat destruction, the rolling back of policies
that protect our quality of air, water, land, and life, and the extinction of hundreds
to thousands of animals and insects every year, we are called to be peaceful,
constant warriors for the planet.
The films we have carefully curated and selected for this festival will, as always,
expand your mind, open your heart, and inspire your soul. Marvel at the ancient,
fascinating world of fungi; cheer on the Woman at War with an aluminum factory
in her remote Icelandic village; learn how what’s on your dinner plate has a major
impact on pretty much everything; find solace in the scientists and citizens
whose life’s work is to protect wild lands and animals.
I am so grateful to the courageous filmmakers who bring us these stories, for the
many sponsors and individual donors who fund the festival, and to the incredible
team of staff, volunteers, and board who work all year long with thoughtfulness and
devotion to present these compelling and change-making films and programs.
Thank you for sharing our passion for exceptional storytelling and our love for the
natural world. Together, we CAN heal each other and this precious planet.
conservationfilmfest.org 37BARNOFHARPERSFERRY.COM
1062 W. WASHINGTON STREET
HARPERS FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA
(855)-935-2276A NOTE FROM HILARY LO
After last year’s festival, we learned that we have
twelve years to prevent irreversible climate change.
I know we’re not reacting quickly enough, but that’s
not a reason to stop trying because every drop
turns the wheel. Joan Baez once said, “Action is the
antidote to despair.” So, to tamp down eco-anxiety, Hilary Lo,
Festival Manager
I’ve resolved to make at least one major change
to reduce my impact on the earth each year for the next eleven years. All the
articles say that one of the best ways to fight eco-anxiety is to come together
for a common purpose. The American Conservation Film Festival provides an
excellent way to do just that.
The good news is that this year we have twelve official selections from women
and twenty-two with women as major subjects or characters. Every year since I
began, we’ve had more film submissions from female filmmakers than the year
before. We need everyone aboard to turn this ship around.
I hope to see all of you at the screenings. It’s the culmination of a year’s work for
ACFF and usually several years’ work for filmmakers. I look forward to being close
to people who have similar concerns, a desire to know what’s happening, and
share a sense of wonder at the natural world. It’s absolutely therapeutic!
Gratefully,
conservationfilmfest.org 39THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 SPONSORS! 40 conservationfilmfest.org
WITHOUT YOU, THERE’D BE NO US!
Thank you to our cash and in-kind sponsors and donors throughout the year. Your support is critical in
allowing us to continue to share exceptional films, educational programs, and engaging events with you.
SPONSORS DONORS
ALDO LEOPOLD CONSERVATIONIST FUND MEMBERS CARETAKER
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios John C. Allen, Jr. Amy Mathews Amos
The Campbell Foundation Randy Barber & Melissa Moye Kathleen Bilton
Nora Roberts Foundation Martin & Elise Baach Jim & Nancy Campbell
Oak Spring Garden Foundation John & Beth Batdorf Lucy & Steve Dorick
Shepherd University Frances Brolle Michael Hobert & Mary Jane Lee
John Deupree & Sara Reynolds Diana Kincannon
RACHEL CARSON Edward Ewing Dennis Liu
Shepherdstown Art Glass & Jewelry Mina Goodrich & Lawrence Dean Bob & Tia McMillan
Tito’s Handmade Vodka Nicholas Snow & Cathleen McCoy Lex & Pam Miller
George & Holly Stone Anne & Roger Munro
JOHN MUIR Hank Willard Jean Neely
Schutte-Box & Yenser Wealth Palladian Partners, Inc.
Management Group of GUARDIAN
Marianne & Duane Alexander Daniel Rogers
Raymond James
Martin Burke & Barbara Spicher Lisa Shepherd
Sustainable Solutions
Mark & Robie Cucuzzella John & Susan Skinner
JANE GOODALL Jack Eggleston Marie Tyler-McGraw
Friends of the National Conservation Jeff Feldman & Kristin Alexander Lisa & Paul Welch
Training Center (NCTC) Mark & Susan Galbraith Rie Wilson
Harrison & Johnston, PLC Alexandra Hazel Ed & Christine Zahniser
Jefferson Arts Council Chris Hoelzl & Paige Baldwin REEL FRIENDS & PATRONS
River’s Edge Landscapes Bill McShea Susi Bailey
Route 11 Potato Chips Christina van Hilst Janna Bond
Winchester Gastroenterology Frank & Annette van Hilst Susan Cash
Associates Craig & Roy Winkel Lynn Coddington & Patricia Hamilton
STEWARD Judith Katz-Levy
JACQUES COUSTEAU Gwendolyn Kilroy
Bistro 112 Chris & Lauren Ames
Mark Burgess Dave Kirkwood
Blue Ridge Smiles Mary Fortuna Kuser
Flying Dog Brewery Beverley Byrd
Kristy Cherry Stephen Lee
The Hive House Alan & Jane Levitan
Jefferson County Convention & Jeffrey Gustafson & Stephen Skinner
Judy Jones Kathleen Morotti
Visitors Bureau Suzanne Patrick
Skinner Law Firm Jennifer Lee
Kurt Weitz Rose Wayland
Lynn & Chess Yellott
SPONSOR levels of giving: DONOR levels of giving:
Aldo Leopold $5,000+, Conservationist $1,000+, Guardian $500+, Steward $250+, Caretaker $100+,
Rachel Carson $2500+, and Reel Friends & PatronsTHE ULTIMATE
THEATER EXPERIENCE
IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
2020 SEASON: JULY 10 - AUG 2 • SHEPHERDSTOWN
CATF.ORGSPECIAL THANKS
We deeply appreciate the assistance of these people and businesses that have supported
our work this year with donations of time, talent, hospitality, and wisdom!
ACFF Board of Directors Michael Finlay Roger Munro
Amy Mathews Amos Four Seasons Books Ellen Murphy
Johnna Armstrong Friends of NCTC Kristin Noggle
The Barn at Harpers Ferry Grapes & Grains Gourmet The Observer newspaper
John Barrat Nancy Gregory Nathaniel Orr
Bistro 112 Sarah Gulick Progressive Printing
Don Briggs Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix, Thad Reid
Molly Briggs Shepherd University Tom Reilly
Fran Brolle President Randy Robinson
Geoffrey Brown Chris Hoelzl Kristen Roper
Kristy Cherry Catherine Irwin Shepherd University Campus
Clarion Hotel & Quality Inn, Jala Yoga Police
Shepherdstown Sue & David Kemnitzer Shepherdstown Police
Ceira Clawson Trent Kugler Shepherdstown Visitors Center
Cerphe Colwell David Lillard Sonya Sholley
Christy Dunkle Rick Lo Sam Shunney
Eden Design Mark Madison Jonathan Smith
Sonya Evanisko Ben Masters Sustainable Solutions
Tatianna Evanisko Clayton McBride Welsh Sound
Evolve Shepherdstown Stephen Moore Logan Stine
Mike Fallon & Fallon Emily Morgan and ALL of our AMAZING
Insurance Co. Suzanne Morgan VOLUNTEERS!
ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS
We are proud to partner with the following organizations
to strengthen our respective missions, grow our networks,
and provide support.
Barns of Rose Hill US F&WS National
A very special and huge thank Contemporary American Conservation Training
you to Anna Perkins, our Theater Festival Center
dedicated and amazing intern Potomac Valley
DCEFF – Environmental
for the last two years. Anna Audubon Society
started her internship with us
Film Festival in the
her senior year at Shepherd Nation’s Capital Shenandoah University
University and stuck with us Endangered Species Shepherd University
for an additional year after Coalition Shepherdstown
graduating in Spring 2018.
Friends of NCTC Film Society
She took on and completed
the daunting and very International League Sierra Club, Catoctin Group
important task of digitizing of Conservation Sky Meadows State Park
nearly our entire film archive, Photographers
so we now have over 400 The Hill School
Jackson Hole Wildlife
festival films from the last 16 Weinberg Center
Film Festival
years in one safe place on a for the Arts
dedicated hard drive. Long Branch Historic
Thank you so much, Anna! House & Farm
conservationfilmfest.org 43You can also read
