Upcoming film festival aims to protect Western Slope watershed
Wild & Scenic Film Festival comes to Glenwood on Thursday
Glenwood Springs Post Independent
MCWC/Courtesy
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is coming to Glenwood Springs on Thursday, and there’s good news: tickets are still available.
The film festival, organized by the Middle Colorado Watershed Council (MCWC), is an annual fundraiser dedicated to protecting water for all uses in the watershed from Glenwood Canyon to De Beque Canyon.
“The goal of the film festival is to inspire people to take care of the watershed, to take care of our water,” said Paula Stepp, executive director for MCWC. “Water is a really precious resource … we really have to figure out how to work together cooperatively to manage it the best way we can.”
The showing of the films takes place on Sept. 28 at the Vaudeville Theater in Glenwood Springs for $25 a ticket. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The festival will feature 10 independent films of various lengths, all relating to water, the outdoors, environment or adventure. The event has a runtime of two hours, with an intermission and breaks in between to give away prizes.
Among the prizes donated from various sponsors are Aspen Ski Resort lift tickets, Iron Mountain Hot Springs day passes, Canyon Coolers, camping equipment, an inflatable kayak and much more.
“It’s good to have the engagement. It’s good to see the community so involved,” Stepp said. “We’ve got some really great sponsors that have really come forth and helped us out. This is our primary fundraiser for the year as a nonprofit, and that’s how we do the work.”
For those who prefer an alternative to attending the event in person, the films will be available for streaming from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5 for the price of a regular ticket. Those who purchase the remote streaming option will be provided a link to the films, which will be available for the listed days.
“It only takes one ticket to get the link to stream, so obviously you can have a party at your house and show it to lots of people,” Stepp said.
Children can attend, though the documentary-focus of the films may appeal more to children over the age of 8, according to Stepp.
“It’s important that we all work together to protect this resource,” Stepp said. “Community engagement makes us able to do what we do.”
MCWC’s most recent projects have been oriented toward wildfire restoration, as well as a developing wildfire collaborative to help prepare for dealing with future wildfires.
Tickets are available at the door and online at midcowatershed.org/filmfest.
