october 4-6 & 11-13, 2019 shepherdstown, wv · 2019-09-03 · conservationfilmfest.org 3 bring...

39 FILMS ABOUT OUR WORLD.

OCTOBER 4-6 & 11-13, 2019 SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV

CONSERVATIONFILMFEST.ORG

B conservationfilmfest.org

Curates and presents contemporary films on conservation issues.

Supports emerging filmmakers and new film projects.

Provides educational, interactive opportunities for filmmakers, audience members, and youth.

Partners with organizations, businesses, and individuals to share information and strengthen resources.

Alexandra Hazel President

Elise Baach Vice-President

Janna Bond Secretary

Mark Burgess, CPA Treasurer

Jeffrey Gustafson Board Member

Michael Hobert Board Member

Dennis Liu Board Member

Bill McShea Board Member

Nicholas Snow Board Member

Christina van Hilst Board Member

Jennifer Lee Executive Director

Hilary Lo Festival Manager

Jen Rolston Communications Liaison

Anna Perkins Intern

Keith AlexanderLauren AmesAmy Mathews AmosAlice BarkusSue CapertonSteve ChaseLawrence CumboChuck DunkerlyJeff Feldman, President Emeritus

John GrabowskaJeff GroffThomas HardingDon HenryChris HoelzlCatherine IrwinJudy Katz-LeavyAlex KemnitzerKaren KinnettDave Kirkwood

Ed LeavyDavid LillardMark MadisonFarzad MahootianRachel Dorsey McGowenJohn McGrathStan MopsikWendy MopsikSue Pellish

Anne SechlerVanessa SerraoThomas SherwoodBarbara SpicherSusan WalterAnn WatsonLisa WelchSusan WomeldorfLynn Yellott

PAST BOARD MEMBERS

2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF

On cover: Bertie Gregory, Filmmaker, Wild_Life - Resurrection Island

OUR MISSIONThe American Conservation Film Festival presents conservation-focused films and programs that engage, inform, and inspire.

THE AMERICAN CONSERVATION FILM FESTIVAL:

1conservationfilmfest.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

timely films with you.

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!

Alexandra Hazel ACFF Board President


Bring a friend! We’ve arranged for large venues again this year so, if you want to support conservation arts in your community, we encourage everyone to reach out and invite someone who might not know about all that ACFF offers.

2019 TICKET PRICING & POLICIES

PURCHASE TICKETS . . . ONLINE AT: CONSERVATIONFILMFEST.ORG

AT THE VENUES (during the Festival)

FULL FESTIVAL PASS $55

1ST WEEKEND PASS $40

2ND WEEKEND PASS $25

Good for all films & programs at all venues during the festival.

(Add the October 5 Party with Cerphe for $30)

Good for all films & programs at all venues Oct 4-Oct 6

(Add the October 5 Party with Cerphe for $30)

Good for all films on our Encore Weekend Oct 11-Oct 13.

See all of the award winners!

BLOCK TICKETS $8-$10 KIDS ARE FREE! FREE w/ RAMBLER ID

Good for films during a specific time block at a specific venue.

Blocks 1 & 17: FREE Blocks 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21,

and 22 $8. All others $10.

All students 18 or younger are admitted FREE to all films at all

venues as space allows.

PARENTAL DISCRETION RECOMMENDED.

All film blocks at The Frank Center are FREE to Shepherd

students, staff, and faculty with their Rambler ID.

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.


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.

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.

TAKE ACTION

6 conservationfilmfest.org

ACFF AWARDS: RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCEIn 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 - $500Our 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 MurphySUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 12 | FRANK CENTER | 5:15PMSATURDAY, 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 BooteSATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 6 | FRANK CENTER | 2:50PM SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 | BLOCK 21 | FRANK CENTER | 4:00PM

Short Film Award - $500ACFF 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 MoonSATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 18 | FRANK CENTER | 7:30PM


Student Filmmaker Award - $500 Cash prize sponsored by Friends of NCTCSupporting 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 WilmingtonSUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 14 | NCTC | 11:30AMFRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 17 | FRANK CENTER | 6:00PM

Green Spark Award - $500Multiple 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 • by inspiring the next generation to take on conservation challenges

THE 2019 ACFF GSA FOR HIGHLIGHTING CONSERVATION HEROES GOES TO:

The Beaver Believers FILMMAKER: Sarah KoenigsbergSUNDAY, 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 SorkinSATURDAY, 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 BornFRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 2 | FRANK CENTER | 5:45PM SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | BLOCK 19 | FRANK CENTER | 4:30PM

Audience Choice Award - $500Attendees 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!


FRIDAY OCTOBER 4All Films Show at the Frank Center

SATURDAY OCTOBER 5All Films Show at the Frank Center

9 AM

9AM - 5PMCONSERVATION FILMMAKER WORKSHOP LOCATION: National Conservation Training Center (NCTC)(Pre-registration required.)

9AM - 4:30PMCONSERVATION FILMMAKER WORKSHOP LOCATION: NCTC SESSIONS FREE/OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: Pitch Panel 12:30PM - 2:30PM Keynote 2:45PM - 4:00PM

10 AM

11 AMBLOCK 4

11:00 - 12:45Current Revolution* (37) #Powerplant: Plants Could Save the Planet (60)

NOON

1 PM

FR

EE: P

ITC

H P

AN

EL &

KEY

NO

TE

BLOCK 5

1:15 - 2:30NatureRx (3) Plastic Pollution (4) Women in Fire (8) Parrots in Peril (8) Return of the Desert Bighorn (9) Conserving Ibera (10) Grizzly Country* (12) Misunderstood: A Brief History of Hemp (15)

2 PM

3 PMBLOCK 6

2:50 - 4:30 The Green Lie* (97)

4 PM BLOCK 1

4:00 - 5:15 In Your Hands (1) Ocean Short Films (13) Humpback Whales (60) 5 PM

BLOCK 7

5:00 - 6:45The Vasectomist (52)Earth Overshoot (30)

BLOCK 2

5:45 - 6:45 A Message From... Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (7)Messages from the End of World *(51)

6 PM

7 PM

BLOCK 3

7:15 - 9:00Woman at War (101)

BLOCK 8

7:15 - 8:55 The Biggest Little Farm (91)

8 PM

9 P M9PM - 11PMPARTY: Saturday Night with Cerphe “Greenest DJ in America”

FREE!

AFTER THE FILMS: Vegetarian Food Tasting

AFTER THE FILMS:Population

Discussion w/ the Vasectomist

himself and Earth Overshoot

filmmaker.

SCHEDULE

*Denotes a 2019 Award Winner


SUNDAY OCTOBER 6

Blocks 9 - 13 Show at the Frank Center Blocks 14 - 16 Show at NCTC

11 AM

BLOCK 9

11:00– 12:30The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating (15)A Meeting of Migrations (33)Treeline (40)

BLOCK 14

11:30– 1:15Fueling Faith: The Oily Secrets Behind (15) The Final Breach (17)Borneo’s Vanishing Tribes (23)Dead in the Water* (43)

NOON

1 PM

BLOCK 10

1:00 – 2:30Akashinga-Hunt My Animals & I’ll Catch You (4)There’s Something in the Water (8) The Beaver Believers* (64)

BLOCK 15

1:45– 2:451000s of Bugs, 100s of Islands, 1 Happy (6) Wild_Life: Resurrection Island (44)

2 PM

3 PM

BLOCK 11

3:00– 4:45Anthropocene: The Human Epoch (87)

BLOCK 16

3:30– 5:00Shad Run (26)Dynasties: Painted Wolf (59)

4 PM

5 PM

ADDITIONAL EVENTS:Healing Planet Flows with Jala Yoga

(Sundays at 9am; see page 35)

Eco-art show at Evolve Gallery (Daily 12pm - 7pm; 106 W. German St.)

Conservation-focused Book Sale at 4 Seasons Bookstore

(Fri-Sat 10-6; Sun 12-5 • 114 W. German St.)

Sunday Farmers Market 9am - 1pm.

Behind the Shepherdstown Library

BLOCK 12

5:15– 6:45Artifishal* (80)

6 PM

7 PM

BLOCK 13

7:15 – 9:00Fantastic Fungi (79)

8 PM

9 P M

FAMILY FUN!

STUDENT FILMS

AFTER THE FILM:Overcoming Eco-Grief

BEFORE & AFTER THE FILM:

Mushroom Expert

ENCORE WEEKEND

FRI OCT 11 SAT OCT 12 SUN OCT 13

All Weekend: All Films Show at the Frank Center

4 PM

BLOCK 21

4:00– 5:40The Green Lie* (97)

BLOCK 19

4:30 - 6:00Current Revolution* (37)Messages from the End of the World* (51)

5 PM

6 PMBLOCK 17

6:00 – 6:45Dead in the Water* (43) Student Film

7 PMBLOCK 22

7:00 - 8:30AUDIENCE CHOICE!TBD by Audience Votes on Monday, October 7.

BLOCK 18

7:30 – 8:50Grizzly Country* (12)The Beaver Believers *(60)

BLOCK 20

7:30 – 9:00Artifishal* (80)

8 PM

9 P M

FREE!

AFTER THE FILM:Sustainable Business

*Denotes a 2019 Award Winner

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.


VENUES & MAPTHE FRANK ARTS CENTER Shepherd University 260 University Drive Shepherdstown

NATIONAL CONSERVATION TRAINING CENTER (NCTC)698 Conservation Way Shepherdstown IMPORTANT: Government-issued ID is required at the gate for all guests age 16+

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONSSaturday Night with Cerphe Party4419 Kearneysville Pike Shepherdstown

SHEP

HER

D GR

ADE

RT 34 to Sharpsburg ShepherdUniversityWest Campus

DUKE

ST

Shepherd UniversityEast Campus

CHU

RCH

ST

HIGH ST

PRIN

CESS

ST

KIN

G ST

RT 45 to Martinsburg

RT 480 to Kearneysville

To Charles Town / Harper’s Ferry

RR

To NCTCFollow Shepherd Grade Roadfor 4.2 miles. Turn right at Conservation Way.THE FRANK

ART CENTER

TO SUSTAINABLESOLUTIONS

W GERMAN STE GERMAN STWASHINGTON ST

ACFFPrintAd.indd 1 8/7/17 2:54 PM

Proud Sponsor of the American

Conservation Film Festival


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

2019 FILM DESCRIPTIONS

Aaron Riddle Photography (ACRiddle.com)

BARNSOF

H

ISTORIC BERRYVILLE, VIRGINIAH

ROSE HILL

FOLLOW US!Facebook.com/BarnsofRoseHill

Twitter.com/visitBORHInstagram.com/BarnsofRoseHill

{CONTACT INFO

95 Chalmers Court | Berryville, VA | 22611P: 540-955-2004

{LIVE MUSIC, FILMS,

EXHIBITS, LECTURES, CLASSES & WORKSHOPS,

AND MUCH MORE!

We are a nonprofit performing arts venue & community center in

historic Berryville, Virginia.

See What’s Coming Up at www.BarnsofRoseHill.org

•

•

The 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 nonprofi t 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


After the film: Join us for a discussion on how to cope and hope in a time of eco-anxiety.

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 in geological history, bringing a provocative and unforgettable experience of our species’ breadth and impact.


2019 Green Fire Award

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.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 12 | FRANK CENTER | 5:15PMSATURDAY, 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

Uncommon Vernacular

John C. Allen, Jr.

Available at: Four Seasons Books, Shepherdstown and West Virginia University Press

Order online at wvupress.com

Large hardcover book includes 700 black & white images, 80 drawings, and 120 floor plans.

The Early Houses ofJefferson County, West Virginia 1735-1835


Green Spark Award for Highlighting a Path to Sustainability

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.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 4 | FRANK CENTER | 11:00AM SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | BLOCK 19 | FRANK CENTER | 4:30PM(CO-PRESENTED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL)

2019 ACFF STUDENT FILM AWARD

After the film: Lizzie Bankowski and her team from UNC Wilmington will accept the award.

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 environmental impacts of the 2,000 concentrated animal feeding operations that litter southeastern North Carolina. They also offer alternatives that minimize harm to water quality and don’t threaten the health of local residents.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 14 | NCTC | 11:30AMFRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 17 | FRANK CENTER | 6:00PM

After the film: Earth Overshoot producer Terry Spahr joins us to talk about his work.

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 Overshoot tells the truth about the conflict between the size of our global population and the sustainability of our planet.


Devonshire Arms

C a f e & P u b

Come Join The Fun! Try Our Delicious Fish & Chips

107 S. Princess St. Shepherdstown, WV 304 876 9277

1422 BLAIR RD / AT THE EZ MART (RT.340 & BLAIR RD)

U.S. SEAFOODFresh, Wild Caught

540-931-8050facebook.com/[email protected]

SERVING THE TRI-STATE AREA SINCE 1995

Open Fri & Sat 10am - 6pm Sun: 10am ‘til Sold Out

304-261-8548www.facebook.com/thehivehouse


Dynasties: 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.


Before and after the film: Mycologist William Padilla Brown, one of the subjects in the film, will speak to the audience and display examples of cultivated and foraged mushrooms.

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 footage, this documentary is a journey into the mysterious and beautiful subterranean world of mycelium and mushrooms. On the way, we learn about amazing medicinal properties and the capacity to bioremediate waste of some types of fungi.


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.


2019 ACFF SHORT FILM AWARD

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.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 5 | FRANK CENTER | 1:15PMFRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | BLOCK 18 | FRANK CENTER | 7:30PM

Congrats to ACFF for another year of fine films

119 E. German Street ShepherdstownOpen Daily 11am–5pm 304–876–0657

The Finest in Contemporary American Crafts Since 1991

A full service bike, kayak, and canoe shop providing sales,

services, and rentals.

115 West German St Shepherdstown304-876-3000

www.thepedalpaddle.com

Learn more at: jeffersonartscouncil.org


Humpback 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.


Screened in partnership with Jackson Hole Films On Tour with the UN - Living Oceans.

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 surface—and why this type of research is key to understanding and protecting our oceans.


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.


2019 GREEN SPARK AWARD FOR INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

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.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | BLOCK 2 | FRANK CENTER | 5:45PMSATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 | BLOCK 19 | FRANK CENTER | 4:30PM

Celebrating ConservationFarmland for the Future : 4,500 Acres Protected

Gap View Farm, Jefferson County WVPhoto : Mark Muse

[email protected] www.jefferson.wvfp.org

TICKETS & INFORMATION: FRIENDSWV.ORG | 304-876-5765

All concerts held at 7:30 pm in Shepherdstown’s historic Trinity Episcopal Church.

April 18, 2020

BUT OF CHORUS Winchester Musica Viva performs

Schubert, Bach, Toole

May 16, 2020

HIGHLAND/LOWLANDTwo Rivers Chamber Orchestra

performs Neilsen & Schubert

October 5, 2019

CLASSIC CONTOURS Two Rivers String Quartet performs

Pärt, Gounod & Mozart

November 23, 2019

MAGIC AND MAJESTY Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra

performs Mendelssohn, de Falla & Beethoen with

Kyle Engler, mezzo-soprano

March 28, 2020

UNTRIED AND TRUE Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra

performs Bennet, Grant, Borodin & Grieg with

Anjan Shah, tenor saxophone

2019-2020CONCERT SEASON

Chamber Music at its best!


Misunderstood: 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.


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!


Filmmaker Neil Losin will be joining us for the screening.

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 the lucrative pet trade.


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.


Shepherdstown Art Glass And JewelryFran Brolle

Shepherdstown Jewelry

AVAILABLE AT:Over the Mountain Studio TourDickinson & WaitGifts Inn Boonsboro Museum Shop next to Jefferson County Museum in Charles Town

[email protected]


After the film: Join us for delicious vegetarian bites to inspire your cooking!

#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 process of developing a plant-based steak.

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 study orcas in the wild without disturbance. Using hydrophones and video cameras, his team can listen to and track orcas within a 31-mile radius.


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.


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.


304.725.7029 www.SkinnerFirm.com

Andrew C. Skinner • Stephen G. Skinner

Laura C. Davis • Bryan Ogilvie • Levi Pellegrin

b i s t r o 1 1 2 . c o m3 0 4 . 8 76 . 8 47 7

A Taste of ParisI N S H E P H E R D S T O W N


2019 GREEN SPARK AWARD FOR HIGHLIGHTING CONSERVATION HEROES

Filmmaker Sarah Koenigsberg will join us for the screening.

The Beaver Believers 64 min

FILMMAKER: Sarah Koenigsberg

The Beaver Believers is the urgent yet whimsical story of an unlikely cadre of activists who share a common vision: restoring the North American Beaver, that most industrious, ingenious, bucktoothed engineer, to the watersheds of the arid West.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 | BLOCK 10 | FRANK CENTER | 1:00PMFRIDAY, 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.


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.


2019 ACFF INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARD

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 controversial documentary. STOP THE GREEN LIES!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 | BLOCK 6 | FRANK CENTER | 2:50PM SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 | BLOCK 21 | FRANK CENTER | 4:00PM

We Love Our Patients

John T. Gibson, DDS 304.267.7880

Martinsburg, WV

Practice Dedicated to Patient Comfort & Excellence

in Dental Care

117 east german streetdowntown shepherdstownwvdomestic.com

304 876 1030

LOCALLYGROWN

daily specials featuring the best of the area’s bounty.

from here, for you

call now to make reservationsGERMAN STREET

COFFEE & CANDLERY

GIFTS, GOURMET FOOD, TEAS AND SO MUCH MORE

103 West German StreetShepherdstown, WV 25443

304-876-1106

ART FOR NATUREOCTOBER 4–6, 2019

Painting, Photography, and Mixed Media

Susan Loonsk • Doug Kinnett • Gary Bergel

OCTOBER 11–14, 2019Woodwork, Paper Art,

and CeramicsBob Gallienne • Kristine Smith • Liz Goines

11am – 7pm | 106 West German [email protected]

On Facebook & Instagram

ART FOR NATUREOCTOBER 4–6, 2019

Painting, Photography, and Mixed Media

Susan Loonsk • Doug Kinnett • Gary Bergel

OCTOBER 11–14, 2019Woodwork, Paper Art,

and CeramicsBob Gallienne • Kristine Smith • Liz Goines

11am – 7pm | 106 West German [email protected]

On Facebook & Instagram



The 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 extraordinary eyesight. They can see an invisible level of reality using polarized light, which could lead to a breakthrough in detecting cancer.


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.


Dr. Doug Stein, the Vasectomist himself, will join us to talk about his life’s work.

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 of Florida, tirelessly advocating for men to take responsibility for family planning. The questions Doug raises about the future of humankind are critical to our collective well-being.


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.


HARRISON & JOHNSTON, PLCATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW

Established 1962

Engaged in the General Practice of Law

Serving Clients in the State and Federal Courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Charles I. BillmanCary M. Craig, Jr.Bruce E. Downing

HARRISON & JOHNSTON, PLC21 South Loudoun Street

Winchester, Virginia 22603Telephone 540.667.1266Facsimile 540.667.1312

www.harrison-johnston.com

Timothy M. MayfieldStephen L. Pettler, Jr.

Ari N. Sommer

Amy K. Slaughter,

Of Counsel

Studios in Shepherdstown & Winchester

Jala: a space dedicated to healing ourselves, our neighbors, our planet. Our schedule features classes perfect for beginners, folks recovering from injury, and advanced practitioners alike.

We truly believe that yoga is for EVERYONE, so we’ve created a safe space for ALL who come through our doors.

Want to try us out? Join for your first 30 days of unlimited yoga for just $30!


Treeline 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.


AFTER THE FILM: Kids can visit the bug petting zoo with the Leskey Lab from the USDA Appalachian Fruit Research Station.

Wild_Life: Resurrection Island 44 min THIS FILM IS SPONSORED BY

the Jefferson Arts CouncilFILMMAKER: Bertie Gregory

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 of the highest concentrations of animals on the planet. Bertie Gregory’s contagious enthusiasm will make even adults feel like a kid again.


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.


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.


190 Campus Blvd, Ste. 300 ● Winchester, VA 22601(540)667-1244 ● www.winchestergastro.com

Specializing in the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including colon cancer screening. We have recently expanded our offerings to

include endoscopic ultrasound, and therapeutic ERCP.

Shared Values. Shared Action.From River Cleanups to Watershed Education Trips

Leading Environmental Stewardship Since 1972

301-834-9950 • riverandtrail.com

Check Out OurNew & Used Boats sale!

Fun & adventure

for all ages!

Kayak & Canoe Rentals Paddling Tours

Environmental Education Trips

March - Novembertrips, tours & rentals

190 Campus Blvd, Ste. 300 ● Winchester, VA 22601(540)667-1244 ● www.winchestergastro.com

Specializing in the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including colon cancer screening. We have recently expanded our offerings to

include endoscopic ultrasound, and therapeutic ERCP.


Join us for these special Festival Programs, Speakers, & Parties!

OCTOBER 4 & 5 CONSERVATION FILMMAKER WORKSHOPNational Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, ShepherdstownExpert instruction from filmmakers and media experts on a variety of topics are offered to emerging and seasoned filmmakers in this 2-day intensive workshop. $75/student; $200/filmmaker.

OCTOBER 4 FREE OPENING FILM BLOCK4PM – 5:15PM, The Frank Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, ShepherdstownStart 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 EXHIBITSNoon – 7PM, Evolve Shepherdstown, 106 W. German Street, ShepherdstownVisit 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 & SALEThursdays – Saturdays, 10AM – 8PM, Sundays Noon – 5PM Four Seasons Books, 114 W. German Street, ShepherdstownStop 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 PUBLIC12:30PM – 4PM, National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, ShepherdstownA 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 TASTING12:45PM, The Frank Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, ShepherdstownFollowing 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

The Conservation Filmmaker Workshop is generously sponsored by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and the Oak Spring Garden Foundation.


OCTOBER 5 DISCUSSION ON HUMAN POPULATION6:30PM, The Frank Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, ShepherdstownFollowing 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 CERPHE9PM – 11PM, Sustainable Solutions, 4419 Kearneysville Pike, ShepherdstownJoin 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 YOGA9AM – 10:15AM, Jala Yoga, Oct 6: 117 W. German Street, Shepherdstown / Oct 13: Outdoor location TBARelax 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 & ACTIVITY1:45PM – 3:00PM, National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, ShepherdstownNature 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-GRIEF4:30PM, The Frank Center, Shepherd University, 260 University Drive, ShepherdstownFeeling 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, ShepherdstownBefore 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 MARKET9AM – 1PM, behind the Little Library on S. King Street, ShepherdstownVisit 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, ShepherdstownJoin 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.

36

SPECIAL GIVING OPPORTUNITIESBecome 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.

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.

ALEX KEMNITZER Emerging Filmmaker Fund

Donations may be sent to ACFF, PO Box 889, Shepherdstown, WV 25443 or made online at conservationfilm.org/take-action/donate.


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.

Jennifer Lee, Executive Director

A 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.” -RACHEL CARSON, SILENT SPRING

Schutte & Yenser Wealth Management of Raymond James

The Barn of Harpers FerrySpecialty Printing

BARNOFHARPERSFERRY.COM

1062 W. WASHINGTON STREET HARPERS FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA

(855)-935-2276


A NOTE FROM HILARY LOAfter 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,

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,

Hilary Lo, Festival Manager

The Barn of Harpers Ferry


THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 SPONSORS!


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.

MEDIA SPONSORMusic Planet Radio

HOSPITALITY SPONSORClarion Hotel & Quality Inn,

Shepherdstown

ALDO LEOPOLDHHMI Tangled Bank StudiosThe Campbell FoundationNora Roberts FoundationOak Spring Garden FoundationShepherd University

RACHEL CARSONShepherdstown Art Glass & Jewelry Tito’s Handmade Vodka

JOHN MUIRSchutte-Box & Yenser Wealth

Management Group of Raymond James

Sustainable Solutions

JANE GOODALLFriends of the National Conservation

Training Center (NCTC)Harrison & Johnston, PLCJefferson Arts CouncilRiver’s Edge LandscapesRoute 11 Potato ChipsWinchester Gastroenterology

Associates

JACQUES COUSTEAUBistro 112Blue Ridge SmilesFlying Dog BreweryThe Hive HouseJefferson County Convention &

Visitors BureauSkinner Law Firm

SPONSOR levels of giving: Aldo Leopold $5,000+, Rachel Carson $2500+, John Muir $1,500+, Jane Goodall $1000+, Jacques Cousteau $500+

SPONSORS DONORSCONSERVATIONIST FUND MEMBERSJohn C. Allen, Jr.Randy Barber & Melissa MoyeMartin & Elise BaachJohn & Beth BatdorfFrances BrolleJohn Deupree & Sara ReynoldsEdward EwingMina Goodrich & Lawrence DeanNicholas Snow & Cathleen McCoyGeorge & Holly StoneHank Willard

GUARDIANMarianne & Duane AlexanderMartin Burke & Barbara SpicherMark & Robie CucuzzellaJack EgglestonJeff Feldman & Kristin AlexanderMark & Susan GalbraithAlexandra HazelChris Hoelzl & Paige BaldwinBill McSheaChristina van HilstFrank & Annette van HilstCraig & Roy Winkel

STEWARDChris & Lauren AmesMark BurgessBeverley ByrdKristy CherryJeffrey Gustafson & Stephen SkinnerJudy JonesJennifer LeeKurt WeitzLynn & Chess Yellott

CARETAKERAmy Mathews AmosKathleen BiltonJim & Nancy CampbellLucy & Steve DorickMichael Hobert & Mary Jane LeeDiana KincannonDennis LiuBob & Tia McMillanLex & Pam MillerAnne & Roger MunroJean NeelyPalladian Partners, Inc.Daniel RogersLisa ShepherdJohn & Susan SkinnerMarie Tyler-McGrawLisa & Paul WelchRie WilsonEd & Christine Zahniser

REEL FRIENDS & PATRONSSusi BaileyJanna BondSusan CashLynn Coddington & Patricia HamiltonJudith Katz-LevyGwendolyn KilroyDave KirkwoodMary Fortuna KuserStephen LeeAlan & Jane LevitanKathleen MorottiSuzanne PatrickRose Wayland

DONOR levels of giving: Conservationist $1,000+, Guardian $500+, Steward $250+, Caretaker $100+, and Reel Friends & Patrons <$100. All of these lists include cash and in-kind contributions made between August 22, 2018 and August 19, 2019. Please forgive and contact Jennifer at [email protected] if we have made an error or omission.

ALEX KEMNITZER EMERGING FILMMAKER FUND ($50-$1000)Irene DentDonald & Kathryn HenryDavid & Sue Kemnitzer Thomas Mika & Ora Christi MaynesLois Schiffer

THE ULTIMATE THEATER EXPERIENCE

IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.

2020 SEASON: JULY 10 - AUG 2 • SHEPHERDSTOWN

CATF.ORG


SPECIAL THANKSWe 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 DirectorsAmy Mathews AmosJohnna ArmstrongThe Barn at Harpers FerryJohn BarratBistro 112Don BriggsMolly BriggsFran BrolleGeoffrey BrownKristy CherryClarion Hotel & Quality Inn,

ShepherdstownCeira ClawsonCerphe ColwellChristy DunkleEden DesignSonya EvaniskoTatianna EvaniskoEvolve ShepherdstownMike Fallon & Fallon

Insurance Co.

Michael FinlayFour Seasons BooksFriends of NCTCGrapes & Grains GourmetNancy GregorySarah GulickDr. Mary J.C. Hendrix,

Shepherd University President

Chris HoelzlCatherine IrwinJala YogaSue & David KemnitzerTrent KuglerDavid LillardRick Lo Mark MadisonBen MastersClayton McBrideStephen MooreEmily MorganSuzanne Morgan

Roger MunroEllen MurphyKristin NoggleThe Observer newspaperNathaniel OrrProgressive PrintingThad ReidTom Reilly Randy RobinsonKristen RoperShepherd University Campus

PoliceShepherdstown PoliceShepherdstown Visitors CenterSonya SholleySam ShunneyJonathan SmithSustainable SolutionsWelsh SoundLogan Stineand ALL of our AMAZING

VOLUNTEERS!

Barns of Rose Hill

Contemporary American Theater Festival

DCEFF – Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital

Endangered Species Coalition

Friends of NCTC

International League of Conservation Photographers

Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival

Long Branch Historic House & Farm

US F&WS National Conservation Training Center

Potomac Valley Audubon Society

Shenandoah University

Shepherd University

Shepherdstown Film Society

Sierra Club, Catoctin Group

Sky Meadows State Park

The Hill School

Weinberg Center for the Arts

ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSWe are proud to partner with the following organizations to strengthen our respective missions, grow our networks, and provide support.

A very special and huge thank you to Anna Perkins, our dedicated and amazing intern for the last two years. Anna started her internship with us her senior year at Shepherd University and stuck with us for an additional year after graduating in Spring 2018. She took on and completed the daunting and very important task of digitizing nearly our entire film archive, so we now have over 400 festival films from the last 16 years in one safe place on a dedicated hard drive.

Thank you so much, Anna!

ADVERTISERS INDEX

ACFF Festival Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Barns of Rose Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Bistro 112 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Blue Ridge Smiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Contemporary American Theater Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Devonshire Pub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Dickinson & Wait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Domestic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Evolve Shepherdstown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Friends of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

German Street Coffee & Candlery . . . . . . . . . 28

Harrison & Johnston, PLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

HHMI Tangled Bank Studios. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Jala Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

JCCVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Jefferson Arts Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Les & Ali's Jumbo Seafood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Locke Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Music Planet Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Oak Spring Garden Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

River's Edge Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

River & Trail Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Route 11 Potato Chips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Schutte & Yenser Wealth Management of Raymond James . . . . . . . . . . 38

Shepherdstown Art Glass & Jewelry . . . . . . . 24

Shepherdstown Pedal & Paddle . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Skinner Law Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Specialty Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Sustainable Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

The Barn of Harpers Ferry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

The Downstream Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

The Hive House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Thomas Shepherd Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Tito's Vodka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Two Rivers Treads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Uncommon Vernacular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Wildlife Vet Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Winchester Gastroenterology Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

THE THOMAS SHEPHERD INNSHEPHERDSTOWN, WV

Walk to Restaurants, Shops, and Theater Private Baths • Full Breakfast

www.ThomasshepherdInn.com

304.876.3715 • 888.889.8952

THE THOMAS SHEPHERD INNSHEPHERDSTOWN, WV

Walk to Restaurants, Shops, and Theater Private Baths • Full Breakfast

www.ThomasshepherdInn.com

304.876.3715 • 888.889.8952

It’s De� ciousHarpers Ferry | Charles Town | Shepherdstown

It’s Everything

Our quaint small towns are fi lled with shopping, dining and entertainment—everything you need to enhance your theater experience. Discover our little panhandle of paradise.

DiscoveritallWV.com | 1-866-HELLO-WV

Excellence Innovation OpportunityTraining the Next Generation of Leaders and Model Citizens

W W W. SH E PH E R D. E DU | SH E PH E R DSTOWN , WE ST V IRG IN IA

ACFF2018_5x4.indd 1 8/6/18 1:49 PM

october 4-6 & 11-13, 2019 shepherdstown, wv · 2019-09-03 · conservationfilmfest.org 3 bring...

Documents