June is National Rivers Month — a time to celebrate the waterways that sustain our communities, ecosystems, and adventures.
The home of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, a program of the South Yuba Citizens League, lies within the Yuba River Watershed, where rivers are deeply woven into the identity of our region and the work of protecting wild places.
To honor National Rivers Month, we’ve curated a special playlist of prior Wild & Scenic Official Selections that explore the beauty of rivers, the communities connected to them, and the ongoing efforts to protect these vital waterways for future generations.
Enjoy the films, and join us in celebrating the rivers that connect us all.
5000 Miles of Wild – Rio Grande (2018) – Chasing the Bono (2023)- 6,000 Miles (2023) – 62 years (2023) – Chicas al Agua (2022)
5000 Miles of Wild – Rio Grande 2019 Official Selection
Ben Masters, Amy Kober | 2018 | 8 min.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Senator Tom Udall, Ted Roosevelt IV, American Rivers President Bob Irvin, and river guide Austin Alvarado provide insightful commentary on the state of river conservation. Set on the Rio Grande in Big Bend NP, this is a powerful call to action to protect our remaining wild rivers.
CHASING THE BONO 2024 Official Selection
Peter Goetz (Director), Mark Stewart Iverson (Creative Producer), Kate Richter Green (Executive Producer), Zachary Green (Executive Producer), Clif Briley (Executive Producer), Sarah Rowland (Producer), Kevin Hoban (Executive Producer) | 2023 | 11 min.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, Senator Tom Udall, Ted Roosevelt IV, American Rivers President Bob Irvin, and river guide Austin Alvarado provide insightful commentary on the state of river conservation. Set on the Rio Grande in Big Bend NP, this is a powerful call to action to protect our remaining wild rivers.
6,000 Miles 2024 Official Selection
CalWild (Producer) Colorfool Films (Producer) Masha Karpoukhina (Directing, Cinematography and Editing) Justin LaFleur (additional Cinematography) In partnership with (HiPark, American Whitewater) | 2023 | 11 min.
In 6,000 Miles you’ll meet Kayla Lopez, a multifaceted artist and river activist, alongside Steve Evans, the impassioned Wild Rivers Director at CalWild. This compelling duo offers an exciting and educational exploration of California’s Wild Rivers, blending both expertise and passion to illuminate the essence and threats to our precious waterways.
Kayla, an artist and devoted packrafter, has a unique and beautiful story that embodies an ardent dedication to her passions that blends with river advocacy. Alongside her, Steve Evans, with decades spent lobbying for wild rivers in Congress, brings a wealth of experience and commitment to the cause.
Join this dynamic pair in 6,000 Miles as they bring forth their connection to the Trinity River in northwest California, and all of California’s Wild Rivers, to unveil CalWild’s mission of safeguarding 6,000 miles of rivers by 2028. Their journey unfolds a narrative that transcends advocacy, revealing the intricate connection and profound significance of preserving our wild rivers.
62 Years 2016 Official Selection
Logan Bockrath | 2015 | 9 min.
The last time Ken Brower traveled down the Yampa River in Northwest Colorado was with his father, David Brower, in 1952. This was the year his father became the first executive director of the Sierra Club and joined the fight against a pair of proposed dams on the Green River in Northwest Colorado.
The dams would have flooded the canyons of the Green and its tributary, Yampa, inundating the heart of Dinosaur National Monument. With a conservation campaign that included a book, magazine articles, a film, a traveling slideshow, grassroots organizing, river trips and lobbying, David Brower and the Sierra Club ultimately won the fight—ushering in a period many consider the dawn of modern environmentalism. 62 years later, Ken revisited the Yampa & Green Rivers to reflect on his father’s work, their 1952 river trip, and how we will confront the looming water crisis in the American West.
CHICAS AL AGUA 2024 Official Selection
Liz McGregor (Producer/Director), Ashley Peel (Executive Producer), Josiah Roe & Felipe Zanotti (Directors of Photography), Felipe Zanotti (Editor), Melanie Kurtz (Co-Producer), Stacie Wunsch (Co-Producer) | 2022 | 18 min.
You can count the number of female paddlers in Futaleufú, Chile on one hand… and they want to change that. After many riverside matés and floating conversations, the idea to create a kayak course for local teenage girls was hatched. Thanks to a committed group of women, what started as a dream is now an inspirational contribution to the community.
