Film Submissions
Wild & Scenic features environmental and adventure films from around the world that illustrate the earth’s beauty, the challenges facing our planet, and the work communities do to protect the environment. We welcome documentary and narrative shorts and features about nature, community activism, intentional adventure, conservation, health, water, energy, climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, food, and farming. Our objective is to inform, inspire, and ignite solutions to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future for the next generation through stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography, and first-rate storytelling. Films are curated into themed tracks, which pair projects with complimentary subject matter or ideas to create a cinematic journey for audiences.
While all submissions will be considered, we are especially interested in projects that interpret our 2025 theme, Wild at Heart.
“The 2025 theme of ‘Wild at Heart’ speaks to the power of wild places to spark inspiration, compassion, and understanding of the world around us. Wild is a natural state and place of inspiration, particularly for this festival,” notes Festival Director, Eric Dunn.
With a nod to the festival’s namesake, created in celebration of SYRCL’s landmark victory to earn “Wild & Scenic” status for 39 miles of the South Yuba River, the 2025 theme encourages us all to work to stay wild in ways that enrich us and our surroundings. The theme also embraces a multitude of meanings of “heart”.
“It champions ‘heart’ as courage or enthusiasm for the environment, and the work each one of us can do to help protect it. The theme is also an homage to heart being the center and the way in which the Wild is central to all wellbeing, from biodiversity around the globe to that feeling we get exploring special places, wherever we may find them,” Dunn continued.
WSFF is excited for all the wild and heartfelt ways in which we will gather and celebrate the earth and its inhabitants in 2025!
Head over to FilmFreeway for submission guidelines:
ABOUT OUR MAIN CATEGORIES
Environmental Films
Wild & Scenic accepts all films with an environmental theme, including documentaries, animation, shorts, features, and narratives. We look for environmental films that are entertaining, educational, and, above all, inspirational. We want our audiences to be inspired to make a difference in their communities and the world.
Adventure Films
Wild & Scenic screens entertaining and inspiring adventure films from all over the world. Topics include climbing, mountaineering, surfing, and more. A particular preference is given to adventure films with an environmental focus.
Student Films
Are you a student filmmaker? We encourage you to submit your student environmental and adventure films. We accept documentaries, animation, kids’ films, shorts, and music videos. Films should be informative, engaging, and inspiring. An enrolled student at any level of education must have completed the project.
Family-Friendly Films
Films in this category will be particularly considered to be featured in Wild & Scenic’s K-12 School Programs and Kids’ Sessions at the film festival.
ABOUT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
We cannot fulfill our mission of uniting the community to heal the earth without seeing the intersection of social justice with the environmental movement. We must invite and include all voices if we want a better planet. Please read our Statement of Inclusion about our commitment to diverse programming and a welcoming experience for festival-goers.
