Over 30 Filmmakers & Guest Speakers to Attend ACFF

One of the things that makes the American Conservation Film Festival unique is its inclusion of filmmakers and conservation experts in the Festival weekend. This year, a record number of 33 of these special guests will be joining the festivities, speaking about their films, and participating in the Conservation Filmmaker Workshop.

The Festival opens with a special preview event on Thursday, October 22^nd at the National Conservation Training Center with two films – All Over the Map: I Dream of Seney and The Power of One Voice: A 50-Year Perspective on the Life of Rachel Carson – both followed by Q and A sessions with their filmmakers, Peter Schriemer and Mark Dixon, respectively.

The two film blocks opening the Festival on Friday night, October 23, offer intimate glimpses into West Virginia issues and American west issues. The Wild, Wonderful, Endangered West Virginia block at the Byrd Center for Legislative Studies features three films on West Virginia coal and water wars and their filmmakers. The Broncos and Bison: Threats to Western Wildlife block at the Opera House features the much-heralded film, Unbranded, about efforts to save wild mustangs and the student-made film Silencing the Thunder about the plight of Montana’s bison. Dennis Aig, producer of Unbranded, and Eddie Roqueta, director of Silencing the Thunder, will introduce their films and take questions from the audience.

Of the 16 blocks of conservation-themed films at the Festival, 13 blocks will include an opportunity to discuss the films with the filmmakers or subject matter experts close to the issues featured in the films. In the Family Block – Charismatic Critters for Curious Kids and Their Parents – the filmmakers of The Flamingo Factory will talk about their project to protect East Africa’s millions of flamingos and Mark Madison, Historian at the Fish & Wildlife Service, will present a “Suitcase for Survival,” a hands-on education tool kit to teach youth about endangered species.

Neil Losin, filmmaker of ACFF’s Broadcast Award winner Islands of Creation, will discuss his fascinating film on the evolution of species as well as give the introductory keynote address at the Conservation Filmmaker Workshop which opens Saturday morning, October 24, at the National Conservation Training Center.

The following filmmakers may be contacted for interviews by email:

Christy and Turk Pipkin –    Film –Flamingo Factory
Eddie Roqueta –    Film – Silencing the Thunder
Dennis Aig –    Film – Unbranded
Nick and Cheryl Dean    Film – Life on Wallace’s Line
Susan Keegan   Film – Dare to Be Wild

For a complete list of films, discussion sessions, and special guests, please visit the ACFF website at http://conservationfilm.org/schedule/.