This past year brought Bear Yuba Land Trust the opportunity to produce not one, but two new films in collaboration with local filmmakers. Join BYLT at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival for two new, short films in the “Local Love” session on January 15 at Nevada Theatre.
Open Spaces, Wild Places
“Open Spaces, Wild Places” showcases the scenic beauty of the natural and working lands of California’s Yuba and Bear River watersheds, and highlights the essential conservation work currently underway by Bear Yuba Land Trust to save these places forever. Facing constant threat of conversion and subdivision, the Land Trust is working to protect land, from the blue oak woodlands, upstream to the pine forests in the Sierra high country. Using tools like conservation and trail easements, Bear Yuba Land Trust is partnering with landowners and leading the way on preservation and stewardship of lands, restoration in the face of climate change, supporting our local food systems, and connecting our community to nature on our trails and preserves. Together we can protect our open spaces and wild places–forever. The film is directed, filmed, and edited by Nevada County filmmaker Jeff Litton and produced by Bear Yuba Land Trust.
“With ‘Open Spaces, Wild Places,’ we wanted to tell the story of Bear Yuba Land Trust’s conservation work, and also highlight the scenic beauty of the lands we are working to protect. We’re so fortunate to have a local filmmaker of Jeff’s caliber here and interested in working with us. Jeff really embedded with our staff to visit many of our Preserves and conservation easements. The result is a really lovely short film that we are proud to share with the community at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival.” –Erin Tarr, Executive Director, Bear Yuba Land Trust.
A Wild Independence
BYLT worked with a team of local filmmakers, led by Alden Olmsted to create “A Wild Independence,” which portrays how naturalist John Olmsted turned an abandoned mining ditch into Nevada City’s Independence Trail, the first wheelchair nature trail in the United States. The film highlights the partnership between California State Parks and Bear Yuba Land Trust to care for the trail and the work that lies ahead to rebuild it following 2020’s devastating Jones Fire destroyed the trail’s historic flume structures.
“Working filmmaker Alden Olmsted—son of Independence Trail visionary John Olmsted– was a real treat for the Land Trust. The themes in ‘A Wild Independence’ are universally appealing: community, nature connection, and equitable access to nature. Alden was uniquely able to share a very special story about his father’s work to create Independence Trail. The archival footage in this film is incredible.” –Jorie Emory, Director of Development and Communications, Bear Yuba Land Trust.
KNOW & GO
WHAT: BYLT presents short films “Open Space, Wild Places” and “A Wild Independence” at Wild & Scenic Film Festival
WHEN: Saturday, January 15, 4:45 PM
WHERE: Nevada Theatre
COST: $30
INFO: Tickets online at wildandscenicfilmfestival.org