Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Making Waves Recipient, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
With the goal of banding 100,000 birds, this film follows Tom and Paula Bartlett on their quest throughout northwest Ohio, and the impact they have not only on bird research, but those they meet along the way.
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Filmmaker in Attendance
A mother-daughter group learns valuable life and wilderness skills in one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the world, powered only by their own two feet and a team of four legged friends. With multiple trips to the North Pole, South Pole, Greenland, and Svalbard on her resume, she is embarking on one of her greatest adventures yet: motherhood.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
Cutting-edge underwater drones explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive quagga mussels are re-engineering the ecosystem of the Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. Part scientific exploration, part natural history adventure – the film shines a spotlight on freshwater wildlife and environments like never before.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
In ‘Belonging,’ follow Dalorian, a student in the college course GCST 1970, as he embarks on a journey through nature-based education and environmental justice. Exploring serene Minnesota lakes and the Bois Forte Museum, he and his classmates confront a profound question: What does it mean to belong in nature? This film weaves raw, poetic visuals with deep reflections on identity and community, highlighting their transformative experience in understanding their connection to the natural world.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly
Born in the Barn: Part 6 “Last Game in the Barn” - The 1990’s bring another generation of Ewen-Trout Creek Panther girls and boys ballers on the court for many records, hard losses, and a lifetime of memories. The Last Game in the Barn is played in 1998. The 2022 team continues to dominate the tournaments with a quarterfinal win, sending the E-TC boys downstate for the first time in 40 years. “Born in the Barn” is an 8-part docu-series completed in 2024.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Has Subtitles
Migration season is when the Chicago Collision Bird Monitors are the busiest, looking for birds that have flown into windows, as Mother Nature literally slams into the urban environment. Broken Flight introduces us to the volunteers, scientists and veterinarians who rescue, study and catalog these amazing avian species.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere
In his junior year of high school, Travis Sterner attempted to end his life. DAD BOD is the story of that day and Travis’s lifelong mission to break the cycle of depression and despair through fitness, empathy, and encouragement.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Adult Language
Special Program: Saturday Night with Katie Burrell! Katie is a comedian, actor, director, screenwriter, influencer, and “professional leisure athlete.” With a background in stand-up comedy and improv, her character driven creative skills have ranged from award-winning films ‘Dream Job’ and ‘Coach’ to viral brand content on social media. This past year, Katie wrote, directed and starred in her first feature film, WEAK LAYERS, which was in theatres in January 2024 and is now streaming.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Adult Language, Staff Pick
The city lifestyle left New York City artist Lala feeling hollow, forcing her to make the bold decision of uprooting herself and seeking solace in the untamed landscapes somewhere far west. Stripped of the familiar comforts of running water, electricity, and constant connectivity, she faces the daunting challenge of building a bountiful life from scratch.
Michigan Premiere, Filmmaker in Attendance
While navigating a myriad of life challenges, Anjelica Avella turned to the outdoors to improve her mental health only to discover a noticeable lack of other plus-size women of color on trail. By posting a simple flyer looking for more women to hike with, Anjelica created a community she never could have imagined.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Has Subtitles, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
For the Frigon, hunting is a family tradition that forges and strengthens the bonds between the generations. For several autumns already, Louis-Henri has been tracking moose with his grandson, Sasha. However, at the dawn of his 81st birthday, old age reminds him that his career as a hunter is now behind him. For the first time this year, Louis-Henri will not go for the hunt and Sasha will leave without him. Goodbye, Hunter offers an intimate look at the transmission of a long family tradition.
First Time Filmmaker, Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
In Gordon, viewers follow the story of a blacksmith based in Marquette, Michigan, during which Gordon Gearhart explains the importance of following one’s own interests.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
Department of Natural Resources officer, Jay Wesley, and two avid outdoorsmen dive into the importance of salmon preservation in one of the top fisheries in the country because of the effect salmon has on the freshwater ecosystem of Michigan.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick
‘In Waves’ gives us a glimpse into the joy that has cultivated a culture of Great Lakes connection. In 2004, visionary Beryl Skrocki founded Sleeping Bear Surf with a dream of sharing the potential for freshwater play. Now, 20 years later, her legacy lives on.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Staff Pick
“It’s Time” is a poetic 3-minute film set in early spring Illinois. Through stunning visuals and lyrical narration, it gives voice to nature. The tree’s awakening becomes a metaphor for environmental awareness. This cinematic ode aspires to plant seeds of change, encouraging viewers to listen to nature’s whispered warnings and become stewards of our shared environment.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Adult Language
Kiko is the Keweenaw’s favorite Brazilian Yooper. He rides bikes, plays accordion, makes a little trouble and tells truths we all probably need to hear. A collaboration of Aaron Peterson Studios and Points North Podcast.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
The Leelanau Conservancy’s long-running, highly trusted water quality program. This video profiles Chase Heise of the Leelanau Conservancy as we venture out onto Lake Leelanau to learn more about their water quality program that has been operating continuously for over 30 years, and the overall health of our freshwater lakes in northern Michigan.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Subject in Attendance
Interviews with tribal knowledge holders about Manoomin (wild rice) during a 6 day workshop/ gathering in Baraga, Michigan
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Staff Pick, Making Waves Recipient
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the birthplace of organized skiing in America.It is also home to the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and one of the oldest ski clubs in the country. This documentary film explores the skiing culture that continues to shape the lives of those who consider themselves Yoopers.
Filmmaker in Attendance
NMU grad Ryan Busch has completed his multi-year epic quest to craft a comprehensive, fun, and action packed feature film on the skiing culture of the Upper Peninsula. This is a trailer for that project which has been supported by the Fresh Coast Making Waves grant and will be showing over the weekend.
Filmmaker in Attendance, World Premiere
What’s a tree worth? From the point of view of a city forester, an ecologist, a firewood harvesting hobbyist, a professor and a philanthropist, we learn about the different relationships people have with their urban forest. Money Tree explores the tangible and intangible values and the importance of this urban biodiversity that often goes unnoticed.
Family Friendly, Filmmaker in Attendance
A look back at one month spent in the beautiful country of Montenegro, recorded with a combination of Super 8 Film, Drone hyperlapses, digital timelapses and handheld sound recording.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
PETE’S CASTLE tells the story of Pete Kelley, creator of Kelley Castle in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. The film follows Pete and his brother Pat as they tour around the castle and recount the process of putting the castle together, piece by piece. Enjoy this amusing synthesis of old-world classical sensibilities and folksy American pragmatism and humor.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere
There’s always been only a few special places in the world where wild rice (known as manoomin to the Ojibwe people), grows. Which made it troubling when manoomin stopped growing in the early 2000’s at Spur Lake, a 113 acre lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. A group of conservation partners who have come together to bring wild rice back to Spur Lake because of its environmental and cultural importance.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Representative in Attendance
Six elementary school girls fly to an island in the middle of Lake Michigan to test their fly fishing skill. The girls are members of a school sponsored Adventure Club that focuses on building community, belonging, and leadership skills to change the narrative of what girls can and can not do. During the two day trip the girls discuss the pressures of growing up in a digital world and the need for nature based connections like fly fishing.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
Embark on an eye-opening journey through the unseen impacts of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes region. Guided by Dr. Sherri Mason and other regional voices, witness the vast extent of contamination pathways, effects of microplastics, and the unexpected toll on human health. Beyond individual action, the film inspires a collective movement for transformative progress toward a plastic-free future.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, World Premiere
The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians is the largest indigenous tribe east of the Mississippi and has been stewarding the fisheries of their Great Lakes territory for generations. This project explores the importance of the fishery to the tribe and how they’re working to ensure a healthy fishery for the next seven generations.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Staff Pick, First Time Filmmaker
Original Bluegrass music plus mountain biking with a twist. All self filmed clips plus editing lead to an illusion of the biker being filmed by himself.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly
The NMU Volleyball team is known for big action when they serve, bump, set, and spike on the court. Off the court, they serve as an example for how we can make changes to take better care of our environment.
Family Friendly, Subject in Attendance, Filmmaker in Attendance
This film tells Emily Lanctot’s story and personal relationship with art and how the beauty of the lakeshore intertwines with her world in art. Emily wears many hats, she’s a working artist, organizer of a local art group, professor in NMU’s art and design program, and the Curator and Director of the Art Museum on campus.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick
THE FISH THIEF: A Great Lakes Mystery, formerly known as RELENTLESS, is a captivating mystery that engages the audience in a battle for the survival of the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth, the Great Lakes. This fascinating true story, narrated by Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, follows remarkable people tackling the mystery of why the most prized fish nearly vanished. The crash destroyed jobs and businesses, and devastated towns, tribal communities, and First Nations across the region.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly
Nick is at Presque Isle Park on a rainy night in Marquette Michigan to witness the migration of the Blue Spotted Salamander. Tyler Penrod from the Superior Watershed Partnership shares his knowledge about these blue spotted friends.
Filmmaker in Attendance, First Time Filmmaker
“The Search” follows Great Lakes Surfer Hunter Lohman on his journey to chase waves and his idea of true happiness. With the mystery and inconsistency that comes with lake surfing, Hunter will persevere through unpredictability to find solidarity and serenity in the places he goes and in the life he has chosen for himself.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
Ghosts towns in the Upper Peninsula aren’t abandoned communities. Some of them are still very much alive. Told from the perspective of the Nahma Inn employees, they recount the spooky and unexplainable happenings that occur on a regular basis.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
To Be A Good Home follows three women who farm and steward land in northern Minnesota. Kaitlyn is a descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, tending her plot at the place of the gardens, Gitigaaning. Starr is an urban farmer, feeding her community near the shores of Gichigami. Hannah is a regenerative farmer, building soil and caring for her herd along Medicine Creek.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Representative in Attendance, Staff Pick
On a mission to clean up Ohio’s leaking, abandoned coal mines, Ohio University Art Professor John Sabraw teams up with an environmental engineer to develop a process that turns the toxic runoff pollution into paint. John’s artwork has been shown all over the world and proceeds have helped numerous environmental organizations and projects, including a new water treatment plant on the Sunday Creek Watershed in southeastern Ohio.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
Spearfishing workshops for all ages facilitated by the Keweenaw Bay Indian community Natural Resource Department.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker, Representative in Attendance, Staff Pick
Troubled Water is an exhilarating adventure, conservation film that beckons viewers to follow along on a transformative journey down the stunning coast of Lake Michigan. As the journey unfolds, the film unveils the significance of the Line 5 pipeline issue, the dire need for collective action and the historic precedent that this movement would establish. If successfully shutdown, it would become the first active pipeline in US history to be terminated before it ruptures.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Family Friendly
An Unangax scientist, delves into her vital research concerning toxic algal blooms affecting filter feeding shellfish—a staple Indigenous food for her people, illuminates the profound connection between the Unangax people and their environment, showcasing the resilience and resourcefulness of a culture in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
Watermarks shows how one person’s dedication and passion for paddling, river surfing, filmmaking, and conservation can have a ripple effect, inspiring others to take action and make a difference in their communities. The story is centered on a program called First Waves, which provides under-resourced youth with the chance to enjoy and protect their local waterways.
Adult Language, Filmmaker in Attendance, Staff Pick
After getting evicted, three party-loving best friends set out to win a ski-movie competition. The prize money covers their rent, but they’ll have to beat out professional skiers and filmmakers. An uproarious comedy that celebrates mountain towns and takes on the male-dominated ski industry.
Filmmaker in Attendance, Has Subtitles, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick
At the age of 13, my father left his homeland, Laos, to seek a brighter future in the United States. Throughout the years, he devoted himself to supporting his family, seldom sharing the details of his past. This film intimately explores the experiences that shaped my father’s understanding of love.