Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance
Food security is an issue for residents of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. (In)Security explores the food systems in the U.P., and how a few organizations are working to improve access to quality food.
80+ New Films for 2025
Adventure. Conservation. Inspiration.
(In)Security
1969: Killers, Freaks, and Radicals
Filmmaker in Attendance, First Time Filmmaker, Adult Language, Adult Themes, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick
Amid the radical politics and cultural upheaval of the late 1960s, a series of brutal murders targeting young women gripped the twin university towns of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan. This independent documentary examines not just a series of crimes, but the social and political tensions that enabled them—many of which still resonate today.
A Caregivers Journey
Family Friendly
A Caregivers Journey puts a spotlight on the lives and experiences of two Michigan caregivers who are caring for their aging loved ones. It’s a heartfelt first-hand look at the joy and challenges that come with caregiving.
A Paranormal Night in Eagle Harbor Lighthouse
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
On the shores of the Keweenaw Peninsula, a group of paranormal investigators break out their ghost hunting equipment and expertise to prove the historic Eagle Harbor Lighthouse is haunted. But their evidence leaves some unconvinced.
A Seething Underneath: Water Contamination in Wisconsin
Filmmaker in Attendance, World Premiere
A Seething Underneath explores the stories of three Wisconsin communities grappling with the devastating challenges posed by water contamination – from lead in Milwaukee’s drinking water, to nitrate-polluted groundwater in the state’s farm country, to the threats posed by factory farming on the shores of Lake Superior.
A Wilderness Act
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere
Indigenous and Western ways of knowing come together through the collaboration of a Anishinaabe scholar and college professor to redefine our understanding of wilderness and argue for the return of fire to our forests.
An Outlook on Your Life
Family Friendly, Student Filmmaker, First Time Filmmaker
A visual essay from a first-time filmmaker explores how life is beautiful and complex. Enjoy every second of every day you have in this life. One day it will all be gone.
Asylum: Not Abandoned (Sizzle Reel)
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Work in Progress
Filmmaker Kate Arpke Houle unravels her father’s unusual childhood inside a rural Wisconsin mental hospital, where he and his siblings grew up among patients. Not Abandoned explores family, resilience, and confronting darkness with curiosity in this unfolding Midwestern tale.
Beneath The Surface
Michigan Premiere
Set against the breathtaking landscape of the Great Lakes, Beneath The Surface follows a group of young girls from a Northern Michigan town as they embark on a summer of self-discovery and adventure including the challenging art of spearfishing in the cold, clear waters of the Great Lakes.
Beyond the Ashes
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
In November 2016 Gatlinburg, Tennessee was devastated by a wildfire that impacted thousands of families and businesses. Beyond the Ashes tells the stories of the families and businesses affected by the fire and how one city demonstrated resilience during its darkest times.
Bloodhound Dog
Filmmaker in Attendance, Has Subtitles, Michigan Premiere
Bloodhound dog handlers have an essential role in Québec’s hunting ecosystem. Thanks to them, a large number of wounded and lost animals are found during hunting season. Meet Yves Martineau as he follows the long waits and intense searches that come with the job.
Bouncy Brothers
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Michigan Premiere
Bouncy Brothers examines the unspoken bond of brotherhood and what it looks like to take a second crack at the American dream.
Boundless Water
Filmmaker in Attendance
“Boundless Waters” tells the story of Jorden Susewitz - a seasoned conventional fisherman who had seemingly reached the pinnacle of his smallmouth bass pursuits. Feeling a sense of stagnation, he discovered the art of fly fishing, igniting a newfound passion and opening up a world of angling opportunities.
Breaking Ice: The Making of Cracks in the Ice
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
“Breaking Ice” follows photographer Jason Lindsey creating his “Cracks in the Ice” series after his son Björn asked what the world will look like due to climate change. Unable to give clear answers to a child who craves stability due to his medical history, Lindsey turns to art to explore this question.
Camp Daggett - A Centennial Celebration
Family Friendly
A heartwarming tribute, this centennial documentary celebrates tradition, nature, and the lasting impact of Camp Daggett on Northern Michigan families.
Choosing Trail
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, World Premiere
Trail systems don’t just happen. They often evolve from the labor of invisible builders digging for fun, into networks, communities and economies. But what happens when the lands beneath the trails aren’t controlled by the trail organizations? And whose job is it to fund and maintain these trails? This is a look at the Marquette, Michigan region, home to thriving trail systems, but also in need of housing and jobs that can threaten trail sustainability.
Citizen: The Jilmar Ramos Gomez Story
Filmmaker in Attendance, Has Subtitles
“Citizen” explores the near deportation of Grand Rapids, Michigan-born U.S. citizen, Marine, and combat veteran Jilmar Ramos Gomez. This film scrutinizes the system that nearly expelled him, the collaboration between local law enforcement and I.C.E., and raises critical questions about who gets to define what it means to be American.
Color Out Here: Breaking Ice & Building Community
First Time Filmmaker, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Filmmaker in Attendance
Rooted in the core values of uplifting representation, place, and public learning, this segment follows Alice Lyn and community members on a powerful journey to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where they learn to ice climb at Michigan Ice Fest.
Color Out Here is a TV show highlighting BIPOC representation in the outdoors through Public Learning, Representation, and Place. Each episode explores outdoor activities, unique environmental narratives, and the intersection of identity with nature, inspiring inclusion and advocacy for equitable access to outdoor spaces.
Detroit to Gloryland
Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Representative in Attendance
Eight Detroit youth venture to Yosemite National Park to meet legendary Park Ranger and fellow Detroiter, Shelton Johnson. A homecoming in the High Sierra ensues and the next generation is inspired to connect with and protect precious outdoor spaces.
Dinosaur Fish
Filmmaker in Attendance
The Lake Sturgeon has existed virtually unchanged for more than 130 million years. It survived a meteor impact, it outlived the dinosaurs but we’ve found out it couldn’t survive human development. With only 1% remaining in the Great Lakes, conservationists in Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay are working to bring this icon species back to the waters.
Driven Apart
First Time Filmmaker, Filmmaker in Attendance, Student Filmmaker
A documentary about urbanism and life on the road- how is a car centric society changing the way we interact?
Edgelands
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Making Waves Recipient
Using relationship as a method of storytelling, Edgelands explores urban green spaces to see what’s thriving despite impositions of modern infrastructure.
Entrepreneur
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
What does it take to start a small business in rural Wisconsin? ENTREPRENEUR explores the stories of four interconnected businesses in a historic building in downtown Rhinelander.
Feature Previews | FCFF Free!
A mashup of teasers for the amazing feature films on offer at Fresh Coast 2025!
First Waves Beaver County
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
First Waves Beaver County documents the expansion of the Watersmith Guild’s groundbreaking youth environmental education program into the Beaver and Ohio River valleys in the aftermath of the ethylene cracker plant’s penalties for pollution.
Flowing Forward
Filmmaker in Attendance
Mud-thick boots, cold farmers, an adze chopping holes for tiny trees in a huge field. These are memorable images from a film that follows one recent restoration project of Ohio’s Black Swamp Conservancy to tell the larger story of the history and mission of the Conservancy.
For Nokomis
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Student Filmmaker
A short documentary about three generations of Ojibwe women from L’Anse, Michigan, sharing their stories about intergenerational trauma.
GHOSTBIKE
Filmmaker in Attendance, First Time Filmmaker
Love and forgiveness are the telling messages in this real life story of a family whose lives changed in a split second due to distracted driving.
Gigiigemin Baaga’adoweyang “We are healed by stickball”
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
In its creation story, the game of Baaga’adowewin is given as a gift and tool for life. After forced assimilation, the game was suppressed and remained dormant for almost a century. This film shares the return of Baaga’adowewin, or stickball, as Ojibwe communities walk the path of cultural revitalization and exercise their treaty rights to continue to heal from historical traumas and overcome challenges of today.
GOLD the Documentary
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Adult Language, Adult Themes, Nudity, Staff Pick
GOLD is a documentary exploring the lives of four current dancers and the owner of the Gold Nugget strip club in Spread Eagle, Wisconsin. The film focuses heavily on Dusty’s story, who was a dancer in the 90s. She has owned the club for 30 years, and runs the club in a way that empowers women, guiding them to further education, encourages them toward sobriety, and offers respect and support through unconditional (and sometimes tough) love.
Green Blah: The History of Green Bay Punk Rock
Filmmaker in Attendance, Adult Language, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Staff Pick
Green Blah! The History of Green Bay Punk Rock is a documentary that tells the story of the punk scene of Green Bay, WI. Green Bay is the hometown of the smallest NFL franchise, the Green Bay Packers. It’s also home to paper mills, pickle factories and cheese curds. Green Bay fostered a punk scene that spawned from meager beginnings and had a hard-core roster of local punk bands some with ties to the football team itself!!
Haagua
Has Subtitles, Subject in Attendance, Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Family Friendly, Representative in Attendance
Over 400 years ago, a major disturbance disrupted nature’s law along the West Coast, reshaping coastlines, Indigenous life, and traditions. Now, a new wave emerges, allowing Indigenous communities to thrive in harmony with nature. Haagua portrays the deep bond between Great Great-Grandmother Ocean and her great-grandchildren, where surfing is more than a sport—it is a cultural revival, reconnecting with ancestral ways of life.
Honk for Peace
Subject in Attendance, First Time Filmmaker
In the wake of the Iraq war, anti-war protesters began gathering on a street corner in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Twenty years later, a small but dedicated group still gathers, their message unchanged.
ʻAʻā (An Islands Twinkle)
Family Friendly
A cross pacific journey to find one’s homeland on a 26 foot voyaging canoe. Join a pacific islanders path from learning the stars to eventually re discovering their island.
Is It Worth It?
Adult Language, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Student Filmmaker
A 17-year-old’s first film offers an intimate look at the climate crisis, current events and a trip West through a teenagers eyes. It is brave to admit you are scared.
Lake Leelanau, Spirit of the Lake
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly
Blending stunning visuals, heartfelt stories, and expert perspectives, “Lake Leelanau, Spirit of the Lake” is a heartfelt tribute to a lake that continues to shape the identity and memories of its community.
Land of Lost Toys
Filmmaker in Attendance, Adult Language, Has Subtitles, Staff Pick
In the heart of Detroit, a city with a rich history and a tapestry of diverse communities, “Land of Lost Toys” follows the interconnected lives of its residents, brought together by a shared passion to combat the city’s vast stray dog epidemic. This mosaic of characters carry their own burdens and dreams, navigating the challenges of life in Detroit. With conflicted views on the breeding, spaying and neutering this group of characters discuss the saddening results of disposability culture, lack of municipal support and overall care for “humans’ best friend”. Following our lead character James, we get a unique look into the world of dog fostering and rescuing as he navigates his own internal hardships and the emotional support dogs bring to him.
Language Back
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere
A short documentary about the importance of Native American language revitalization shot in Milwaukee, Keshena and Bjorklunden with Indigenous Nations Poets
Like Thunder
Michigan Premiere, Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Adult Themes
In 2022, 17-year-old Marquette High School student Jordan DeMay’s life ended. What looked like a suicide revealed something far more sinister, an international scheme that preyed on his trust.
Love & Sugar
Family Friendly
Love & Sugar celebrates how Stephen Loveland, renowned Saint Paul, Minnesota ice cream man, purposefully inspires kindness.
Make the Time
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance
“Make the Time” is a film that follows two friends on a canoe trip through Canada’s backcountry, beginning and ending at Lake Missinaibi. The story is filled with stunning landscapes, laughter, and moments of personal challenge. Embark on an unforgettable journey with Danielle and Tim as they paddle across pristine lakes and navigate twenty portages, including one uniquely by train! It’s a heartfelt reminder to make time for adventure, friendship, and what truly matters.
Mississippi Speed Record: An Epic Adventure
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Filmmaker in Attendance
Four paddlers race against time to break the Guinness World Record on the mighty Mississippi—2,340 miles of brutal conditions and sleep deprivation, paddling 24/7 for over two weeks. With a large support crew behind them, it becomes clear that a record like this can’t be broken with skill alone—they’ll need teamwork, strategy, and a bit of luck.
Mother River
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
A look into Devin Brown’s journey as she seeks to be the First black female on record to kayak the entire Mississippi River.
Of The Black Sea
Has Subtitles, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
Join Turkic-American pro-skier, Giray Dadali, on his journey to answer a life-long question: Which has a greater influence; the heritage from which you descended or the culture in which you were raised?
Of Two Worlds
Filmmaker in Attendance
The story of hardship, growth and resilience many indigenous women experience.
Our Terrain
Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
Missouri isn’t a place most people think of when they think of ultra running. But it’s here on the rolling hills and chunky karst terrain where race director Shalini Bhajjan has built Terrain Trail Runners, a community of long distance ultra trail runners. Follow along as three members of this community set out to complete Shalini’s toughest race and run 100 miles through extreme weather in the Ozark foothills.
Platte To Platte
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
Grant takes an unconventional road trip in a tiny 33 year old kei car from Japan, with a simple goal: to challenge the narrative that electric vehicles are the greener choice.
Pulse of the Great Lakes
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Student Filmmaker
A look at the annual efforts to deploy and maintain the data collecting buoys by the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences. From scientists and sailors to weather forecasters and beachgoers, these buoys play an integral part of our lives to help us better understand and respond to the changing conditions of the Great Lakes.
Restoring Northern Michigan's Rivers
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Representative in Attendance
From Rugg Pond Dam on the Rapid River in Kalkaska County to the Crystal River in Leelanau County, this film follows the Conservation Resource Alliance’s River Care program and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians as they restore Northern Michigan’s rivers—reconnecting waters, renewing habitats, and honoring cultural ties.
Resurgo: Detroit
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
Detroit endured six decades of massive disinvestment, losing its primary industry in what is often described as the largest economic withdrawal in U.S. history. Its industry collapsed, its skyline dimmed. Yet the city’s spirit refused to vanish. Some call what followed the greatest comeback story in the nation. Others insist Detroit never left at all.
Now, through the eyes of a two-time Emmy Award–winning filmmaker and the voice of a celebrated poet, comes a story told from the ground up. Drawn from a twenty-year archive of over three million photographs and thousands of hours of unseen footage, this cinematic journey redefines an iconic city through the lives of the people who lived it.
Return of the Lake Sturgeon
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
Green Bay Lake Sturgeon during their spring spawning run are blocked from traveling up the Menominee River by the first set of dams. The 12-minute documentary explores the sturgeon lift operation, how the sturgeon make their way past the dams and spawn 22 miles upriver at the Grand Rapids Dam.
Reviving the Legend
Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick, Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker
With a single Facebook post, a small mountain in upstate New York received national attention and captured the hearts of the entire ski industry.
Roots
Has Subtitles
In the Dominican Republic, baseball is more than just a sport—it’s a way of life. Every child dreams of playing in the “big leagues,” and nearly every adult knows someone who has. However, as the nation’s passion for baseball flourishes, its natural environment is under threat from rapid development. Mangroves, which provide vital ecological benefits, are being destroyed to make way for new infrastructure. Despite this, there is hope.
Saving The Night Caller | Uncovering Echoes In The Dark
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
A hauntingly beautiful conservation documentary that follows wildlife researchers from Birds Canada and the University of Waterloo deep into the forests of southwestern Ontario, Canada to uncover the mysterious world of the Eastern Whip-poor-will — a nocturnal bird whose call once echoed across the night, and is now slowly falling silent.
ScrapFest: An Artist's Journey
Filmmaker in Attendance
“ScrapFest: An Artist’s Journey” chronicles the transformation of an artist as he turns scrap metal into stunning sculptures—celebrating resilience, community, and reclaimed beauty. Embracing sobriety, Andrew carved out his own second chance while also giving new life to scrap, crafting beautiful pieces that express his experiences and himself.
Snail Hunters
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
A team of evolutionary biologists from the University of Idaho travels to the Galápagos Islands to solve the Earth’s biodiversity crisis. The twist? They aren’t studying the iconic tortoises or blue footed boobies on this storied archipelago—they are Snail Hunters, studying a more unlikely subject in the crucible of evolution. By understanding the unique traits that make snails a champion of coexistence, the multi-disciplinary scientists hope to unlock a brighter future for humanity and the planet.
Somber Tides
Has Subtitles, Nudity
Somber Tides is a cry from the species, startled into survival against the elements. One last breath before being trampled by the Earth or maybe conversely a battle to wage against winds and tides clutching on before extinction.
Something in the Water
Filmmaker in Attendance
_Something in the Water _follows five water justice advocates who discuss how Milwaukee’s Black communities are disproportionately being lead poisoned, the debilitating effects it has on residents’ health, and their hopes to see equitable change that will heal the water and Black resident’s relationship to it.
Sueños De Una Monarca (Dreams of a Monarch)
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Has Subtitles, First Time Filmmaker, World Premiere, Making Waves Recipient, Staff Pick
After turning her Chicago home into a monarch butterfly sanctuary, Claudia Galeno-Sánchez, an environmental activist, Mexican immigrant, and mother is on a mission to save the monarch butterfly, an important symbol for both her family and millions of others in the United States.
Taste of Home
Filmmaker in Attendance, Has Subtitles, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Representative in Attendance
Taste of Home follows Mimi and Eak, a Thai couple who run a beloved restaurant in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Through a blend of vérité footage and intimate interviews, we observe a full day in their lives, from morning prep to closing time, they navigate the joys and challenges of running an authentic Thai kitchen in America.
The Bird and the Bee
Adult Language, Filmmaker in Attendance
How does a satire comedy website find itself on the front lines of the debate over free speech online? Seth Dillon and his team at the Babylon Bee,tell the story of how they unwittingly found themselves at war with Twitter over a joke, eventually garnering the attention of Elon Musk and ushering in a new era for the social media company.
The Bird House | On The Edge At Long Point
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
Filmed over two field seasons spanning three years, The Bird House tells the story of the impacts of weather, storms and high water at Canada’s most isolated bird banding and research station located at the tip of a 20-mile long wind-swept sandspit in the middle of Lake Erie.
The Celebration
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
A dedicated group of paddlers embarks on a seven-day journey along Vermont’s Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers, celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Wild & Scenic designation.
The Developer
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Adult Language, Staff Pick
The Developer is about outdoor climbing areas and how they are discovered, established, and maintained. Follow Michigan climber Brendan Baars and his journey to put The Nooks — a newly developed crag in northern Ontario — on the climbing community’s map.
The End of the World
Family Friendly, Representative in Attendance
Maxime Chabloz is a seafarer, a man of the sea, a versatile athlete and a lover of the wind and watersports. Often surrounded by the ocean and other enthusiasts, this time he decides to go alone on a unique journey to the end of the world and this ode to the sea.
The Forest
Filmmaker in Attendance
The definition of a trophy hunt is different for all hunters. This adventure and the path is my trophy taken. The Forest features the opportunity to go afield in the wild places of Northern Michigan’s pristine public lands in search of whitetail deer and your own personal adventure.
The Grand Ride
Filmmaker in Attendance, Staff Pick
The Grand Ride follows Grand Rapids, Michigan rider Patrick Ellis as he carves his way through West Michigan’s best mountain bike trails. From the punchy climbs of Richmond Park to the fast flow of The Underground and the lush loops of The Bike Park this film is a love letter to the region’s growing trail network and tight-knit riding community.
The Healing Soil: Detroit's Urban Farming
Has Subtitles, Representative in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Family Friendly
Urban farming empowers Detroiters to reclaim their food supply. Three Detroiters to share what urban farming does for them emotionally and physically. Their stories are unique, but all use urban gardening to connect with their communities and understand what’s going in their bodies.
The Iceland Cycling Expedition: A Rigorous Journey to End Myeloma
Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker
A team of 15 multiple myeloma survivors, care partners, and world-renowned physicians, embarks on the Iceland Cycling Expedition (ICE). Their mission: to cycle through Iceland’s rugged landscape to raise critical funds for groundbreaking myeloma research.
The Inner Sea
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
The Inner Sea is an unconventional love story–a story about music, adoption, the journey of a lifetime, and a bright blue 40 foot school bus. This film explores the complex issues of identity that result from the decision to place a child for adoption. It is also a film that explores the role that art plays in suffering, and healing.
The Invisible Mammal
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Staff Pick
Against the backdrop of the sixth mass extinction, an all-woman team of biologists set out to save bats from a deadly fungal disease, but when the COVID-19 pandemic interrupts their work, they are sent down a path of discovery that illuminates the connections between bat conservation and the spread of infectious disease.
The Last to Leave | saving the ash tree from extinction
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
The film tells the story of how researchers discover ‘lingering ash’ trees, and use them to genetically breed emerald ash borer resistant trees. They hope to someday plant resistant trees back in forests across the country. A production from Points North Podcast & The Boardman Review in partnership with Great Lakes Now / Detroit PBS.
The Life We Have
Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
For over three years, Rob Shaver, 48, has run at least a mile every single day. Through rain, pain, and the weight of a terminal cancer diagnosis, his daily streak has become more than a habit — it’s an act of resilience, a step-by-step refusal to surrender to his disease.
The Little Ancestor
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
On a windswept hill, in a place still young and devoid of all life, an ancestral house builds itself. The house comes to life and unveils its long life of one hundred and fifty years. Brick by brick and beam by beam, each action, big or small, shows life. Over the years, it leads us to feel the passage of time, the transformations of its surroundings and its vulnerability in the face of the unstoppable frenzy of our urban growth. The house evolves quietly in the heart of a growing and buzzing city that will eventually bring its end.
The Seven Grandfathers Teachings
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Representative in Attendance
The Seven Grandfathers Teachings sculpture, created by renowned Anishinaabeg artist Jason Quigno, is an installation in the public art collection of the City of Marquette that honors the foundational principles of Anishinaabe culture.
The Spirit Gardens at Bad River
Michigan Premiere, Family Friendly, World Premiere, Representative in Attendance, Filmmaker in Attendance
The pristine waters and winding channels of the the Bad River and Kakagon Sloughs hold the largest wild rice beds in the Great Lakes. Managed through time by the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the sloughs are recognized internationally for their exceptional quality. They also remain under threat from an aging oil pipeline and impacts of climate change. The video is a segment of an upcoming hour-long documentary, Estuaries in the Balance: Freshwater Nurseries of Lake Superior, which is being produced by Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education.
The Voice Behind Art
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker, Student Filmmaker
For many, art is simply something to be observed and appreciated; for others, it serves as an outlet, a form of expression, and even a way of life. The Voice Behind Art delves into the minds of three artists, offering an intimate glimpse into their creative processes and stories. Experiencing art is powerful, but understanding the artist is personal.
The Wild Mile: A River Reborn
Michigan Premiere
Explore the evolution and transformation of a stretch of the Chicago River into a thriving habitat and neighborhood fixture through the Wild Mile, the world’s first floating eco-park planned and developed by nonprofit Urban Rivers.
To Trinity
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Student Filmmaker
When a father is faced with health issues caused by nearby petrochemical plants, he must make a decision: stay and fight for his community, or leave and save his family.
Trust
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly
This story is about the relationship between an ARCHERY TECH
and a HUNTER who holds a once-in-a-lifetime archery elk tag in Utah.
Turtle Walker
Has Subtitles, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Staff Pick
In the late 1970s, Satish Bhaskar embarked on an epic journey along India’s coastline and the spectacular Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he uncovered the vital nesting beaches of sea turtles. During his death-defying quest, he unravels mysteries surrounding these enigmatic ocean creatures – and sets out to save them from extinction.
Voices of The Grand River
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker, Student Filmmaker
Ron Yob, chairman of the Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, seeks to gain federal recognition for his tribe from the federal government. Through Yob’s fight, he walks viewers through the historical evidence of the tribe’s presence in Grand Rapids to understand why the tribes deserve their federal rights.
Weathering the Change: Climate Adaptation at Rush Creek
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Filmmaker in Attendance
In the face of climate change, Wisconsin conservationists are protecting the plants and wildlife at Rush Creek State Natural Area. Using fire and innovative adaptive techniques, their proactive approach offers a model for building resilience across our natural spaces in an uncertain future. In partnership with the Natural Resources Foundation of WI.
When I'm in the Water
Family Friendly, Staff Pick
When I’m in the Water is a film centered around a group of women, called the Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage, in Cape Cod, Mass. fighting to revitalize not only their own lives and the lives of their fellow group members, but the ecosystems consisting of hundreds of ponds in the Cape. Throughout their journey to clean up the ponds, members of the group have found an accepting and supporting community to aid them in their personal journeys, harnessing their mental fortitude and discovering physical strength at their age.
Where the Wind Takes You
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Filmmaker in Attendance
Following in his father’s footsteps of polar exploration, captain Peter Schurke takes us up the West coast of Svalbard in a small sailboat, dwarfed by the towering mountains of this arctic archipelago.
Wired to Inspire: Riding the La Crosse Omnium
Filmmaker in Attendance
Elite cyclist Noah Collins reflects on his journey in the sport while hoping to inspire the next generation as he competes in the La Crosse Omnium in La Crosse, WI, the only three-day omnium in the United States.
Your Last Best: A Memphis Rox Story
Hope comes to a South Memphis neighborhood that has struggled with basic resources. It takes the unlikely form of a climbing gym, where Jarmond Johnson and others experience different outcomes on the wall.
Yours, Marquette: A Project Knot Work FIlm
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker, Student Filmmaker
A perspective of life in Marquette, MI through the lens of Project Knot Work, a community of 12 self-directed homeschooled kids.