2024 • USA • 34 min • Scott Ballew

Adult Language, Staff Pick

In the late 60’s a group of poets, writers and musicians descended upon the southernmost point of the United States to pursue their love of literature and fishing. Initiated by Tom McGuane - the prodigal son of American Literature in the 1970’s - his friends Jim Harrison, Richard Brautigan, Russell Chatham and Jimmy Buffett soon joined him. This crew and that era were captured on film by Guy De La Valdene and Christian Odasso in an obscure documentary called “Tarpon” in 1974. They went on to create some of the best art, poetry, novels, and music of their generation - but there will never be anything like Key West in the early 70’s. If you were lucky to survive it.

2024 • Canada • 90 min • Yvonne Drebert & Zach Melnick

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.

2023 • USA • 16 min • Danami-Maurice

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.

2022 • USA • 6 min • Henry Schenkel

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.

2024 • USA • 12 min • Ryan Broussard and Joshua Sisolak

First Time Filmmaker, Michigan Premiere

The mayor of an island off the coast of Virginia hopes to have his town saved from rising tides.

2023 • USA • 10 min • Mark Stewart Iverson

Family Friendly, Representative in Attendance, Michigan Premiere

The Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA) was founded 30 years ago by Bob Penney with a strong and clear mission: sustain the local King salmon population in order to preserve the Kenai’s status as the greatest sportfishing river in the world. Over the years the organization has grown, developing numerous conservation and sustainability projects to support the health of this one-of-a-kind waterway – several of which are explored in the film.

2024 • USA • 4 min • Nick & Chris Loud

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.

2024 • USA • 19 min • Lea Rodbarry & Jonathan Mullen

Family Friendly

In the rivers that flow through our neighborhoods lives an unseen but important creature: the freshwater mussel. These mussels perform key ecosystem services, including a remarkable capacity to filter and clean water. Once almost extinct and now struggling to make a comeback in DuPage County’s urban waterways, freshwater mussels need help.

2023 • USA • 32 min • John Curtis

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.

2024 • USA • 2 min • Charlie Baker

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.

2023 • USA • 91 min • Thomas Lindsey Haskin

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.

2022 • USA • 8 min • Steve Brimm

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.

2023 • USA • 71 min • Davis Huber

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.