NATURETRACK FILM FESTIVAL ~ WRAPPING UP 2021 EDITION
(Los Olivos, CA) Combining the 4th Annual NatureTrack Film Festival with the Los Olivos celebration of small-town life ‘Day in the Country’ brought out record numbers of people, especially after the long lockdown. This was the first time the NTFF was live and in-person for one-day since its’ abrupt halt in the face of COVID-19 in March 2020. Festival organizers followed the Pop-Up live with a two-week virtual run of the all-nature related films, allowing the audience to be worldwide, not just local. “It’s very exciting when the films we’ve chosen get such wide exposure. Many of our filmmakers have had films in each year and they make our film festival stand out in the crowd,” said Founder Sue Eisaguirre. One of those remarkable filmmakers John Dutton, whose award-winning “Discover Wonder: The Octopus Garden” was included in this event, said “(NatureTrack) is one of my favorite film festivals on the nature circuit…extremely well-organized with a great selection of films. They host many educational activities promoting the appreciation of nature.” Luis Palomino Benítez of “Flying with Spider Monkeys” also lauded the “fantastic staff, helpful and friendly,” with a nod to the selection and talent his film was among, he added, “I wish I could have attended.” Stats for this year’s virtual event which ran from October 17 to 31: 2775 streams, and 407 passes. Audiences ranging from India, Spain and Germany to strong showings in U.S. on East & West Coasts especially, with Colorado making the charts.
Next year is a milestone for NatureTrack Film Festival - the 5th annual celebration of connecting people to nature and the organizers have plans to get back to an in-person festival for three-days, and possibly expand it further… you’ll have to ‘stay-tuned’ to find out all that’s in store. The virtual part of the festival will remain a steady heartbeat for all future festivals. Follow us on our website or Facebook to keep up with the latest news.
Making its’ World Premiere at the NTFF, was a documentary co-produced by NatureTrack with Golden Cage Films – Mitchka Saberi and Francisco Lopez. “The Accessible Outdoors” shows how a manual wheelchair user can transform their chair into an all-terrain vehicle using Freedom Trax while investigating the importance of connection and access to nature for all people. Receiving such a warm reception and engagement with the film at NTFF, the filmmakers noted how the disabled audience members present were able to see a problem they've surely experienced firsthand reflected on screen, and were excited by one possible solution in the Freedom Trax devices.
Using the Freedom Trax removes barriers to accessing beaches and trails for wheelchair users and others with physical disabilities. NatureTrack uses the Freedom Trax so docents, teachers, and students can participate in the outdoor field trip program. NatureTrack has also expanded its program beyond just school trips to include trips for wheelchair users and others with physical disabilities offering trips to beaches and trails throughout the county. Truly expanding the mission from connecting kids to nature, to all people. Eisaguirre added, “As we were shooting the film about incorporating Freedom Trax into NatureTrack’s outdoor field trips for our website, I realized there was more to tell about the lack of access to nature and the outdoors for disabled people. I wanted the film to convey the importance of connection and access to nature for all people. Mitchka and Francisco did just that. I enjoyed working with them!”
In their Director’s statement the pair noted, “Before making this film, we hadn't considered how extensive the topic of disability access is. As two able-bodied people, it wasn't until talking to people with a variety of disabilities we came to realize access to nature isn't an issue to be ignored until it impacts you or someone close to you. We all deserve the ability to experience nature and connect with it, and that ability could easily be taken away from us at any moment. We shouldn't wait until that moment comes to advocate for change in this sector. The film will be submitted to more film festivals across the country and globe. Saberi declared, “We're thrilled to continue sharing the film with audience members of all abilities, hoping everyone can take something away from the topics we address in the film.”
Huge thanks go out to the 70+ volunteers who helped on the film festival as well as staffing the Day in the Country booth, 5K and Fun Run getting the day off to a real running start.
Sponsors for this year’s NTFF get kudos for all the support. They include: The Land Trust of Santa Barbara, Dunn School, We Watch, Solminer Wine Co., Bell Street Restaurant, Global Gardens, Mechanics Bank, FLIR/Teledyne, J. Woeste, Montecito Bank and Trust, First Street Leather, McFadden & McFadden PR, Pacific HR, Visit SYV, El Rancho Market, and great gratitude to St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley for use of their facilities.
At NatureTrack our mission is to inspire students to embrace our natural world with respect and wonder, encouraging them to be stewards of our natural resources; and to prepare school-aged students with the attitudes, leadership skills and habits for lifelong learning. The NatureTrack Film Festival expands upon our core mission by "igniting passion for nature through film." NatureTrack invites filmmakers from around the world to share their adventures, stories, and documentaries with enthusiastic audiences. Located in Los Olivos, in the heart of Santa Barbara County we invite you to discover a film festival supporting the next generation of environmental stewards.
NatureTrack is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides cost-free outdoor field trips for Santa Barbara County school-aged children, utilizing local trails and beaches throughout the county. And, now provides field trips for wheelchair users of all ages. Funds raised in the film festival support the year-round expenses for NatureTrack.
https://NatureTrackFilmFestival.org
