Nevada City, CA — The South Yuba River Citizens League’s 24th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival returns February 19-23, 2026, with its most comprehensive programming yet. While powerful environmental and adventure films remain at the heart of the festival, this year’s event expands far beyond the screen with an Activist Center featuring expert speakers and panel discussions, an EnviroFair, Happy Hours, an Art Exhibition, plus guided excursions. The full schedule is now available at wildandscenicfilmfestival.org, where you can also purchase tickets and passes.
The festival’s Earthjustice Activist Center located in City Hall in Nevada City will host a number of sessions throughout the event, bringing together environmental leaders, filmmakers, scientists, and community organizers to explore this year’s theme: “Mobilize.”
Topics include:
- Impacts of National Policy on the Environmental Movement in CA featuring California’s Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Executive Director of the California Coastkeeper Alliance Sean Bothwell, and SYRCL’s Executive Director, Dr. Aaron Zettler-Mann
- A Conversation about Land Back Movements featuring the Executive Director of the California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project Shelly Covert and the Executive Director of Bear Yuba Land Trust Erin Tarr
- A Conversation on how the Paths of John Muir and the Buffalo Soldiers Connected here in Nevada County featuring the Great Great Grandson of John Muir Robert Hannah and Nevada County Historian Linda Jack, and moderated by the Founder of the In Solidarity Project and co-founder of The Outdoorist Oath Teresa Baker
- An Exploration of How to Organize and Mobilize Communities through Grassroots Organization featuring founding member of SYRCL Roger Hicks, Kathy Dotson from Indivisible Nevada County, and SYRCL’s Policy Director Traci Sheehan
“Films inspire us, but real change happens when people connect, learn from experts, and take action together,” said Festival Director Eric Dunn. “Our non-film programming creates space for those conversations and provides pathways for festival attendees to get involved, mobilize, and protect wild places.”
The panels and discussions at the Activist Center complement the festival’s signature film programming, which showcases over 110 environmental films from around the world. All screenings, panels, and events take place at venues throughout historic Nevada City and Grass Valley.
This year’s festival theme, “Mobilize,” celebrates movements that create tangible change — from grassroots resistance to international coalitions, from Indigenous land stewards to youth climate strikers. The expanded programming reflects this call to action, providing tools, connections, and inspiration for attendees to become active participants in environmental protection.
Continuing with the festival’s tradition of presenting family friendly programming, there will be a panel featuring students from Sierra High School in Truckee, CA presenting a trailer in progress for their upcoming film about wolf reintroduction in the Sierra Nevada followed by a discussion about the film and student filmmaking. Other family friendly events scheduled are the EnviroFair in Nevada City, which highlights organizations that are protecting the earth and its inhabitants, giving them a platform to showcase their work. The special curated film program on Saturday morning called Wild-Child, a joyful program of films for all ages, celebrating curiosity, play, and young people’s connection to the natural world is always a crowd-pleaser. The Wild-Child session features the films Animamusical, The Leap Beneath, Mountain Roots, and Future Council.
The festival also offers guided excursions like an all-ages snail hunting hike with the scientists featured in the film Snail Hunters or a bird watching walk after the screening of the film The Birds. These hands-on experiences connect festival-goers with the natural world and the science-based conservation work happening in their own watershed.
Sunday, Febuary 22nd will feature the Storyteller Happy Hour at National Hotel from 5-7pm where attendees can gather with filmmakers, guests, SYRCL staff, and more. This special happy hour will feature storytelling from community activists who were instrumental in the founding of SYRCL and the successful movement to designate the South Yuba River a California Wild & Scenic River 25 years ago.
The festival will also be bringing back its popular Dinner and a Movie event on Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd. This special event at the Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley combines a curated selection of films with a chef-inspired three-course meal. Attendees can expect delicious, sustainable food and filmmaker Q&As.
Rounding out the non-film programing this year, the festival’s art exhibition will be displayed at two venues: the Rood Center (January 16 – May 1) and The Granucci Gallery in Grass Valley (February 19 – March 15). Collectively, over 100 artworks from 59 artists in a variety of media will be shown, drawn from the festival’s annual open call that attracts hundreds of submissions. The opening reception of Mobilize|Art Inspiring Activism, presented by the Nevada County Arts Council, the County of Nevada, and SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival, will be on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 4:30pm at the Rood Center in Nevada City.
Tickets and festival passes are available now at wildandscenicfilmfestival.org. A limited number of excursion spots are available and reservations are required.
Event Details:
- What: 24th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival
- When: February 19-23, 2026
- Where: Multiple venues in Nevada City and Grass Valley, California
- Tickets: wildandscenicfilmfestival.org
To learn more about the festival, please visit wildandscenicfilmfestival.org
To explore the full film lineup and purchase passes visit WSFF.eventive.org.