September 4, 2020 – The Wild & Scenic Film Festival, in collaboration with Nevada County Arts Council, is once again inviting artists from far and wide to submit their environmental artwork for possible inclusion at the 19th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival, kicking off virtually January 14, 2021.
“This year’s exhibition will look a little bit different” says Festival Director, Jess Swigonski, “as it will take place entirely online! This will allow us to reach newer and wider audiences than ever before while prioritizing the health and safety of our beloved community, and supporting talented artists.” Accepted artists will have a page on the Wild & Scenic platform dedicated to them and their works, with opportunities for extended patron engagement, including sales. There will also be a gallery of all selected works for attendees to virtually stroll through during the event.
Wild & Scenic uses environmental and adventure film to inspire activism and highlight the beauty of the natural world and we are seeking art submissions that do the same. We are thrilled to provide an opportunity for artists passionate about the environment to showcase their work and share a meaningful message through their unique artistic visions.
Submissions will be accepted in two categories this year, 2-Dimensional and Photography. While all artwork will be considered, we are especially interested in pieces that interpret our theme this year, Resilient by Nature. It is a reminder that, as individuals and communities, we are inherently resilient, drawing on our strengths, talents, and lived experiences to innovate and inspire positive change for a better world. Our theme is also a call to look to nature as a model for resiliency and seek to create solutions to environmental challenges through nature-inspired designs and strategies.
Eliza Tudor, Executive Director of the Nevada County Arts Council remarked “Never before has the mission of Wild & Scenic Film Festival been more critical. Globally we stand at a crossroads in terms of our relationship to nature and the future of our planet. It engages us as active participants in a giant adventure through film and discourse, and it offers filmmakers, naturalists, scientists, artists and others the opportunity to lend our voice to this critical conversation. Through the festival’s accompanying art exhibition each year we challenge visual artists to share personal perceptions of the wild, whether intimate habitats close to home or wild tracts of nature untouched.”
Selected artists will have the opportunity to exhibit their work in front of a wide virtual audience of environmental filmmakers, celebrities, social activists and thousands of attendees from around the world. Selected artists will be eligible for top three awards in each category, 2-Dimensional and Photography, as well as a Best in Theme award. The final deadline to apply is November 16, but discounts are available for earlier submissions. Please visit WildAndScenicFilmFestival.org for more details.
ABOUT THE WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL
Considered one of the nation’s largest environmental and adventure film festivals, Wild & Scenic Film Festival combines stellar filmmaking, cinematography and first-rate storytelling to inform, inspire and ignite solutions to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future for generations to come.
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is produced by the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) from their headquarters in Nevada City, California. Wild & Scenic events serve as fundraisers for the organization, supporting year-round work to unite the community to protect and restore the Yuba River watershed. For more information, visit WildandScenicFilmFestival.org.