JACKSON, Wyo. — The Wild Festival hosted by Jackson Wild will take place this weekend at Center for the Arts with free movie screenings and Q&As with filmmakers.
A different documentary will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Center Theater each night of the festival, starting with “The American Southwest” on Friday, Sept. 26, followed by “Yanuni” on Saturday, Sept. 27, and “Ocean with David Attenborough” on Sunday, Sept. 28. Complimentary tickets are available on The Center’s website.
Jackson Wild, formerly Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, strives to create a community for the conservation and wildlife filmmaking industry. According to its website, the Wild Festival is a platform for nature, science and climate storytelling.
“The American Southwest”
The Fin and Fur Films production explores the vast territory of the Colorado River. Narrated by Quannah Chasinghorse, a member of the Oglala Lakota and Hän Gwich’in Tribes, the documentary weaves Indigenous perspectives and modern conflicts in the region. “The film beautifully showcases the region’s abundant wildlife, confronts the ecological impacts of dams and water overuse, and advocates for better management of the river,” reads the film’s website.
In a Q&A with Fin and Fur Films, Chasinghorse says, “To have our stories told in this way, to have a voice there, allows people that didn’t grow up the way I did to see from a different perspective, and hopefully open up their minds and hearts, and then reawaken their spirit to find alignment and connection to the land.”
“Yanuni”
Follow the story of Juma Xipaia, an Indigenous chief from the Brazilian Amazon, who rises to the political frontlines of climate justice. The film highlights her clashes with illegal gold miners, land-grabbers and multinational corporations as she fights to protect her ancestral land. The documentary was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and is produced in part by Xipaia and Leonardo DiCaprio.
“At once epic and intimate, ‘Yunani’ is a powerful portrait of resilience, Indigenous sovereignty and the fight to protect the world’s largest rainforest — for future generations and the planet we call home,” reads Jackson Wild’s website.
“Ocean with David Attenborough”
This film brings viewers on an immersive journey under the sea, as the award-winning broadcaster reveals the realities and challenges facing the world’s oceans. Attenborough describes the age of ocean discovery and points to inspirational stories that show there is still time for the ocean to recover.
“Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing,” reads the film’s website.
