Conservation film festival continues

The 7th Annual American Conservation Film Festival (ACFF) kicked off Thursday and continues through Sunday in four venues around historic Shepherdstown.
This year’s lineup offers a blend of independently produced films and high-quality broadcast productions with limited theatrical release, covering a range of diverse conservation issues, including water, food, coal, climate, culture, flora, fauna, fish, birds, and lifestyles.
The 2009 ACFF themes reflect an enduring focus-“Predator Purgatory,” as well as an exploration of new horizons in conservation-“We Are What We Eat,” and “Conserving Cultures.”
The 2009 ACFF will serve as the U.S. or world premiere for a half-dozen films, including:
“Running with Wolves” – A biologist and former Olympic athlete struggles with a life-threatening condition, racing against time to save a pack of wolves in the Canadian Rockies;
“In the Company of Moose” – A filmmaker explores his biologist father’s lifelong passion and study of moose in Denali National Park; and
“Wings Over the Marsh” – A lush, evocative exploration of the drama of life among birds in a French marsh.
American Conservation Film Festival Lineup and Schedule
On Saturday, Nov. 8, ACFF will screen films suitable for children and families. The free, family-friendly programming also includes a Photo Safari. Professional photographers will provide children with digital cameras and offer instruction on capturing nature images during a walk around the Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center. Children will receive a disk of their photographic efforts at the conclusion of the activity.
The Festival will once again feature the popular “Conservation in Context” series, offering notable and knowledgeable speakers presenting information and sparking discussion on conservation issues. The 2009 ACFF speakers include: marine ecologist Dr. Elliott Norse; author and farmer Joel Salatin; evolutionary and conservation biologist Dr. Michael Soule; freelance journalist and author, William Stolzenburg; and writer/producer/director Phyllis Geller. (Full bios available at www.conservationfilm.org)
A festival pass covering admission to all films, presentations, and activities is available for $20. Passes may be purchased through www.conservationfilm.org prior to the Festival, or on-site at the Shepherdstown War Memorial Building, 102 E. German St., Shepherdstown, WV 25443
The schedule for the 2009 Festival, film descriptions, trailers, and speaker bios can be found at www.conservationfilm.org.
For more information, or to volunteer to help with Festival activities, please contact the American Conservation Film Festival at (304) 876-7373, or email info@conservationfilm.org.
ACFF is a non-profit organization funded in part through grants from the Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, the West Virginia Film Office, the West Virginia Humanities Council, Two Rivers Giving Circle, the Arts and Humanities Alliance of Jefferson County (WV), and through generous donations from conservation-minded businesses and individuals, and supporters of the arts.