Join Outdoor Auntie, Utah Film Center’s Black Bold & Brilliant program, and Tracy Aviary in presenting the 2025 Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, June 13th!
Now in its 4th year, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a unique way to experience the Tracy Aviary, a short film collection screened outdoors, and a community vendor area during the month-long celebration of Juneteenth. By fostering connections with film enthusiasts, small business vendors, conservationists, and local outdoor recreation affinity groups, we aim to create an inclusive space for a celebration dedicated to supporting Black, Indigenous, People of Color, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ communities thriving in Utah’s vibrant natural landscapes.
Arrive early for the birds and stay for the movie!
This year’s short collection features the film, Roots, by local filmmaker Danny Schmidt.
Outside food is allowed, however, meals and refreshments are also available at The Bird Feeder Cafe which supports the Aviary.
Alcohol for sale, 21+ only, must have ID on hand.
Doors at 7:30pm, the screening will begin at dusk (approx. 9:15 PM).
Can’t attend but still want to support? Purchase a donation gift ticket!
ABOUT THE FILMS
SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival inspires environmental activism and a love for nature–through film. Wild & Scenic shares an urgent call to action, encouraging festival-goers to learn more about what they can do to save our threatened planet.
Roots
13 min | USA
In the Dominican Republic, baseball isn’t just a sport—it’s a way of life. But as the game thrives, development threatens the country’s mangroves, which play a vital role in the ecosystem. Meet Ismael Diaz-Tolentino, who leads the “Play for the Mangroves” initiative, merging conservation with the nation’s love for baseball to inspire environmental stewardship and restore balance to the natural world.
Both & Neither – Ambos y Ninguno
9 min | USA
As a Mexican American, Natalie Connell spent her life balancing two cultural identities, with neither fitting quite right on its own, but through art and climbing, she’s found her rightful place as a bridge between the two.
Judy’s Creek
6 min | USA
Follow ecologist, educator, and author, Dr. Judy Li, into the world of caddisflies, the artisans of the aquatic world. With contagious passion, Judy shares how her childhood curiosity led to a career in freshwater science, and how she has found ways to share the joys of science with audiences of all ages.
Mother River
7 min | USA
After pursuing and achieving corporate America career goals on the East Coast, Devin realized that life was not for her. Her childhood roots in paddling and connecting to nature brought her to Minnesota where she would pursue her dream to become the first black female to kayak the entire Mississippi river.
Greenwood Preservation
17 min | USA
The Greenwood Cemetery project is a compe ling documentary that explores the powerful and often overlooked black history in St. Louis and the ongoing e forts to restore and preserve it. The film delves into the rich cultural and historical significance of the cemetery, shedding light on the stories of individuals laid to rest and the community that surrounds it.
Canyon Chorus
17 min | USA
Join Mikah Meyer, his mentor Larry, and three friends as they journey down Utah’s Green River, in Desolation Canyon, on a river rafting trip centered around friendship and joy. Canyon Chorus is a story about being your true self in the outdoors, about advocacy, and about recognizing the important people in our lives.
This film previously premiered at the 2024 Utah Queer Film Festival.
Jamie
19 min | USA
Jamie Logan – a pioneering alpinist, has climbed some of the most dangerous climbs in the world, but nothing felt as life-threatening as admi ting that, at age 69, she wanted to begin living as a woman. This short film demonstrates that love and trust can be the ultimate act of rebellion.
Dancing Warrior
11 min | USA
For the Lakota youth, living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation can be a struggle. But many find hope and purpose in the traditional sport of horse racing known as “Indian Relay.” Witness the coming-of-age story of Lakota teens, as they find strength in tradition and passion in competition.
How the Land Remembers Us
20 min | USA
Amidst Yellowstone National Park’s 150th anniversary, a precedent-setting event unfolds: “Yellowstone Revealed.” Indigenous artists, connected with their ancestral land, share projects steeped in traditional ecological knowledge, the act of rematriation, and ceremony. What surfaces is a profound revelation: how they exist in relation to this living, breathing landscape is interwoven with the memories of their ancestors and the legacies they are creating for future generations.
