VENTURA — Tickets are on sale now for the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy’s (VHC) 8th annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival (WSFF). Held high on the hill at Ventura’s Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd., on Friday and Saturday, March 3 and 4, the WSFF offers audiences the chance to enjoy a series of award-winning short films that celebrate the beauty and bounty of our natural world.
This very popular annual event brings a national tour of award-winning independent short films to Ventura for two nights only. Highlights of this year’s film lineup, which differs each night, include: river rafting with President Jimmy Carter, swimming upstream with a wild salmon, scaling the Seven Summits with a female Bangladeshi adventurer and the hiking 60 miles in Utah’s back country with Genghis Khan, an articulate “desert dawg” and his owner.
In addition to viewing films, attendees also enjoy live music, special guests, popcorn, home baked cookies, food, beer, wine and the chance to win high-end raffle items that include original artwork, outdoor gear, dining-out certificates and more.
“The Wild and Scenic Film Festival helps connect the Conservancy’s work to the greater global environmental movement,” said Derek Poultney, VHC Executive Director. “The films are beautiful, educational, inspirational and just plain fun.”
Ticket prices are $20 for General Admission or $35 for “Silver Circle” seats. “Silver Circle” tickets include reserved seating plus one drink ticket for a glass of beer or wine. The festival also serves as a membership drive for VHC. For $50, purchasers receive a one-year VHC membership plus two General Admission tickets or for $100, they receive a one-year VHC membership plus two “Silver Circle” tickets.
The WSFF is supported by donations from several local businesses and community organizations. This year’s event sponsors include: Castoro Cellars, City of Ventura Environmental Sustainability, Fletcher Chouinard Designs, For Your Home Furniture, Law Offices of Richard L. Francis and Assoc., Patagonia, Poseidon Brewing Co., Rabobank, Real Cheap Sports, REI, Two Trees Brewing Co., Slaughter, Reagan and Cole, LLC, Ventura Community Bank and Ventura Water.
To purchase tickets, visit www.venturahillsides.org/events. For more information on tickets or sponsorship opportunities, call VHC at: (805) 643-8044.
The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is dedicated to preserving and protecting Ventura’s hillsides, waterways and wildlife. Founded in 2003, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is supported by over 500 members, local business and government partners. The land trust manages 80 acres of land near the Ventura River and is working toward the purchase of its first hillside property. Further information about the Conservancy is at: www.venturahillsides.org.