Tri-State Steelheaders and Roots of Resilience are excited to be bringing the Wild & Scenic Film Festival to Walla Walla on October 28–29, 2026, at Whitman College’s Maxey Auditorium! Doors open at 6:30 pm each night, with films beginning at 7:00 pm. You can preview the film selections below (October 28 films; October 29 films).
October 28 Films (Roots of Resilience)
Against the Herd
Almost a century of overgrazing has destroyed much of America’s public lands, but in Northern Nevada, Cottonwood Ranch has discovered that cattle can actually be the key to restoring our rangelands. Now the Smith family must convince legislators that cows aren’t always eco-villains, or they’re sure to lose the ranch.
Aldo’s Bug Extravaganza
In “Aldo’s Bug Extravaganza,” join 5-year-old Aldo and his dad on a backyard safari filled with tiny wonders and big laughs. Armed with a camera and boundless curiosity, Aldo embarks on a bug-hunting escapade, narrating his discoveries with adorable wit and charm. As the week unfolds, Aldo’s wide-eyed explorations not only capture the audience’s imagination, but also subtly echo the timeless wisdom of Aldo Leopold, making for a delightful and endearing ode to the joy of nature’s smallest marvels.
The Bees and the Birds
California’s native bees are facing an uncertain future. “The Bees and the Birds” explores this unfolding environmental crisis through the lens of a vibrant community garden that has become a safe haven for native bees, birds, and other wildlife. Through macro cinematography and stories from local gardeners and scientists, we see how small-scale efforts can have large impacts for local biodiversity.
Fireforest
In August of 2020, the Cameron Peak Fire was racing uncontrollably towards communities in northern Colorado. As it reached the footprint of a past U.S. Forest Service prescribed burn and the Drala Mountain Center, a near-miracle occurred. The prescribed burn, combined with forest restoration treatments at Drala, gave firefighters a foothold to halt a portion of the fire and avert disaster for the communities downslope. This short film by Fort Collins filmmaker Evan Barrientos tells the story of what happened there through the accounts of a U.S. Forest Service fire specialist, the Drala land manager, and a Larimer Conservation District forester. Together, they urge Colorado and the West to see fire and forest management as natural and essential parts of the landscape. By shifting the way we perceive fire, we can create hope for the future of our forests.
Forgotten Flavors
Our ancestors knew every edible plant, every healing herb—knowledge we’ve almost entirely lost. Forager Pascal Baudar moves through Southern California’s woodlands and desert with ancestral eyes, gathering what most would overlook. He teaches others to awaken senses dulled by modern life—to taste, smell, and touch their way back to an ancient knowing. He forages wild plants for food and fermentation, hand-harvests clay to craft vessels, creating an extraordinary feast that exists nowhere else. This intimate portrait reveals what we gain when we slow down enough to remember who we once were.
Four Legs Forward
This is the story of Oroville, CA residents who took action and connected their neighborhood like never before. Their journey began at a grazing workshop hosted by the Butte County Fire Safe Council. Newly motivated, Paul and Lynda Converse connected with Sarah Jo McDowell, a local goat grazer on a mission to spread joy. Soon after, wildfire struck and their combined stories turned deeply personal.
Red Wolf In Time Out
A child narrates the problem in full preteen gossip style while her stepdad animates it in the form of a classroom chalkboard lesson. The Red Wolf faces extinction due to unnecessary human fear, and its absence has caused an environmental chain reaction.
Regen-a-nation
Have you ever wondered if we can produce food while looking after the environment? Introducing “Regen-a-Nation,” an insightful documentary following the British farmers who are healing our soil, supporting our wildlife, and producing our food. The film joins forces with two regenerative farmers to showcase how rotational grazing, agroforestry, and rewilding can repair the soil damage caused by intensive farming.
Surf & Turf
A celebration of the connection between land and water. “Surf and Turf” embarks on a captivating journey from the inland mountains and headwater streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed to the wide-open, salty expanse of the Bay itself. This powerful environmental tale weaves together the healing power of nature, hope, and an unexpected alliance, showing us how two seemingly different worlds can unite for a shared cause. Discover how we can all find a way to sit at the same table, share our stories, and strive together for clean air, clean water, and a brighter future.
October 29 Films (Tri-State Steelheaders)
Don’t Doubt the Trout
Bernard and Rebecca of the band, Par Avion, are not your average surf rock musicians. They’re passionate fly fishing anglers and conservationists who are advocating for the protection of California’s endangered Steelhead trout. As ambassadors to CalTrout, they’ve become observers on the ground to document the health of Southern California’s waterways, especially around Malibu’s 100-ft Rindge Dam, a major obstacle to wildlife. Thanks to the efforts of CalTrout and advocates like Bernard and Rebecca, the Rindge Dam is due to be removed with demolition work planned to begin 2028 and finish in 2035.
The Golden Trout Project
All trout are beautiful, but there is something remarkable about California Golden Trout and their narrow home streams high in the southern Sierra Nevada backcountry. Our new film is a celebration of these beloved fish and the incredible partnership of anglers, agencies, and conservationists working together to protect this iconic native trout species. Following years of rigorous planning and decades of work by dedicated volunteers, TU and our partners at the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and many others, are expanding the scale of our ambitious effort to restore struggling populations of Golden Trout across 75 stream miles and 7,000 acres of critical headwater habitat in the heart of their native range.
Heritage and Harvest: Quinault Razor Clams
After fighting for decades for recognition of their treaty fishing rights, the Quinault Indian Nation—located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington—now exclusively manages the northern razor clam harvest on their reservation and co-manages the harvest with the state within their treaty area. This fishery is rated green for environmental sustainability by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program thanks to a strong management plan rooted in both traditional knowledge and modern science. This highly effective blend of management systems includes regular population assessments and strong policies to prevent overharvest.
Judy’s Creek
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.
Long Live the Kings
How can we protect fish at the Hood Canal Bridge? “Long Live the Kings,” in partnership with the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Tribes, and state and federal agencies, is working to address high fish mortality at this floating bridge.
Managed to Extinction
“Managed to Extinction” pairs indigenous visionary Jay Julius with orca scientist Dr. Deborah Giles in the Pacific Northwest, as both work to address a shared extinction threat faced by resident orcas, and the Chinook salmon they need to survive. Together, these characters raise a vital question: can pairing science and indigenous knowledge help to avert the extinction of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved and vital marine species?
MÛ
As an essential divine water spring has dried up, a child accompanied by an otter-like creature sets out to find a cure for the life-threatening water shortage. “MÛ” is a 2D animated short film that poetically explores the theme of water scarcity and the importance of water as a life-giving force.
Native to the Klamath
“Native to the Klamath” is a story told through the voices of the salmon people. The Klamath River is currently going through one of the largest transformations in history. “Native to the Klamath” intertwines environmental restoration, reconciliation ecology, social justice, and traditional ecological knowledge. Hear the story of this river renewal through the words of the Klamath River peoples who live by the sacred obligation of stewardship.
Wild Hope: The Great Ocean Cleanup
Inventor Boyan Slat is on a mission to rid oceans of plastic. His team at The Ocean Cleanup designs and deploys systems that pull trash from the open ocean — now, he’s stopping the pollution at its source: rivers where plastic is easier to catch, like those in Kingston Harbor.
Wild Hope: Reclaiming Bear River
Over 150 years after suffering the worst massacre in U.S. history, the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation has purchased their ancestral homeland — called Wuda Ogwa, or Bear River — with a vision to return it back to nature.
Yuba Salmon Dance
“Yuba Salmon Dance” is a captivating short film that follows the incredible journey of Chinook salmon as they return to the Yuba River to spawn. The film captures the resilience and determination of these majestic fish who have navigated obstacles, both natural and man-made, to reach the place of their birth. Through breathtaking drone and underwater footage, we get an intimate and up-close-up look at the spawning grounds. This is the final dance for these fish as they select a mate, perform the spawning rituals, and lay their eggs and milk. After the dance is complete the Salmon will die and give their bodies and nutrients back to the river ecosystem. Salmon are one of the most giving species on earth and the greatest purveyor of ocean nutrients to the inland environment.