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Film Submissions Now Open for 2026 Wild & Scenic Film Festival + Theme announced as “Mobilize”
The South Yuba River Citizens League’s 24th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival (WSFF) is looking for environmental and adventure films from around the world that illustrate the earth’s beauty, the challenges facing our planet, and the work communities are doing to protect the environment.
WSFF has officially opened Call for Entries for 2026 film submissions, with the Early Bird deadline of July 18th and a final deadline of September 17th. The 2026 Wild & Scenic Film Festival dates are February 19-23, 2026.
Since 2003, WSFF has welcomed documentary and narrative shorts and features about nature, community activism, intentional adventure, conservation, health, water, energy, climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, food, and farming. Films are curated into themed tracks, which pair projects with complimentary subject matter or ideas to create a cinematic journey for audiences.
WSFF’s objective is to inform, inspire, and ignite solutions to restore the earth and human communities while creating a positive future for the next generation through stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography, and first-rate storytelling.
Each year, WSFF chooses a theme to help guide the direction and focus of the festival season. While all relevant film submissions are welcomed, WSFF always appreciates when there are ties to the annual theme. As arts and science organizations navigate the tumultuous national landscape, WSFF has selected “Mobilize” as their 2026 theme.
“Mobilize” is a call to action and a celebration of movement and progress towards tangible change. Films that mobilize elevate voices, organize efforts, and address challenges with urgency and persistence. From grassroots resistance to international coalitions, from Indigenous land stewards to youth climate strikers, our films honor those who are mobilizing to create change.
SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival and the stories we share serve as a dynamic vehicle for inspiration and as a tool for initiating action. In 2026, SYRCL celebrates the 25th anniversary of the implementation of state designated Wild & Scenic status for the Yuba River, the mobilizing event that spawned the organization more than 40 years ago and the celebratory namesake of the Festival. By inspiring understanding of the world around us, WSFF helps spur attendees to mobilize and rally behind the missions and movements rooted in these stories and in their communities.
The festival will look for films that work as a call to action, inviting audiences to learn about the most pressing environmental problems and initiatives anyone can take to improve the natural world and lives around the globe.
SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival also literally mobilizes each year, taking these films on the road to help support over 100 likeminded organizations around the country. These On Tour events expand the reach and impact of WSFF to mobilize communities throughout the nation.
“These mobilizations can take a variety of forms; from mobilizing public opinion such as for a ban on single-use plastics, or mobilizing resources to solve a problem like planting saplings in a flood plain,” said Eric Dunn, Festival Director.
Dunn continued “Whether it is gathering support and signatures for a petition, organizing a waterway cleanup or invasive weeds removal, or giving a platform for an education panel discussion, Wild & Scenic Film Festival proudly serves as a robust tool for mobilizing action and change!”
You can find out how to submit your film by heading over to the WSFF website at wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/submit
ABOUT THE WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL MAIN CATEGORIES:
Environmental Films
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival accepts all films with an environmental theme, including documentaries, animation, shorts, features, and narratives. They look for environmental films that are entertaining, educational, and, above all else, inspirational. They want their audiences to be inspired to make a difference in their communities and the world.
Adventure Films
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival screens entertaining and inspiring adventure films from all over the world. Topics include climbing, mountaineering, surfing, and more. A particular preference is given to adventure films with an environmental focus.
Student Films
Are you a student filmmaker? WSFF encourages you to submit your student environmental and adventure films. They accept documentaries, animation, kids’ films, shorts, and music videos. Films should be informative, engaging, and inspiring. An enrolled student at any level of education must have completed the project.
ABOUT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival cannot fulfill their mission of uniting the community to heal the earth without seeing the intersection of social justice with the environmental movement. If we want a better planet for all, we must invite and include all voices.
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