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WILD & SCENIC 2025
The River Alliance of Wisconsin and
The Barrymore Theatre present
2025 WILD & SCENIC
FILM FESTIVAL
“WHERE ACTIVISM GETS INSPIRED”
**Tickets are off sale online, but there will be plenty of tickets at the door tonight! Box office opens 5:30pm, doors open 6pm, films roll at 7pm. Can’t wait to see you all tonight!
March 20 @ 7:00 pm
Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
The River Alliance of Wisconsin and
The Barrymore Theatre present
2025 WILD & SCENIC
FILM FESTIVAL
“WHERE ACTIVISM GETS INSPIRED”
This is a General Admission Event.
Tickets: $20.00 Advance/$23.00 Day Of Show
Wild & Scenic + Fly Fishing Film Tour Ticket Bundle: $36.00
Advance tickets available online, by phone and at our ticket outlets. Day of show tickets will only be available by phone or at the box office.
This year’s film festival will be more accessible than ever. If we have your email address and you’ve donated to River Alliance in the last year – including during The Big Share through March 4 – you’ll get a link to watch the film festival at home between March 20-26. This is a great option for our statewide supporters, those who cannot join us in person, or those who want films with closed captions.
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Rutabaga Paddlesports, Deer Creek Cheese, Fontana Sports, Delta Beer Lab, MG&E Foundation, Ecology, Heartwood Tree Company, Park Bank, Spencer Real Estate, Community Shares of Wisconsin, Inter-Fluve, Econoprint, Lauer Realty Group, Delta Properties, and 98.7 WVMO.
Film lineup
Judy’s Creek – Discovering the Secret Life of the Streambed
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.
Who will love this movie: anyone who is curious about bugs, Caddis flies fans, and those who want to be inspired by trailblazers.
The Cost of Forever
Riverkeepers uncover the hidden and costly dangers of ‘forever chemicals’ in our rivers and drinking water sources, following water protectors as they strive to protect communities—and themselves—from PFAS contamination.
Who will love this movie: those who want to be inspired by advocates who overcome steep odds to work for clean drinking water.
It’s Time
Set in the early spring thaw, “It’s Time” weaves together maple syrup harvesting, Indigenous wisdom, and environmental awareness on the banks of the Sangamon River. Through mesmerizing visuals and flute melodies, this poetic film celebrates ancient traditions while awakening viewers to nature’s delicate balance and our role in preserving it.
Who will love this movie: fans of maple syrup and respecting the pace of nature.
Return to Spur Lake: Bringing back the food that grows on water
There’s always been only a few special places in the world where wild rice (known as manoomin to the Ojibwe people), grows. Which made it troubling when manoomin stopped growing in the early 2000’s at Spur Lake, a 113 acre lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. A group of conservation partners have come together to bring wild rice back to Spur Lake because of its environmental and cultural importance. Film features Tina Van Zile, Environmental Director for the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, and former River Alliance of Wisconsin board member.
Who will love this movie: those who think about Wisconsin land and water conservation in terms of seven generations in the future.
River Cowboys: Keepin’ it Wild
This short film showcases the stunning landscapes of the internationally recognized Red River Gorge, and KY’s only Wild & Scenic Red River. It highlights an ongoing environmental challenge: the removal of scores of discarded tires and trash from Red River (and dumping as a statewide and national issue) and our humble cleanup leader, the original River Cowboy, Russ Miller.
Who will love this movie: anyone looking for inspiration for spring river cleanup volunteer days.
Saving Silence
Follow action photographer Emily Tidwell to her hometown of Grand Marais, Minnesota, portal to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, as she investigates the importance of our public lands for our mental and planetary health. Emily chats with local legends, Olympians, and multi-generational business owners about why our wild spaces are so important. While home, she discovers a threat hidden in our fresh waters.
Who will love this movie: Boundary Waters lovers, those who are concerned about microplastics, those whose mental health is supported by being outdoors.
Watch the trailer
Mother River
After pursuing and achieving career goals on the East Coast, Devin Brown realized that corporate 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. Devin has overcome many complexities in pursuit of this dream, including the harsh realities of being a minority in the paddling community and the nuances of being a single Mother. The challenges continue as Devin listens to the river and follows her guidance.
Who will love this movie: paddlers, barrier breakers, and those to know that representation matters.
Watch the trailer
Canyon Chorus
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.
Who will love this movie: singers, adventurers, queer community members and the people who love them.