The Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival and the Sebastopol Center for the Arts present an extraordinary series of ten of the finest environmental films made in the last few years.

In partnership with the Rialto Theater, the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival and the Sebastopol Center for the Arts present an extraordinary series of ten of the finest environmental films made in the last few years.

These films convey the majesty of nature with breathtaking point-of-view footage as well as important stories that take place in these landscapes. These sensory experiences are beautifully represented in these stunning films. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see these images and learn the stories on a big screen with all the color, majesty and sound that the filmmakers intended. See them this week at the Rialto.

Ay Mariposa

Mon, Sep 16 3pm | Wed, Sep 18 1pm

A documentary film about two women and a rare community of butterflies standing on the front lines in a battle against the US Mexico border wall. The film draws a portrait of Zulema, la Mariposa, and Marianna’s lives and conveys their struggles in the lengthening shadow of a border wall, delving into the motivations that underlie their opposition, and the surprising ties that bind them all together.

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Into the Canyon

Mon, Sep 16 5pm | Wed, Sep 18 7pm

In 2016 filmmaker/photographer Pete McBride and writer Kevin Fedarko set out on a 750-mile journey on foot through the entire length of the Grand Canyon. More people have stood on the moon than have completed the continuous hike. Others have lost their lives trying. But their quest was more than just an endurance test – it was also a way to draw attention to the threats facing one of our most revered landscapes.

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Backyard Wilderness

Tue, Sep 17 12pm 3D • Thu, Sep 19 12pm 3D

This film explores the unexpected wonders of nature that are right in our own backyards. Spanning a seasonal year around a suburban home, the film displays a stunning array of unique wildlife captured by cameras mounted inside dens and nests. We follow a young girl and her family living next to the woods who are blind to the real-life spectacle around them until she gradually discovers the intricate secrets that nature has hidden so close to her front door and the joy she finds in this new world.

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Sea of Shadows

Tue, Sep 17 3pm | Thu, Sep 19 5pm

Sea of Shadows follows a team of dedicated scientists, high-tech conservationists, investigative journalists and courageous undercover agents as well as the Mexican Navy as they put their lives on the line to save the last remaining vaquitas and bring the vicious international crime syndicate to justice.

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