Wild & Scenic Film Festival
at Lexington’s Farish Theater, August 26, 2026
Join us in person at the Farish Theater, OR join us virtually from your home!. The Kentucky Conservation Committee is excited to be bringing our 10th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival to you. We want to offer your the opportunity to see nation's largest environmental film festival. [NOTE:Tickets must be ordered in advance at this link]. You can also find information about the festival on the national Wild and Scenic Festival website.
These engaging films inspire activism and transport audiences to the farthest reaches of the globe. Enjoy fabulous film making, gorgeous cinematography, and wonderful storytelling during an evening that offers films about nature, hiking, kayaking, cycling, wildlife and environmental justice.
Join us on Friday, August 28th at the Farish Theater at Central Library in Lexington for an evening of adventure and inspiration OR virtual at home! The evening will include door prizes and auction!
Films Begin:: 7 pm ET. (Theater doors open at 6:30 pm. for silent auction and information tables from our sponsors). Virtual attendees will be able to view films for five days.
National Film Festival Sponsors:
Door Prizes at the theatre and Online Auction TBD
Our 2026 Film Selections:
A Renewable Future
See KCC’s Climate Action Page for information about how to address the climate crisis and make your voices heard.
Mountain Roots
A 9-year-old climber journeys from Wyoming to the Italian Alps to learn about her heritage by doing what she loves the most: reaching new peaks!
Building for Birds
Millions of birds pass through our yards during their bi-annual migrations, but they face an invisible killer along the way: glass windows. In the US alone, an estimated one billion birds die each year when they collide with windows. Now, two organizations help pave the way to a bird-friendly future.
We hope you enjoy this birding film and support Wild Birds Unlimited.
Quota
When every global citizen is required to have their CO2 emissions tracked, it makes little impact…that is, until they discover the consequences of reaching their designated QUOTA..
Sliding
A female athlete skips the crowded ski slopes to traverse the Swiss Alps
Bears in Hot Tubs
An acclaimed 17-minute documentary film directed by Claire Musser. Co-created with a bear named Maddie, the short explores the human-wildlife interface in suburban Los Angeles and invites viewers to reconsider how we can safely share a landscape with wild carnivores.
Ride to Slide
The documentary follows a skier on a solo multi-week bikepacking and ski mountaineering journey, proving that sometimes the best adventures are found right in our own home ranges.
HYPERSCALED
Increased energy and water demands from the rapid development of large data centers driven by technological advancements like “AI”, are increasing threats to communities across the Southeast. HYPERSCALED unearths the real world cost of AI as residents fight to get answers about the costly impacts of this water and energy sucking industry. Much like a vampire, the proposed “Project Marvel” is projected to consume unprecedented amounts of water and energy from the backyards of concerned communities.
Check Out KCC’s page on Data Centers
River Mamma
"River Mamma" is an award-winning short film by director Sarah Hamilton. It follows lifelong raft guide Elisha McArthur as she navigates single motherhood, balancing life on the river with raising her teenage daughter. The film also features Kentucky’s own Red River, the state's only Wild & Scenic designated river
Risky Routes
The film follows the perilous spring migration of toads in Switzerland as they face life-or-death obstacles, including man-made roads, to return to their ancestral breeding
One Inch from Flying
An acclaimed short documentary that follows a young climber navigating the complexities of modern life and finding balance by rigging and walking highlines in the stunning North Cascades of Washington.
