NatureTrack Film Festival in Los Olivos

The Santa Ynez Valley will welcome its first nature film festival next spring. The NatureTrack Film Festival is set to debut March 23 – 25, 2018 in the picturesque town of Los Olivos and will feature nearly two dozen films which “ignite passion for nature through film.” NatureTrack founder and director Sue Eisaguirre conceived the idea for a local film festival as an extension of the non-profit she started in 2011 which introduces school children to outdoor spaces from the seashore to the inland oak woodlands.

The festival will kick-off on Friday, March 23, 2018 with an opening reception prior to screenings that day. A full slate of films will be offered on Saturday, and the festival will conclude on Sunday with a half day of programming and a closing reception. Films will screen at three venues in Los Olivos: the Santa Ynez Valley Grange, the Gates Foss Community Center at Los Olivos School, and St. Mark’s In-The-Valley Church. NatureTrack Film Festival passes will go on sale beginning Dec. 1, 2017 at www.NatureTrackFilmFestival.org.

Organizers are planning to incorporate filmmaker “meet & greets” at local food and wine establishments, as well as special bonus screenings. NatureTrack will also offer docent led hikes for those wishing to take advantage of the abundant natural beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley for a more immersive outdoor experience. As Sue Eisaguirre notes, “This beautiful valley with its proximity to the coast and Los Padres National Forest, among other scenic attractions, makes it an ideal location for a film festival dedicated to the great outdoors.”

The NatureTrack Film Festival is now accepting long and short film submissions in both live and animated form in the categories of Student, Adventure, Conservation, Kids Connecting With Nature and a special category called Outdoors and Out of Bounds. There is no fee to submit a film entry for consideration. Entry applications are available here. Final deadline for all submissions is November 1, 2017. Juried awards will be given for Audience Favorite, Best Student Film, Best in Category (Feature or Short), Best Depiction of Children Connecting to Nature – the “Dan Conaway Award” and overall Best in Festival.

The NatureTrack Film Festival welcomes sponsor and advertiser inquiries and offers numerous participation levels for businesses and individuals who wish to support our inaugural event as a legacy partner or advertiser. Please contact Sue Eisaguirre sue@NatureTrackFilmFestival.org for information on sponsor packages and advertising opportunities.

Please visit the NatureTrackFilm Festival on social media at:
Facebook     https://www.facebook.com/naturetrackfilm/
Twitter         https://twitter.com/naturetrackfilm
Instagram     https://www.instagram.com/naturetrackfilm/

About NatureTrack:
NatureTrack is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides cost-free outdoor field trips for Santa Barbara County school-aged children, utilizing local trails and beaches throughout the county. NatureTrack instills students with leadership skills, attitudes and habits for lifelong learning, inspiring them to be respectful stewards of the natural world. Founded in 2011, nearly 14,000 students have had the opportunity to experience a NatureTrack field trip. Demand for the curriculum coordinated program has increased every year with teachers praising the docent-led excursions that align with classroom instruction.