The 2025 NatureTrack Film Festival will take place on October 9 – 10 in Santa Barbara and Goleta, California, as an exciting two-day event showcasing world-class films that celebrate nature and outdoor adventure. Following this flagship event, we will host two additional one-day festivals in Santa Barbara and Los Olivos, CA, and continue the celebration with “On Tour” events throughout the West Coast, bringing inspiring films to even more communities. NTFF is a celebration of nature and outdoor adventure through film, featuring outstanding works from national and international filmmakers that captivate and inspire audiences. All proceeds from NTFF support NatureTrack and its mission to foster a lifelong fascination with nature and inspire respectful stewardship of our natural world. Join us in celebrating the power of film to inspire, educate, and connect people with nature—both in Santa Barbara and beyond!

WORLD PREMIERES

The Bear Beneath

Once hunted to extinction, the California Grizzly survives only as a symbol, frozen on the state flag, waving over the land it once roamed. A century later, will California bring back its lost icon or leave it in myth?

Directed By: Olivia Hille
Country of Origin: United States

Documentary, Short, Student
12 minutes 11 seconds

Cliff Climbers

The King of the Alpine Rivers

The majestic Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep are brought back from the brink of extinction. This is the compelling story of the biologists who have dedicated their lives to saving this iconic species, an emblem of the wild Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Directed By: Michael J Love
Country of Origin: United States

Documentary, Short
18 minutes

Walking With Elephants

This documentary embarks on a profound journey, delving deep into the environmental history of the Asian Elephants and ecological importance for rainforest. Through in-depth and intimate interviews, the documentary reveals a millennial covenant of symbiosis among Asian elephants, the Jino and Xishuangbanna rainforest. Besides that, it also serves as a heartfelt invitation to truly listen to the wisdom of those who have lived in harmony with elephants and forest for generations. By amplifying the Asian Elephants’ ecological corridor transcending civilizations, the film aims to offer new perspectives and reflections on the sustainable coexistence beyond human-drawn boundaries.

Directed By: Yuqing Jiao
Country of Origin: China

Documentary, Short
8 minutes 45 seconds

NORTH AMERICA PREMIERES

'A'ā (An Islands Twinkle)

A crew of 3 renegades set out across the Pacific to bring their 26 foot voyaging canoe home to Hawai’i. During the journey, the captain remembers his teachers and his beloved culture.

Directed By: Chris Miyashiro
Country of Origin: United States

Outdoors & Out of Bounds
40 minutes

Alone in Greenland

Unai first traveled to Greenland when he was 13. He was accompanying his dad, on assignment photographing the melting glaciers. During their trip, they also encountered some muskoxen. These mammoth-like creatures caught the young boy’s attention right away. Six years later, Unai is a student of anthropology, but his passion for animals continues. He decides to follow his dream and returns to Greenland. For months, he embarks on a formidable solo journey in the arctic tundra. While tracking the muskoxen he camps in front of glaciers, walks across frozen lakes and sleeps under the Aurora Borealis. Unai also becomes aware of the fragility of this ecosystem. He learns about the melting ice cap, which has a crucial effect on our planet’s changing climate. But there is one animal that he doesn’t see: the polar bear. So, Unai decides to venture out in search of the bears. He goes to one of the most remote places on earth. He stays in a cabin in front of the frozen ocean covered in ice where polar bears roam. The search is not easy, and after weeks, the bears still haven’t appeared. Then, he decides to seek help from his dad.

Directed By: Unai Canela
Country of Origin: Spain

Documentary
1 hour 10 minutes

Ana and the Turtle

“In this moving story, Ana teaches us to care for and value our environment, and shows us that with little acts we can make a difference.

On a peaceful beach, the heart of a girl named Ana beats to the rhythm of the waves; his curiosity and love for nature they lead her to form an unusual friendship with a gigantic sea turtle. However, their quiet days are threatened by plastic pollution affecting the beach. Determined to protect her friend and the ocean, Ana discovers that a memory is the key. Will Ana manage to safeguard her great friend the turtle?”

Directed By: Sofía Sumba
Country of Origin: Ecuador

Animation, Short
3 minutes 34 seconds

Assynt

In the remote Scottish Highlands, the community of Assynt lives in harmony with the rugged landscapes that surround them.This short documentary offers an intimate portrait of a place where human life and nature are deeply intertwined.Through evocative imagery and personal narratives, Assynt captures the resilience of a community shaped by its environment, reflecting on themes of identity, tradition, and the enduring bond between people and the land.

Directed By: Dan Lior
Country of Origin: Indonesia

Documentary, Short
17 minutes 40 seconds

Circle of life

Guardians of the ocean

Circle of Life: Guardians of the Ocean is a powerful short film that explores the interconnectedness of marine life and humanity’s role in preserving the ocean. Through stunning underwater cinematography, the film follows the journey of a diver who witnesses the fragile balance of the marine ecosystem, from majestic creatures to the smallest organisms that sustain life. As environmental threats loom, the film highlights the urgent need for conservation, emphasizing that protecting the ocean is not just a duty but a responsibility for future generations. It’s a visual and emotional tribute to the beauty, resilience, and vulnerability of the underwater world.

Directed By: Matthias Edling
Country of Origin: Indonesia

Documentary, Short
4 minutes 59 seconds

USA PREMIERES

Wonders of Evolution

Maravilla de la Evolutión

Through a scientific lens, the film explores the complex evolutionary adaptations of these insects, highlighting their bizarre designs and their enigmatic way of communicating. It also reveals the challenges they face, offering a vision of the role they play in maintaining ecological balance.

Directed By: Francisco Arango
Country of Origin: Colombia

Documentary, Short
14 minutes 57 seconds

Lisbon, the wild within

As Lisbon has changed and grown over the past 3,000 years, the city has always prioritised the needs of its residents. And although it may seem an unlikely refuge for wildlife, many species have found the conditions they need to survive and raise their offspring.
In the streets, rooftops and gardens of the Portuguese capital, from the wide Tagus estuary to the Monsanto Forest Park, we discover the nature that often goes unnoticed despite living on our doorsteps.

Directed By: Madalena Boto
Country of Origin: Portugal

Connecting with Nature
50 minutes 24 seconds

WEST COAST PREMIERES

Nilgiris

A Shared Wilderness

Felis Films and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies presents a first of its kind documentary titled – Nilgiris – A Shared Wilderness. A land of sacred peaks and secret creatures, lost in the mists of time, somewhere between folklore and magic. A land that has challenged conventional notions of wilderness and showcased nature’s remarkable ability to adapt and thrive in a new wilderness. This is the story of India’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – the Nilgiris – one of Asia’s most intensively studied areas. This is the first feature length documentary about this region, that takes us on a journey of discovery and uncovers the many secrets that makes this region so special.

Directed By: Sandesh Kadur
Country of Origin: India

Documentary
1 hour 15 minutes

Peaks to Prairie

A Holistic Regenerative Approach

In Boulder County, an ambitious initiative harnesses the power of nature to combat climate challenges in the peaks and prairie ecosystem. As megafires rage across the Western U.S., millions of acres of nearby agricultural prairies remain degraded, stripped of the nutrients vital for a thriving landscape. To address these challenges, three ecological partners—Boulder Watershed Collective, Grama Grass & Livestock, and Boulder Mushroom—have come together in a pioneering effort to restore the land. This groundbreaking project repurposes wood waste from forest mitigation efforts, inoculating it with native fungi to accelerate decomposition. Once prepared, the fungal-infused wood chips are spread across depleted agricultural fields. To complete the process, cattle are introduced to the landscape, their hooves naturally integrating the organic material into the earth, jumpstarting microbial activity and soil regeneration. This film highlights the interconnectedness of natural systems and showcases how holistic, nature-based solutions can pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable future.

Directed By: Chad Weber
Country of Origin: United States

Conservation, Short
19 minutes 59 seconds

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PREMIERES

First In, Last Out

When competitive swimmer from Colorado Christa Funk joined the Coast Guard, she found herself stationed on Oahu, Hawaii for five years, where she discovered the world of surf photography. Inspired by the memory of her father and his parting words, Funk pushed herself into the world’s most dangerous and crowded surf lineups, becoming one of the best surf photographers in the world, and notably, one of the few women out there.

Directed By: Keith Malloy
Country of Origin: United States

Documentary
25 minutes

Farming Turns

Chris Rubens was living the dream. As a professional skier, for years he travelled the globe in search of the best skiing, until an expedition to Greenland brought the reality of climate change and his impact into sharp focus. Forced to confront his footprint and values, he takes action, risking his career as an athlete to become an organic farmer in a quest to foster a stronger, more sustainable community and connection to the mountains.

Directed By: Anthony Bonello
Country of Origin: Canada

Documentary
25 minutes

Fish for the Future

Fish For The Future follows Rosi Digit, the Principal Conservation Biologist at Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains who has been an integral part of conservation in the Santa Monica Mountains for nearly four decades. In January 2025, the Palisades Fire quickly approached her home and the habitats that she has protected for decades. When the fire burned all of the critical habitat for the endangered Southern Steelhead Trout in Topanga Creek, she knew they had to rescue as many fish as possible before the rains swept dangerous amounts of mud through the watershed, killing any aquatic species. She gathers with various groups and agencies to work and rescue many steelhead in the creek in an extremely limited time window.

Directed By: Matthew Benton
Country of Origin: United States

Conservation, Short
5 minutes 2 seconds

My Grandmother's Sketchbook

“My Grandmother’s Sketchbook” is a documentary short showcasing the creative persistence and grit of filmmaker Max Romey as he retraces the footsteps of his late grandmother, Lucretia Leonard Romey. Lucretia was an award-winning artist, and Max embarks on a journey to find the specific locations captured in her sketchbook from over 50 years ago.

Our film invites viewers on an adventure, witnessing Max’s dedication to connecting with the people, places and things that inspired his grandmother. A journey that evokes a sense of wonder and curiosity, highlighting how the passage of time has impacted these locations and the enduring power of art, memory and community.

Directed By: Max Romey
Country of Origin: United States

Documentary, Short
14 minutes 51 seconds

Swimming With Giants

My name is Sam Pfoser, and I traveled to the island of Mo’orea in French Polynesia, to see what it would feel like to swim with giants. Led by professional underwater photographer Mark Strickland, I had amazing interactions with Humpback Whales in the deep ocean, and learned that sharing the beauty of these animals with other people can have a positive impact on the whales.

Directed By: Sam Pfoser
Country of Origin: United States

Student Film
10 minutes

Tides of Change

In “Tides of Change”, a brief 2 minute Emmy® Winning short documentary, viewers are taken on a breathtaking journey beneath the waves, guided by an experienced underwater photographer who is deeply passionate about marine conservation. Through stunning visuals and intimate encounters with marine life, the film showcases the hidden beauty of the ocean and the devastating impact of human pollution. The photographer shares personal insights, highlighting the importance of keeping our oceans clean. Through her lens, we witness both the fragility and resilience of marine ecosystems and are inspired to take action to protect our planet’s most precious resource. This short documentary serves as a poignant reminder that every piece of trash removed from the ocean can make a significant difference in preserving its beauty and health for future generations.

Directed By: Justin Wheelon
Country of Origin: United States

Documentary, Short
2 minutes 23 seconds

Wonders Of The Wolf

Wonders Of The Wolf is an award winning documentary exploring one of the most successful conservation efforts in modern history, The Yellowstone Wolf Project. From their historic recovery in 1995 to today’s thriving wolf packs, Yellowstone Wolf Project biologists share inspiring stories about the wolves they study in the park. Using bioacoustic technology, researchers are uncovering how wolves communicate, applying their findings to resolve livestock-wildlife conflicts and protect these majestic creatures.

Directed By: Angie Ruiz
Country of Origin: United States

Documentary
30 minutes

UNCATEGORIZED PREMIERES

Chem Chem Association - Leave a Legacy

Leave a Legacy, a film by Black Bean Productions, tells the story of the Chem Chem Association’s mission to restore Tanzania’s Kwakuchinja Corridor. Once devastated by logging, poaching, and overgrazing, the land had lost its vital wildlife migratory routes, sparking conflict between people and animals. Over fifteen years, founders Fabia and Nicolas, together with local communities and partners, have worked to protect wildlife while empowering people. The film offers a hopeful portrait of resilience, coexistence, and the transformative power of conservation.

Directed By: James Suter
Country of Origin: South Africa

Conservation, Short
7 minutes 46 seconds

Lessons in Conservation: Malawi

In the heart of Lilongwe, Malawi, Lessons in Conservation (LIC) is igniting a passion for the wild in the next generation. This short film journeys alongside LIC as they engage youth through immersive experiences, from boat safaris to game drives, turning the wilderness into a living classroom. Through hands-on learning and shared discovery, young minds are not only introduced to the beauty of their natural heritage but are empowered to protect it. Captured through the lens of Black Bean Productions, this story is a celebration of education, conservation, and the enduring connection between people and planet.

Directed By: Oli Caldow
Country of Origin: Malawi

Connecting with Nature, Short
6 minutes 23 seconds

Phir Bhi (even so)

In India, a country rife with human-wildlife conflict, an anomaly exists in the Charotar region of Gujarat, where people live harmoniously with our largest freshwater predator – muggers (marsh crocodiles). Charotar has had less than 10 attacks in a decade – despite muggers causing the most croc-attacks in India. Can tolerance explain this bizarre phenomenon? Phir Bhi (Even So) dives deep into the underlying challenges of Charotar’s coexistence to reflect on the future of community-based conservation.

Directed By: Meghna Nandy
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Student Film
16 minutes 2 seconds

Palau, An Ocean Inheritance

“To understand the Ocean is to understand how humanity can redeem and restore itself.”

“Palau, An Ocean Inheritance” transports viewers to the incredible islands of Palau, where ancient legends, cultural connections, and unparalleled marine biodiversity converge. This documentary celebrates Palau’s natural wonders, from vibrant coral ecosystems to the majestic species that call these waters home. At the film’s core is a powerful call for ocean justice, a recognition that ocean solutions can be found in Indigenous knowledge and community-led stewardship.

Directed By: Skylar Chen, Rayne Sullivan
Country of Origin: Palau

Connecting with Nature, Short
19 minutes 50 seconds

Real Grit

No Friends But The Mountains

Serge journeys into Iraq to attempt to do what no paraglider has done – hike and fly the Zagros Mountains. This documentary follows his mission despite the risk of land mines, being shot at by terrorist organisations and being arrested by the military. Serge learns the ancient Kurdish proverb that in Kurdistan one can have ‘no friends, but the mountains’.

Directed By: Ben Whimpey
Country of Origin: Australia

Documentary
Outdoors & Out of Bounds
45 minutes 51 seconds

Secrets of Great Salt Lake

An uplifting story of how water connects all life on Earth. Journey back to when mammoths, camels and saber-toothed cats roamed the ancient shores of Lake Bonneville and witness its transformation into Great Salt Lake, caused by one of the largest floods in history! Be immersed in a rare ecosystem where unusual creatures thrive in waters five times saltier than the ocean. Yet, the source of the Lake is freshwater! It comes from high up in the snowpack of the Rockies where mountain lions raise their cubs, and Olympic skiers hone their skills on the greatest show on Earth, flowing into rivers and streams past aspen trees that form the world’s largest living organism, and down to the basin below where grebes dance on water in a wildlife refuge that supports millions of birds, and onwards into the Lake and its islands, where herds of pronghorn and bison roam. Meet the inspiring community of dedicated scientists, indigenous leaders, farmers, and youth determined to sustain this vital Lake and surrounding watershed for the benefit of all.

Directed By: Tyler Mifflin
Country of Origin: Canada, United States

Conservation
45 minutes

The Shot List

The Shot List follows award-winning wildlife photographers Aaron Baggenstos and Mike Darter into the wilds of Alaska as they attempt to capture three once-in-a-lifetime images of iconic brown bears. Blending high-stakes adventure with intimate natural history, the film reveals both the challenges and triumphs of documenting wildlife in one of Earth’s last great wildernesses. Along the way, Aaron shares insights into the art of photography, the science of animal behavior, and the urgent need for conservation.

Directed By: Aaron Baggenstos
Country of Origin: United States

Connecting with Nature, Short
32 minutes

The Little Fox of Limuw

The unique Channel Island Fox was brought to the islands by the Chumash about six thousand years ago. After coming close to extinction, this adorable fox has been brought back by removing invasive species and the restoration of its habitat.

Directed By: Michael Love
Country of Origin: United States

Conservation
13 minutes

Saving Our Ancestors

Reflections by Dr. Birute Galdikas

In stifling humidity, Dr. Birute Galdikas, sits atop a tree stump monitoring the jungle canopy for movement. Cicadas serenade the thick air as leaves and branches begin to ruffle and shake. A female Orangutan with an infant clinging to her side slowly descends down a tree to gather mangoes and sip milk. The mother and Birute lock eyes….a mirroring of souls…before the mother silently disappears back into the forest.

Birute’s eyes smile through her thick glasses wrapped in rubber bands as she softly speaks to me as if not to interrupt the sounds of nature’s symphony, “What would the world be like without them? It would be so lonely to lose our closest ancestors. I guess that is what drives me. Passion to save our closest relatives.” Birute returns her attention back into the jungle to observe, monitor, and research wild Orangutans, a job she has done for over 54 years now.

Dr. Birute Galdikas, is one of three pioneering women primatolgists know as the “Trimates,” who were selected and mentored by famed paleontologist, Louis Leakey to conduct groundbreaking field research of the great apes in their natural habitats. The other two being Jane Goodall who would study Chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania and Dian Fossey, who would study Mountain Gorillas in the VIrunga Mountains, Rwanda.

In 1971, Dr. Galdikas would arrive in Central Kalimantan, Borneo and paddle up the river estuaries and through the swamps to set up Camp Leakey in the heart of Tanjung Putin Reserve. Her 54 years of researching, rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing Orangutans back into the wild is the longest single field study in the history of conservation. To experience her relentless passion, energy and drive at her age is an inspiration to everyone…of all ages. She embodies Mother Nature herself and I am humbled to have been given the opportunity to have Birute and her son, Fred Galdikas, guide me through one of the world’s great natural cathedrals that is under distress.

Explore.org, the worlds leading philanthropic live cam nature network, invites you to reflect on the intimate work of Dr. Birute GaldIkas and her non profit, the Orangutan Foundation International. This project began as a philanthropic fact finding mission to see if could install Live Cams to observe Orangutan’s in the wild. So moved was I by the deep spirituality, wisdom and conviction of Dr. Galdikas, that my crew, being myself and one other, archived our 4 day journey using only our IPHONES. Explore.org, had once been a documentary tv series on PBS before morphing into a live nature network. So inspired was I by Dr. Birute Galdikas, that this is my first return to filmmaking in over a decade. She rekindled a passion deep inside my own soul.

I hope you might consider sharing Saving Our Ancestors- Reflections by Dr. Birute Galdikas, because we need to inspire others to wield the sabre of selflessness. The Orangutans, the forests and selfless leaders need our support.

Never stop learning.

Charlie Annenberg
Explore.org/ Annenberg Foundation

Directed By: Charles Annenberg Weingarten
Country of Origin: United States

Documentary, Short
27 minutes

2025 Films

2025 Winners!

Schedule

Friday Oct. 10th, 2025

Metropolitan Camino Real Cinemas 7040 Marketplace Dr, Goleta

THEATERS 1, 4, 5

THEATER 3

THEATER 4

THEATER 5