Igniting Passion for Nature through Film

In March of 2018, NatureTrack launched its inaugural Film Festival in the iconic, small town of Los Olivos. The concept of a film festival dedicated to the outdoors and situated in the stunning natural setting of the Santa Ynez Valley, originated with founder and director Sue Eisaguirre who conceived the idea for a local nature film festival as an extension of the non-profit NatureTrack Foundation that she started in 2011.

Los Olivos seemed the perfect choice as it not only resides in Santa Barbara county, birthplace of Earth Day, but it also lies at the gateway to the San Rafael Wilderness located within the Los Padres National Forest. The small, charming town is known for it’s easy accessibility, friendly atmosphere, wine tasting, fine dining, and unique shops.

With 3 major venues to screen selections, the NatureTrack Film Festival is proud to showcase films that offer adventure, compelling stories, positive solutions to environmental concerns, introductions to stunning natural areas, and adrenaline-fueled excursions into extreme environments. The March 22-24, 2019 festival expands upon the successes of 2018 with engaging opportunities to meet with filmmakers, learn from experts at panel discussions, delight in demonstrations, and take advantage of the opportunity to go out on the trails with experienced NatureTrack docents. 2018 NTFF films

NatureTrack introduces school children to outdoor spaces from the seashore to the inland oak woodlands of Santa Barbara County by providing cost-free outdoor field trips. 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. Since 2011, over 18,000 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.

Sue was inspired to bring her outdoor vision indoors and onscreen at the NatureTrack Film Festival so more people could enjoy and appreciate what her docents and students practice and experience in their outdoor “classrooms.”

Keep abreast of all the latest news about the NatureTrack Film Festival by following us on facebook, twitter, and instagram!

On March 22-24, 2019 we invite everyone to enjoy a Film Festival which supports the next generation of empowered nature lovers!

Visit NatureTrackFilmFestival.org now to order all-inclusive Passes – A perfect gift for the holidays!

We had hundreds of filmmakers submit their films for consideration in to the upcoming 2019 NatureTrack Film Festival, March 22-24, 2019. While we are reviewing the submissions, we recently asked them about what inspired them as a child to grow up and create films about nature.

Applicant Katharina Stieffenhofer, From Seed to Seed, related that her love and deep appreciation of Nature was cultivated at an early age when she was growing up on a small, mixed farm on an island in the Rhine river in Germany. She learned how to grow food from planting seeds in the garden, tending to the plants, and harvesting in the fall. She also learned about animal husbandry and about taking care of the soil. She says her life evolved with the progression of the seasons and the natural cycles on the farm, and she developed an understanding of the interrelation of natural systems. She feels her films about ecological agriculture are created to transmit that love, appreciation, and understanding of how to grow food in a way that regenerates the land, farming, and communities toward a truly sustainable future for all of us.

The NatureTrack Film Festival would like to thank Katharina, for giving us permission to share her experiences with nature as a child; those which inspired her to create the films she does as an adult. We wish her all the best in her endeavors.

We would love to hear what experiences you had with nature at a young age that inspired you to choose your career path as an adult! Share with: holly@naturetrackfilmfestival.local

NatureTrack, the 501(c)3 non-profit which sponsors the NatureTrack Film Festival, is fortunate to have specially trained volunteer naturalists who enjoy sharing their knowledge and love of the outdoors with students. Inspired by their own experiences as children, the NatureTrack docents lead students onto local trails, spending time in oak woodlands, chaparral, grasslands, coastal sage scrub, and other regional ecosystems, so the kids can learn the wonder of what is in their own “backyard”. Fostering a lifelong fascination with nature through free outdoor field trips,

NatureTrack is excited to offer an event which expands upon that core mission by “igniting passion for nature” through film for all age levels.

The NatureTrack Film Festival is located in the charming town of Los Olivos. On March 22-24, 2019 we invite everyone to enjoy a Film Festival which supports the next generation of empowered nature lovers!

Visit NatureTrackFilmFestival.org now to order all-inclusive Passes – A perfect gift for the holidays!

The NatureTrack Film Festival would like to thank our Partners for their continued support!

The Natalie Orfalea Foundation • M. Special Beer • VisitSYV
El Rancho Marketplace • Dos Carlitos
The Land Trust of Santa Barbara County.

Our Partners enthusiastically support NatureTrack’s mission to connect children with nature by fostering a lifelong fascination through free outdoor field trips. They are excited to be a part of the NatureTrack Film Festival which expands upon that core mission by “igniting passion for nature” through film for all age levels.

Located in the charming town of Los Olivos, March 22-24, 2019, we invite everyone to discover the Film Festival which supports the next generation of empowered nature lovers!

Visit NatureTrackFilmFestival.org now to order all-inclusive Passes – A perfect gift for the holidays!

The Los Olivos based NatureTrack Film Festival (NTFF) picked up the “Best in Fest” award for Best Charitable Film Festival at the recent FestForums® conference held at the Hilton Santa Barbara Resort. The barely one-year old nature-focused film festival, which launched in Los Olivos earlier this year, was recognized for its educational and charitable alignment with the highly regarded NatureTrack Foundation. FestForums® is a conference for all festival industry leaders, event producers and artists. Addressing cutting-edge technology, talent, ticketing, sponsorships, scheduling, merchandising, operations, sustainability, charitable work, innovation and safety, FestForums® brings together festivals and events of all sizes for collaboration, professional development and entertainment.

The concept of a film festival dedicated to the outdoors and situated in the stunning natural setting of the Santa Ynez Valley, originated with NTFF founder and director Sue Eisaguirre who conceived the idea for a local nature film festival as an extension of the non-profit NatureTrack Foundation that she started in 2011. NatureTrack introduces school children to outdoor spaces from the seashore to the inland oak woodlands of Santa Barbara County by providing cost-free outdoor field trips. 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. Since 2011, over 18,000 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. Sue was inspired to bring her outdoor vision indoors and onscreen at the NatureTrack Film Festivalso more people could enjoy and appreciate what her docents and students practice and experience in their outdoor “classrooms.”

The FestForums® win reinforces what first year audiences discovered at the inaugural NatureTrack Film Festival; the mission of the NTFF to “ignite passion for nature through film” takes its inspiration directly from seven successful years of NatureTrack sponsored outdoor adventure for kids all over Santa Barbara County. In fact, many NTFF attending filmmakers and film-goers took advantage of docent led hikes, which were offered during the film festival, to enjoy a more immersive experience at the NatureTrack Film Festival.

The NatureTrack Film Festival is in the final stages of reviewing hundreds of film submissions from around the world for the 2019 edition. Organizers are once again promising an exhilarating film festival weekend of international nature cinema.

Interest in the NatureTrack Film Festival is peaking with the recent FestForums® win and film fest fans are encouraged to take advantage of 20% off discounted passes for the 2019 NatureTrack Film Festival at www.naturetrackfilmfestival.org through December 1^st. Regular pass pricing resumes thereafter for the second NatureTrack Film Festival, March 22 – 24, 2019.

Wow! Last night NatureTrack Film Festival won the Film Charity Award at @FestForums in Santa Barbara! Thanks so much to Fest Forums and to our supporters who are everything to us and to the communities we serve. http://ow.ly/D3wr30mEnS1 #NTFF2019 #FestForums#FestForums2018 #nature

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release

CONTACT: KC Murphy Thompson

KCT@NatureTrackFilmFestival.org

805-448-9308

NatureTrack Film Festival Passes 20% Off through November!

“Igniting Passion for Nature Through Film”

March 22 – 24, 2019

The NatureTrack Film Festival (NTFF) is discounting its Epic and Patron Passes for the remainder of November for those who wish to take advantage of extra early bird pricing for this exciting new nature focused film festival that is returning to Los Olivos, March 22 – 24, 2019, for its second year. Passes may be purchased atwww.naturetrackfilmfestival.org.

The NTFF Epic Pass, normally $400 is $320 through December 1^st and includes:

• All films with immediate entry (up to 15 min. before show time)
• Priority seating to panel discussions (up to 15 min. before)
• Admission to Opening & Closing receptions
• Ticket to Spotlight Dinner
• Access to VIP Lounge
• Swag bag
• 2 bottles of NTFF wine – available for pick up at NTFF Hospitality Headquarters
• Pass is non-transferable, non-refundable and non-replaceable.

The NTFF Patron Pass, normally $200 is $160 through December 1^st and includes:

• Priority access to all film pass lines for all films
• Priority entry for panel discussions
• Admission to Opening & Closing receptions
• Access to VIP Lounge
• 1 bottle of NTFF wine – available for pickup at NTFF Hospitality Headquarters
• Pass is non-transferable, non-refundable and non-replaceable.

Located just inland and north of Santa Barbara in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, gateway to the Los Padres National Forest, Los Olivos is home to the NatureTrack Film Festival, the only nature focused film festival between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Santa Barbara County is the birthplace of Earth Day, and the modern environmental movement, so it is somewhat of a surprise that up until this year the area had never produced a film festival exclusively focused on nature, outdoor adventure and environmental stewardship, until the NatureTrack Film Festival debuted in March 2018.

The first NatureTrack Film Festival was enthusiastically embraced by locals, filmmakers and visitors alike. The inaugural event attracted over 1,500 film submissions from around the world and ultimately presented 59 outstanding examples of nature cinema featuring notable outdoor filmmakers like Chris and Keith Malloy, Jeff Johnson, and Chris Burkard. Other filmmakers traveled from as far away as Germany, England and Pakistan to attend the debut NTFF, and their feedback has been invaluable in shaping the 2019 program which is set for March 22 – 24, 2019.

NatureTrack Film Festival organizers are keen to capitalize on their inaugural success by bringing an even more diverse and distinctive selection of outdoor film to the second NatureTrack Film Festival. Entries are thoughtfully curated and selected to “ignite passion for nature through film.” Since launching last March, the NTFF has already attracted attention in the outdoor film community. Festival producers were delighted and honored when renowned filmmaker, and National Geographic photographer, James Balog of “Chasing Ice” and more, asked to bring his newest film “The Human Element” to the 2019 NTFF.

The concept of a film festival dedicated to the outdoors, and situated in a stunning natural setting, originated with NTFF founder and director Sue Eisaguirre who conceived the idea for a local nature film festival as an extension of the non-profit NatureTrack Foundation that she started in 2011. NatureTrack introduces school children to outdoor spaces from the seashore to the inland oak woodlands of Santa Barbara County by providing cost-free outdoor field trips. 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. Since 2011, over 18,000 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. Sue was inspired to bring her outdoor vision indoors and onscreen for more people to enjoy and appreciate what her docents and students practice and experience in their outdoor “classrooms.”

The NatureTrack Film Festival (www.naturetrackfilmfestival.org) accepts long and short film submissions in both live and animated form in the categories of Adventure, Animation, Biography, Conservation, Kids Connecting With Nature, Scenic, Student, Music Video (short only) and a special category called Outdoors & Out of Bounds. The NTFF open submission period recently closed, and organizers are once again busy reviewing the many films they received from around the world

Accepted entries will be judged by a jury of film industry professionals and nature experts. $1,000 cash prizes will be awarded for overall Best in Festival (feature and short). The “Dan Conaway Award” of $500 will be presented to the best depiction of Kids Connecting with Nature, and there will also be a $500 cash award for the Audience Favorite winner. All category winners will receive a custom award designed by Kristen Cramer of Global Eye Art Collective www.geartco.com.

The NatureTrack Film Festival welcomes sponsor and advertiser inquiries and offers numerous participation levels for businesses and individuals who wish to support the NTFF as a sponsor, partner or advertiser. Please contact Sue Eisaguirre sue@NatureTrackFilmFestival.org for information on sponsor 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/

Discounted passes for the 2019 NatureTrack Film Festival may be purchased at www.naturetrackfilmfestival.org through December 1^st. Regular pricing thereafter.

Wow! We closed our submissions with hundreds of incredible film entries from around the world. Will you be here next March 22-24 when we screen the best at the 2019 NatureTrack Film Festival? Join us next spring and ignite your passion for nature through film. Hike out to beautiful Grass Mountain, explore the wine country town of Los Olivos and meet visiting filmmakers from around the world. Mark your calendars now and visit us at www.NatureTrackFilmFestival.org

NatureTrack is excited to offer a 20% early-bird discount through December 1, 2018.