The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) began the film festival in 2003 with the goal to show environmentally focused films that not only informed audiences, but also inspired and motivated viewers to take action. Every year the California-based festival hits the road with a selection of short films, providing the opportunity for organizations all around the country to host a festival, show a selection of films, and inspire a local audience.

The festival also played host to a celebration. The film selection was inspired by the 40^th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, a passage that made a significant impact on the regulation of water quality. To commemorate the anniversary, the festival featured 10 award-winning and water-inspired short films. Among the chosen films were The Craziest Idea, One Plastic Beach, and Seasons: Winter, which we highly recommend checking out. You could really feel the emotion in the room as everyone watched the awe-inspiring films together.

Attendees also enjoyed food from The Skinny Pancake, delicious Vermont beers, and a silent auction, featuring some amazing items that were generously donated from Vermont businesses and 1% for the Planet members, Tonewood Maple, Kurt Budliger Photography, Osmium, and Refleece.

We were thrilled by the member and partner support the festival received in the days leading up to the event. The 1% FTP Network was in action, as members and partners came together to celebrate the Clean Water Act while creating an engaging and fun environment for the general public to learn more about VNRC, the beneficiary of this year’s event.

Thanks to everyone who participated and to those who attended – we hope you had as much fun as we did! If you’re interested in learning more about the Wild & Scenic Film Festival and want to find out when they’re headed to your neck of the woods, check out the schedule HERE.

1% for the Planet Players in the Game:

Member participants included: Patagonia, Clif Bar, Sugarbush Resort via Timbers Restaurant, The Skinny Pancake, Tonewood Maple, Kurt Budliger Photography, Osmium, Klean Kanteen, Refleece, Felt Soul Media

Member Partner: Mother Jones

Non-Profit Partners include: Vermont Natural Resource Council, Northeast Wilderness Trust, 350 Vermont, South Yuba River Citizens League, American Rivers, American Whitewater, Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center 

Thanks to Michelle Searer and Alicia De Martini from PMG, our newest Media Partner, for their assistance with writing this post!

Q: What do a farmer, a brewery, a musician, a couple of fly-fishermen and a custom bike builder all have in common? A: The planet. They all know that without it, the creativity, craftsmanship, travel, talent and fruits of the earth all wouldn’t be possible.

Next Q: What do these people all do about it? We are pleased to reveal the answer in our first 1% for the Planet short film, due out early this fall. For a tickle, check out a clip on our newly revamped YouTube Page or through the linked photo above.

Clif Bar & Co., one of 1% for the Planet’s 1,100+ member companies, recently joined BICEP, a coalition of businesses calling for meaningful federal climate and energy legislation. Clif Bar is one of eleven businesses to sign on to the program which was launched in November 2008 by Ceres. BICEP advocates nine core principles which they believe will help simultaneously pave the way toward economic recovery and a solution to our global climate and energy problems. BICEP’s principles call for more aggressive action than the unrelated USCAP, an alliance of large businesses and non-governmental organizations currently working with members of Congress to develop a climate and energy bill.

Way to go Clif Bar – and all of our 1% members – for continuing to push the envelope in the business community!