"Best of the Fest" - NatureTrack Film Festival

Description

The NatureTrack Film Festival (NTFF) will once again bring some of its most celebrated films back to the big screen at its annual “Best of the Fest” showcase on Friday, December 5, 2025, at the Santa Ynez Valley Grange Hall. The event features jury-recognized films from around the world that illuminate the beauty, complexity, and urgency of protecting our planet. This special evening offers audiences a chance to revisit standout films from the 2025 festival, meet filmmakers, and engage in meaningful conversations about conservation, creativity, and community. Featured Films Saving Our Ancestors - Reflections by Dr. Biruté Galdikas Winner, Dan Conaway Award for Connecting to Nature | Special Mention, Best Short Film Produced by Charles Annenberg Weingarten, this intimate film captures rare insights from renowned primatologist Dr. Biruté Galdikas on orangutan conservation and the fragile rainforest ecosystems they call home. Charlie Annenberg Weingarten, Keegan Wilcox, and Adam Biddle will join the audience for a post-screening Q&A. Peaks to Prairie Winner, Best Short Film Director Chad Weber reveals how wildfire wood waste is being transformed into a regenerative resource for prairie soils, demonstrating the remarkable power of fungi to restore damaged landscapes. Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness Winner, Best Feature Film From National Geographic filmmaker Sandesh Kadur, this visually stunning documentary transports viewers to India’s Nilgiri Mountains, a biodiversity hotspot where wildlife and local communities coexist in delicate balance. Phir Bhi (Even So) Winner, Best Student Film Directed by Meghna Nandy, this compelling short explores human–crocodile coexistence in India’s Charotar region, a rare conservation success story shaped by community commitment and coexistence.