The fifth annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour, presented by Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, is showing in Damariscotta on Monday, March 7. This year’s program features a curated selection of the festival’s “Best of Fest” 2022 films. The event is sponsored locally in part by Newcastle Publick House and Rising Tide Co-op.

There are two options for participating in the film festival this year: in person at Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta or virtually from home. Both viewings begin at 7 p.m. A snow date is scheduled for the same time on Tuesday, March 8.

Tickets are $10, $5 for kids 16 and under, and free for Coastal Rivers members. Tickets may be reserved online at  www.coastalrivers.org/events.

Considered one of the nation’s premier environmental and adventure film festivals, Wild & Scenic brings together stellar filmmaking, beautiful cinematography and first-rate storytelling to inform and inspire.

“Durga: Forging a New Trail” tells the story of a young woman from Nepal who dared to challenge local custom by rejecting an arranged marriage and leaving her small farming village to seek an education and become a trekking guide. Her message to girls and women is simple: “You can do any work you want, so have courage and push for more.”

“Vet in the Wild” is narrated by Tonecas Paulo, a veterinarian for the wild animals of Gorongosa National Park in central Mozambique. The park is recovering from a 17-year war, during which 95% of the park’s large animals were wiped out. While herbivore populations have rebounded, the park is still working to build up its large predator populations. Paulo’s passion for his work is inspiring, as is his enthusiasm for sharing it with the youth of Mozambique.

The film festival is a natural extension of Coastal Rivers’ work to inspire people to act on behalf of the environment. Coastal Rivers is a non-profit, member-supported, nationally accredited land trust caring for the lands and waters of the Damariscotta-Pemaquid Region by conserving special places, protecting water quality, creating trails and public access, and deepening connections to nature through education programs. For more information, email info@coastalrivers.org or visit coastalrivers.org.