The Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour, hosted by Damariscotta River Association (DRA), returns to Damariscotta at 7 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Lincoln Theater with a collection of the festival’s 2018 films.

While admission to the film festival is free, tickets are required and may be ordered online at www.damariscottariver.org/events.

Now in its 15th year, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour is a curated selection of short films from the annual festival held the third week of January in Nevada City, California.

Wild & Scenic focuses on films which speak to the environmental concerns and celebrations of our planet. “Films featured at Wild & Scenic give people a sense of place,” says tour Associate Director, Amelia Workman. “In today’s busy world, it is easy to disconnect from our role in the global ecosystem. When we realize that the change we need in this world begins with us, we start making a difference. Come get inspired!”

The films on Feb. 26 include “Blue Ventures,” which documents the work of an organization helping coastal communities in Madagascar and elsewhere recover fishing stock by creating reserves. “Sky Migrations” follows the migratory route of raptors in the American Southwest. Viewers will see the effects of light pollution first-hand in the stunning film, “Lost in Light.” Other films highlight topics in land preservation, wildlife, activism, and more.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was started by the watershed advocacy group, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) in California in 2003. The festival’s namesake is in celebration of SYRCL’s landmark victory to receive “Wild & Scenic” status for 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999.

The five-day event in Nevada City features over 150 award-winning films and welcomes over 100 guest speakers, celebrities, and activists who bring a human face to the environmental movement. The home festival kicks-off the international tour to over 150 communities around the globe, allowing SYRCL to share their success as an environmental group with other organizations.

The festival is building a network of grassroots organizations connected by a common goal of using film to inspire activism. With the support of Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour’s National Partners: Patagonia, CLIF Bar, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Orion Magazine, Klean Kanteen, Earthjustice, and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, the festival can reach an even larger audience.

The festival is a natural extension of Damariscotta River Association’s work to inspire people to act on behalf of the environment. A non-profit, membership supported, and nationally accredited land trust and conservation organization, DRA is dedicated to preserving and promoting the natural, cultural, and historical heritage of the Damariscotta region, centered on the Damariscotta River.

DRA has active programs in the areas of land conservation, stewardship, community education, water quality monitoring, marine conservation and cultural preservation.

Visitors are welcome at the Great Salt Bay Heritage Center in Damariscotta as well as the many other DRA properties throughout the region. For more information call (207) 563-1393, email dra@damariscottariver.org, or visit online at www.damariscottariver.org.