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2025 Festival Program Now On Sales -- scroll down for details
JOIN US FOR OUR FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION and FILM
THURSDAY, JULY 17 beginning at 5:30PM
at HILTON GARDEN INN on Canyon Blvd. and then over at the DAIRY ARTS CENTER
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JOIN US for our OPENING NIGHT EVENT of the 2025 Boulder Environmental/ Nature/Outdoors Film Festival Thursday, July 17th at the Dairy Arts Center.
Opening Night Event Overview
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Opening Night Reception — start the festival off with live jazz, food, and conversation at the Hilton Garden Hotel on Canyon Blvd.
Libations, Buffet, & Appetizers, music by the ATOM COLLECTIVE jazz quartet, and then over to the Dairy Arts Center (1 block away) for our opening night film, THE LOST WOLVES OF YELLOWSTONE, with filmmakers and members of the Rocky Mtn. Wolf Project (RMWP).
Make sure to get your photo taken in front of our Step & Repeat at the reception beforehand.
Buffet and passed Appetizers will be served in the Hilton Garden Inn Courtyard Drinks (each attendee will be provided two (2) free drink tickets (cocktail, wine, beer, or soda) to start, and cash bar thereafter.
BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE CLICK HERE
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Atom Collective is an eclectic jazz combo that performs instrumental versions of jazz and pop classics.
Featuring
Kyle Banker at Piano, Tobin Munsat on Drums, Adisa Nickerson on Trumpet, & Todd Van Selus on Bass. (Often seen at the St. Julian Hotel)
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7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Film at the Dairy Arts Center.
The party shifts from the Hilton to the Dairy Arts Center (one block away), for the opening night film THE LOST WOLVES OF YELLOWSTONE starting at 7:30 PM in the Gordon Gamm Theater.
We suggest you park at the Dairy Arts Center, and walk to the reception and then back for the film at 7:30 pm. One Combined ticket for both events.
To purchase tickets in advance for combined Opening Night Reception and Film click here to BUY YOUR TICKETS.
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OPENING NIGHT FILM - THE LOST WOLVES OF YELLOWSTONE
Tom Winston and Rick Schwolsky will be joined on a discussion panel by CU Professor and iconic wildlife scientist Joanna Lambert who is also a board member of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, and acclaimed environmental and outdoor journalist Daniel Glick who was covering the dramatic wolf capture in British Columbia during the first days of the program.
A captivating film from Yellowstone National Park, where a group of biologists led by a charismatic woman set out to bring back the wolves – a project that changed their own lives forever.
The wolf holds a special place in the animal kingdom. The proud and feared predator is almost a mythological creature in the story of humanity’s own history. So when the decision was made in 1995 to reintroduce the wolf to the vast Yellowstone National Park, it was not without opposition.
Leading the project was charismatic biologist Mollie Beattie, who, along with her colorful and sympathetic team of colleagues, was charged with bringing wolves back at a time when they had been extinct for 50 years. But not everyone was thrilled with the idea that wolves would soon be allowed to roam free again. The project became a political battle that required all of Beattie’s skills as a biologist, diplomat and storyteller.
The documentary ‘Lost Wolves of Yellowstone’ unfolds this magnificent story as an epic drama with a twinkle in the eye – not least from Beattie’s idealistic and charming colleagues, who experience the amazing and beautiful footage from back then for the first time. This event is in collaboration with the Rocky Mountains Wolf Project.
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Updated June 8, 2025
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GENERAL FESTIVAL INFORMATION
ALL-ACCESS FESTIVAL PASS - Only $200
BEST VALUE IF YOU PLAN TO BE WITH US FOR THE ENTIRE FESTIVAL. BUY YOUR FESTIVAL PASS HERE
Pass-holders receive:
Access to All Events/Parties/Films
NO online service fees for individual films as part of pass package
Opening Night Event Ticket - Only $75
Opening Night Reception (21+ age event)
Festival Passes and Opening Night event on sale now either online or at the Dairy Arts Center box daily (if you'd like to avoid online service fees).
How to Attend - Buy Online, in-person at the Dairy Arts Center
All-Access Festival Pass: $200 (Best Deal if you plan to be with us 3 or more days)
Individual Film Tickets: $15
Opening Night Reception + Film: $75
Opening Night Film Only: $20
Award Ceremony & Closing Film Only: $20
Award Ceremony, Closing Night Film, and Reception: $55
FREE PARKING located at the Dairy Arts Center parking lot and surrounding residential streets. Additional low cost parking at the Hilton Garden/Embassy Suite Hotels - 1 block away. Park at the DAC and walk over to the Hilton for the reception.
For more information please contact rich@BoulderENOFF.org or call us at 774-392-2972 for details.
Thank you, Sponsors!
ENOFF is made possible by: Fjallraven (Boulder), Alpine Bank (Boulder), Regional Air Quality Council, MINDFUL Works, Boulder Camera, Hilton Hotels on Canyon, Boulder Weekly, Dairy Arts Center, KGNU Radio, Boulder Lifestyle, Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, Boulder Colorado Renewable Energy Society, Boulder County Film Commission, and others.
| | 2025 Boulder Environmental Nature Film Festival's complete Festival Schedule is now on Sale Below. Click image or URL to buy tickets. | |
Friday, July 18 at 4:00 PM @ Boedecker Cinema
WHEN WE CYCLE and CYCLING WITHOUT AGE
WHEN WE CYCLE
A discussion with Dir. Gertjan Hulster
In the film WHEN WE CYCLE, we will look into the great unknown. What are the different developments in society and what might be the role of the bike in these possible futures? Does the fast efficient cyclist get priority or are other scenarios conceivable? And how will that effect the city of the future? Various experts and everyday cyclists will take you on this journey through different imaginable futures for cycling.
Co-director Gertjan Hulster
Runtime: 70 mins.
CYCLING WITHOUT AGE
CYCLING WITHOUT AGE – an idea and a non-profit which started in Copenhagen in 2012 and is now present in 40 countries worldwide. This captivating film promises to take you on a journey of compassion, community, and the joy of cycling. The film explores the impact of a social initiative that uses volunteers to cycle with senior citizens in trishaw bikes. The initiative, also known as Cycling Without Age, aims to reconnect older adults with their communities and the outdoors.
Directed by Isaac Seigel-Boettner
Runtime: 17 mins.
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Friday, July 18 at 4:30PM @ Gordon Gamm Theater
OUT THERE: A NATIONAL PARK STORY
A discussion with Dir. Brendan Hall via Zoom
A young filmmaker sets out on a 10,000-mile exploration of the national parks with his childhood friend during the centennial year of the formation of the National Park Service. Along the way, the two record stories of the people that work in the parks and those that come to enjoy them, as part of the rich tapestry of the history of the park system emerges. They hear profound stories of people from all ages, walks of life, and cultures that come to the parks seeking tranquility, healing, motivation, and connection to the natural world. Between spectacular visuals of the parks and compelling interviews are colorful bits of old maps, posters, and travelogues. This stunning road trip is a tribute to the national parks and their history, and is also a recognition of the people that appreciate them and work to maintain their beauty.
“Our national parks are places of discovery about nature, history, our nation and ourselves. Out There: A National Parks Story beautifully captures and shares the emotions friends, family and visitors feel watching a Grand Canyon sunset, a walk amongst the Redwood giants, or a cold dip in a mountain stream." - Jon Jarvis, 18th Director of the U.S. National Parks Service
“It was worth the struggle, the resilience, the hard work, and the courage as this majestic film is a true ‘tour de force’ and it will amaze you by its beauty and its spirituality.” - Emmanuel Itier, filmfestivals.com
Directed by Dir. Brendan Hall
Runtime: 75 mins
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Friday, July 18 at 7:00PM @ BOEDECKER CINEMA
HER SHARK STORY
Produced over the course of four years, this inspiring feature length documentary takes us to one of the most unique places in the world - the enigmatic Galapagos Islands, for a journey of self-discovery, adventure and redemption.
Through their shared passion for finding and studying the biggest shark in the world, Sofia Green and her father Jonathan must face the reality of their past, so they can reconnect a lost bond and embrace their future.
Accompanied by a compelling soundtrack and spectacular cinematography, this is a film of female empowerment, family relationships and passion for the natural world. It's a beautifully woven story that will resonate with all who watch it, as no matter the situation - parents and our need for connection, are universal.
Directed by Ignacio Walker
Runtime: 76 mins
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Friday, July 18 at 7:30PM @ Gordon Gamm Theater
THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST
WATCH TRAILER
Producer Dr. Len Necefer will join us for a discussion
The American Southwest is a thrilling wildlife movie that chronicles life and death along the Colorado River...and advocates for its return.
The feature-length film follows the Colorado River from its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains, through lush forests and iconic canyons, and down diversion tunnels and irrigation canals on its 1,400-mile journey to sustain both the natural world and humanity. Along the way, the river nourishes diverse ecosystems that are bursting with life, and provides water to more than 40 million people. From the recovery of elk and beavers to the endangerment of cutthroat trout and jaguars, the movie showcases wildlife stories that speak to our society’s ability to both destroy and recover the natural world.
Narrated by Quannah ChasingHorse, The American Southwest is set to be the first-ever blue chip natural history film narrated by an Indigenous voice. Through collaboration with Natives Outdoors, the film also features incredible artwork, architecture, and culture of Indigenous peoples who have lived in relative harmony with the region for over one thousand generations.
With a changing climate, rapidly growing population, and continuous over-allocation of the world’s most litigated river, there has never been a more important time to inspire conservation efforts that ensure wildlife, rivers, and humans thrive. The American Southwest aims to foster a love for the region, ignite hope for conservation success, encourage action to return healthy river flows, and raise awareness before the Colorado River Compact is renegotiated in 2026.
Directed by Ben Masters
Runtime: 102 mins
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Saturday, July 19 at 4:00PM @ Boedecker cinema
Nature and Outdoors Short Films Program
Finalists of short films Program curated from over 100 submissions to the festival in 2025 - An eclectic mix of environmental Advocacy, Wildlife conservation, and artistic expressions of nature and what it all means to us.
LIST OF SHORT FILMS SELECTED WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY JULY 1st.
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Saturday, July 19 at 4:30PM @ Gordon Gamm Theater
HALF-LIFE OF MEMORY: America’s Forgotten Atomic Bomb Factory
Director Jeff Gipe will join us in person with a panel of subjects from the film.
In the suburbs of Denver, the U.S. secretly manufactured thousands of atomic weapons, leaving behind a toxic legacy that will persist for generations.
The Rocky Flats plant produced a staggering 70,000 atomic bombs, each serving as a “trigger” for thermonuclear warheads. Concealed by government secrecy, the plant's fires, leaks, and illicit dumping of nuclear waste contaminated the Denver area with long-lived radioactive toxins.
A major—and highly visible—plutonium fire sparked a decade of mass protests, culminating in an unprecedented FBI raid that ultimately shuttered the plant. Today, the radioactive legacy of Rocky Flats continues to threaten public health, yet surprisingly few people are aware the plant ever existed.
Through powerful testimonials and extraordinary archival media, Half-Life of Memory exposes Rocky Flats' dark past and enduring impact, prompting critical reflection on the implications of the nation’s renewed nuclear weapons buildup.
Directed by Jeffrey Gipe
Runtime: 55 minutes
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Saturday, July 19 at 7:00PM @ BOEDECKER CINEMA
EARTH PROTECTORS
Earth Protectors addresses our need to adapt as a species to the Anthropocene: the new era in which the impact of humans overwhelms natural cycles with fires, floods, pollution, super typhoons and a deadly virus. These challenges provide incontrovertible evidence for the necessity of systemic change. On Anne’s expeditions creating her art installations, she meets a new generation of women and men who are working to save our planet and is inspired by their commitment and their achievements. Her narrative recounts the stories and the diversity of these young protagonists whom she calls “Earth Protectors”
Anne de Carbuccia, an environmental artist, captures the stories of a motley crew of people who decided to dedicate themselves to the planet's wellbeing.
Directed by Anne de Carbuccia
Runtime: 96 Mins
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Saturday, July 19 at 7:30PM @ Gordon Gamm Theater
AGE GROUP WINNER
Filmmaker Lex Helgerson will join us for a discussion
In 1980 Jay Helgerson shocked the world, becoming the first person to run a marathon a week for a year – each race completed in under three hours. For the last ten years, his daughter, filmmaker Alexandra Helgerson, followed him with a camera in order to understand the eccentric man who raised her. What she gets are his projected anxieties, his struggles with physical age and emotional distress, all while he endlessly trains for the Boston Marathon. But as Jay trains, the film is nearly derailed by Alexandra’s encounter with a life threatening illness. Ultimately, AGE GROUP WINNER is an affirmation of the will to live.
Directed by: Alexandra Helgerson
Length: 83 mins
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Sunday, July 20 at 1:00PM @
Boedecker Cinema
HOW TO POWER A CITY
Director Melanie La Rosa will join for discussion
From zeitgeist clean energy projects and early solar adopters to investors trying to bolster local economies with clean energy, to environmental justice communities fighting to keep the lights on, How To Power A City showcases the people leading the way to our nation’s clean energy future. What began as a look at solar and wind power in the large urban sprawls of New York City, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Detroit/Highland Park soon expanded to include towns in mountainous Vermont and communities throughout Puerto Rico. This allows the film to subtly explore what it means to be a city and the malleability of developed environments, no matter the size. How To Power A City is a behind-the-scenes exploration of leadership, innovation, technology, public participation, and what energy transformation looks like in everyday situations.
A “solutions-focused climate story....[that] demonstrates the societal and human health impact that climate justice action — in this case, renewable energy — can have on individuals and communities.” — kawarthaNOW.com / ReFrame Film Festival
"Watch it and give your sense of possibility a much-needed boost!”— Randall Amster, Georgetown University
Directed by Melanie La Rosa
Runtime: 73 mins
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Sunday, July 20 at 1:30PM @ Gordon Gamm theater
A LIFE AMONG ELEPHANTS
“A Life Among Elephants” is a documentary that chronicles the life and work of “Save the Elephants” founder, Iain Douglas-Hamilton.
The film follows his journey from a pioneering scientist studying African elephants in Tanzania to a passionate conservationist fighting against the ivory trade. It explores his dedication to understanding and protecting these magnificent creatures and his lifelong mission to ensure their survival.
Directed by Nigel Pope
Runtime: 90 mins
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CLOSING NIGHT EVENT
Manny Almonte, our 2025 EARTH ANGEL HONOREE
Prior to Closing Night festivities, the festival will honor Manny Almonte with the festival’s EARTH ANGEL statuette for his work in environmental advocacy, mentoring young men, and education.
Growing up in the bustling city of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, Almonte sought peace and freedom during weekend, holiday, and summer visits to his father’s home in Bonao, an inland town at the foothills of the Pico Duarte mountains. “I was able to experience nature beyond the beach. Usually you think of the Caribbean Sea and how beautiful the beaches are, but when you go into the land, you find beautiful mountains, streams, and wildlife—and that is something that I always looked forward to,” said Almonte. “I didn't experience nature intentionally; it was simply life.”
Today, Almonte shares that way of life with young Black and Brown men from New York City and Denver and uses it as a vehicle to help them create connections with nature, their passions, their inner selves and their communities through his non-profit organization Young Masterminds Initiative and its Camping to Connect outdoor mentorship program.
Manny lives in Denver, Colorado.
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JOIN US for our CLOSING NIGHT EVENT of the 2025 Boulder Environmental/ Nature/Outdoors Film Festival on Sunday, July 20th at the Dairy Arts Center.
Closing Night Event Overview
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Earth Angel Award presentation to Manny Almonte, plus a short film, WOOD HOOD. The power of connection to nature is highlighted in the award-winning short film, Wood Hood, which follows a group of young men on a wilderness journey with Camping to Connect.
Closing film, new documentary OCEAN with David Attenborough presented at the DAC's GORDON GAMM Theater.
David Attenborough explores the planet's undersea habitats, revealing the greatest age of ocean discovery and emphasizing the ocean's vital importance while exposing its problems and highlighting opportunities for marine life recovery.
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6:15 pm to 8:00 pm - WRAP PARTY
Festival Wrap Party at Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St, Boulder
featuring the music of Ace Engfer.
Buffet, Appetizers, and libations will be served and live band music. Gift Certificates will be raffle off for products provided by sponsors.
Parking is free on Sundays in downtown at the Boulderado Hotel, Boulder Bookstore, and on the streets near the lounge.
BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE CLICK HERE
| | Ace Engfer is the voice behind a unique journey through Cosmic Americana—where dusty highways meet starlit introspection. On the new album ‘Time Drifts Away’, Engfer weaves together themes of travel, life’s quiet anxieties, and the echoes of love lost, all with a sound that floats between earthy folk roots and a shimmering, otherworldly atmosphere. With poetic storytelling and a deep sense of wanderlust, Ace Engfer invites listeners to lose themselves in the drift of time, memory, and melody. | | Grant provided by the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau | | |
Thank you again, to all of our Sponsors!
ENOFF is made possible by: Fjallraven (Boulder), Alpine Bank (Boulder), Regional Air Quality Council, Mindful Works, Velvet Elk Lounge, Boulder Camera, Hilton Hotels on Canyon Blvd., Boulder Weekly, Dairy Arts Center, KGNU Radio, Boulder Lifestyle, Boulder County Film Commission, and others.
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Our Mission
Boulder Environmental/Nature/Outdoors Film Festival celebrates the natural world around us – the ocean, land, nature, and the air we breathe. The selection of feature and short films will be drawn from around the world to bring to you both a local and global perspective of the challenges and solutions ahead for our environment. The films are just the beginning. Making your festival experience more enlightening, special guests from film, media, politics and science will discuss the films’ issues with our audiences afterwards.
More information needed? Call us at 774-392-2972
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P.O. Box 4393 Boulder, CO 80306-4393
774-392-2972 rich@boulderENOFF.org www.boulderENOFF.org
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