Ukiah >> The first of five Friday evenings of live music and notable international wildlife films begins Friday, Feb. 19 at the Civic Center in Ukiah. Festivities will start at 6:15 p.m. with Bob Laughton’s lively Celtic folk music. Opening night films start at 7 p.m. and feature state-of-the-art cinematography that will take viewers to two unique island ecosystems.
“Wild Hawaii: Land of Fire” (48 min.) shows the other side of Hawaii – the wild side. From red-hot lava to icy peaks and massive waves, the film takes a look at the way sea turtles, cliff-climbing fish, hawks and other animals have adapted to thrive in this incredible place.
Also screening is “Life Force II: Borneo” (42 min.). This film takes you to Borneo, one of the great biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Here, rainforests have thrived for over a hundred million years, harboring extraordinary creatures including over 30 species of gliding animals. The lush tropical jungle also shelters the strangest giant ape on Earth, the oddest-looking monkey, and pygmy versions of the rhino, elephant and bear. Life Force II: Borneo received the Visual Effects & Cinematography Award 2015 at the Science Film Festival.
Proceeds from the film festival are an important funding source for the Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project (RVOEP), a special program of the Ukiah Unified School District that provides outdoor environmental education program to over 2,000 students a year.
The Wildlife Film Festival takes place at the Ukiah Civic Center at 300 Seminary Avenue. Tickets are available at the Mendocino Book Company and at the door for a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children. A series ticket for all five evenings is $45. Films are appropriate for older children, but parental discretion is recommended.
For a full program of the film series and more information about the RVOEP visit its website, www.rvoep.org. For further inquiries, contact Maureen Taylor, RVOEP Education Coordinator, at 489-0227.
