Pittsburgh film fans are invited to attend a festival this week that aims to reflect the natural beauty it's drawn from.
Mary Kate Ranii, program and outreach coordinator for the Pennsylvania Resources Council, said the 2015 Wild & Scenic Film Festival should inspire locals to protect the environment.
“We’re looking to find a new market of people…folks that care about a lot of other issues, like wildlife or like filmmaking, and get them involved in environmental issues in their backyards as well,” Ranii said. “So we want to involve even more people with protecting southwestern Pennsylvania.”
The festival begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. It include 15 films, which range in length from 90 seconds to 35 minutes, and cover an array of environmental issues. Tickets run $15 each.
“We have a large issue in Pittsburgh (with) litter,” she said, “so a number of our films are going to feature anti-litter messaging, as well as resource conservation like conserving water.”
The festival is part of a larger event happening across the country at more than 140 other locations, and each one will show films specific to the environmental challenges each community faces. Community groups will also be on site for anyone spurred to action, Ranii said.
“After citizens get to see these really beautiful films and get inspired to take action, we have the ability to connect them with local organizations and initiatives here in the Pittsburgh area," she said.
