By Edgar Miller, YRK Executive Director
More than 75 Riverkeeper supporters attended the first ever “It Starts With a River Film Festival” at the Reeves Theater in Elkin on September 19. The festival included films of local, regional and national interest, including the NC premiere of “The Keeper” by award-winning National Geographic documentary film maker, Jon Bowermaster. The film recently won the top prize at the New York City Climate Change Film Festival and chronicles the nation’s first ever Riverkeeper organization’s efforts to protect the Hudson River.
Yadkin Riverkeeper and WatershedNOW/Friends of Big Elkin Creek sponsored the Festival to build awareness about our organizations’ efforts to protect the Yadkin River and its tributaries. Additional sponsors included The Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority, West Consultants, Carolina Heritage Vineyard and Winery, The Elkin Valley Trail Association, Working Films and Blue Stream Environmental.
In addition to the feature film “The Keeper,” the Festival included two films of local and regional interest. The first titled “The Creek’s Runnin’ Dry” showcased the struggle of the one-of-a-kind trout streams of Stone Mountain State Park produced through a collaborative effort of NC Brook Trout Association, Friends of Stone Mountain and NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Special thanks to Tyler Pait for coordinating the effort. The second titled ‘Grit, Heart, and History: the Joe Matthews Documentary’ celebrates the milestone efforts in preserving Pilot Mountain State Park produced by Surry on the Go with special thanks to Chris Knopf and Peter Kulszinski whom made the film possible as well as Nathan Walls.
Prior to the film screenings, YRK and Friend of Big Elkin Creek hosted a “Stewardship Social” to encourage networking and information sharing. Representatives of both organizations were on hand to provide information, answer questions and sign up new members. The NC Brook Trout Association, Friends of Sauratown Mountains, the Yadkin Valley Sewer Authority also had information booths at the Reeves.
YRK is seeking permission to do additional screenings of the “The Keeper” film in at least two other locations in the watershed. The film documents the work of Hudson Riverkeeper patrol boat captain, John Lipscomb, who patrolled the Hudson for the Riverkeeper for 25 years and recently retired. The film makes provides an insider’s look at what Riverkeepers do and makes the important point that we should all be “keepers” of our precious water resources.
Yadkin Riverkeeper and WatershedNOW/Friends of Big Elkin Creek want to thank the Reeves Theater ownership and staff for hosting the event and our sponsors and patrons who helped make this event possible and those that contributed to our organizations. If you missed the Festival, stay tuned for future announcements about additional screenings.