The Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour returns to Damariscotta at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 4 at Lincoln Theater with a curated selection of the festival’s 2019 films. The film fest is hosted by Damariscotta River Association (DRA) and Pemaquid Watershed Association (PWA), with a coffee and dessert bar compliments of Rising Tide Co-op.

While admission to the film festival is free, seating is limited. Tickets are required and may be reserved online at www.damariscottariver.org/events.

Now in its 17th year, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour is a selection of short films from the annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival held the third week of January in Nevada City, California. The films speak to environmental concerns, outdoor adventure, and finding connection to nature.

Eight inspiring films will be screened at the event on March 4. “For the Love of Mary” introduces viewers to 97-year-old runner George Etzweiler, who breaks his own record each year as the oldest finisher at the grueling annual 7.6 mile road race up Mount Washington.

After serving in the Vietnam War, author and eco-warrior Doug Peacock spent years alone in the Wyoming and Montana wilderness observing grizzly bears. In “Grizzly Country,” he reveals how his time in the wild changed the course of his life and helped him heal. With the protection of Yellowstone grizzlies now under threat, Peacock reflects on the importance of habitat and why he continues to fight for wild causes.

“Treeline” takes viewers to the enshrined cypress groves of Japan, the towering red cedars of British Columbia, and the ancient bristlecones of Nevada, following skiers, snowboarders, scientists, and healers as they explore a connection older than humanity.

Other films highlight topics in land conservation, habitat restoration, wildlife, activism, and more.

The film festival is a natural extension of DRA and PWA’s work to inspire people to act on behalf of the environment. Now unifying to become single organization, DRA-PWA is a non-profit, membership supported, and nationally accredited land trust and conservation organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the natural, cultural, and historical heritage of the Damariscotta River and the Pemaquid peninsula region through land and water stewardship and education.