The concept for this event grew out of many years of discussion between CalTrout staff and our network of supporters. We’ve heard many folks express a permeating desire for stories that highlight the ways fish, water, and people are intertwined. The CalTrout Film Fest was our answer.
As many in our community know, we host the International Fly-Fishing Film Festival (IF4) each spring. IF4 films focus fully on the sport of fly-fishing (which we love), but as folks begin to gather more in-person, we wanted to take this opportunity to expand our public events. From concept to inception, the process of curating the selection of films shown for the CalTrout Film Fest was thrilling – we were proud to feature films grappling with the social and environmental issues of our time.
We had a blast bringing this event to life, and are always surprised by the generative energy that we feel when we get the opportunity to gather our wider community for entertainment and shared connection.
The CalTrout Film Festival spanned over two dates, December 6th and December 13th, at the beloved Lark Theater in Larkspur. Both shows had strong attendance, featuring Q&A and panel discussions with the filmmakers and producers following the screenings. All attendees had the chance to participate in the post-film raffle drawings. Folks won prizes from our partners at Lost Coast Outfitters, Patagonia, and many more.
Below, we're pleased to include links to view all the films so that if you missed us, you can watch the films from the comfort of your own home. See you in the spring for the International Fly-Fishing Film Festival (IF4), and see you next fall for the second annual CalTrout Film Festival!
Mighty Waters, a Cold Collaborative film
River of Angels, a Rivers are Life film
Guardians of the River, a Shane Anderson film
A River’s Reach: Source to Sea on the Sacramento River (Full length film not available yet, keep your eye on their website for its coming release).
The Lost Salmon, a Shane Anderson film
Cover Photo: Chris Constantine/Rivers are Life
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Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.