Mill Valley Duo Anchor New West Marin Film Fest

In imploring the United States Congress to protect American's vast wilderness in 1960, Pulitzer-Prize winning poet Wallace Stegner called it a "geography of hope."

These words provided the inspiration for the Geography of Hope Conference, a multi-disciplinary event launched in 2008 by Point Reyes Books that explores the relationship between people, land, and community. This year, the event debuts a new component: the three-day Geography of Hope Film Festival, which kicks off today and runs through Sunday.

The central theme of this year's conference and film festival is "Reflections on Water," entirely appropriate for an event taking place on the rugged Pacific coastline of Point Reyes Station. A selection of feature films, both narrative and documentary, as well as short and student films, will screen throughout the weekend at The Dance Palace, along with a number of panel discussions and related art installations.

According to event organizers, "all GOHFF films spotlight water related issues including environmental, the sacred and spiritual, sport, adventure and political advocacy. Screenings include substantive discussions by filmmakers and panels composed of scientists, environmentalists, entertainers, artists and adventurers."

The sold-out Opening Night film, , may have a familiar ring to it: it is co-written, directed and produced by Mill Valley filmmakers Kristi Denton Cohen and Tom Cohen and screened twice at the 2010 Mill Valley Film Festival. A short documentary called Greenlit, a companion piece to The River Why, chronicles the trials and tribulations of making The River Why in an environmentally conscious way, and will also screen at the fest.

Since their Mill Valley screening, the Cohens have continued to travel the festival circuit with their feature, adapted from David James Duncan's 1983 novel of the same name. They picked up the Audience Award at the Naples (FL) International Film Festival, and will be returning from the Sedona Film Festival in time for Friday night's event. They plan a limited theatrical release this summer, and are currently working on securing both foreign and domestic distribution.

“We hope The River Why and all of the 2011 Geography of Hope Film Festival selections will inspire, educate and stimulate a call for action to our audiences by presenting films and offering intelligent discourse about our most important natural resource…water…the blood in life's veins,” said festival co-director Jane Sullivan.

Other films with local connections include Call It Home: Searching for Truth on Bolinas Lagoon, a documentary examining the decades-long debate surrounding the future of the lagoon. It screens along with Giacomini Wetlands: A Legacy for Tomales Bay, a short film documenting efforts to restore the wetlands to their natural state.

Swimming takes center stage in another Bay Area-focused program: From the Badlands to Alcatraz follows five Lakota youth as they prepare to conquer the notoriously dangerous Alcatraz swim. This film is accompanied by Swimming in a Dream, a short film that gets to the bottom of 'swimmers' high', through the eyes of members of the North Bay Aquatic Masters from Corte Madera.

A number of special art exhibitions will be mounted throughout Point Reyes Station during the film festival, and extending through the larger Geography of Hope Literary Conference, which takes place March 18-20, 2011.

The entire Geography of Hope event, both the film festival and the literary conference, is chaired by former Poet Laureate of the United States Robert Hass, as well as renowned poet Brenda Hillman.

The 411: The Geography of Hope Film Festival takes place from today through Sunday at The Dance Palace in Pt. Reyes Station. Tickets are available at www.inticketing.com. The Geography of Hope Literary Conference takes place March 18-20. Visit www.ptreyesbooks.com for more information.