Sagebrush Wildlife Film Festival

Scott Ransom, Pocatello Zoo Director, (208) 234-6264 Imagine seeing beautiful outdoor scenery featuring up-close encounters with some amazing wildlife from all over the worldÉ without leaving Idaho. It's possible if you attend the second annual Sagebrush Wildlife Film Festival which will showcase award-winning films featured at the world famous International Film Festival in Missoula, Montana. The festival will kick off on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Idaho State University's L. E. & Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center. Saturday's event will start at 6:00 pm with a no host bar, followed by dinner at 7:00 pm. After dinner, the feature film, "People of the Sea," and the short film, "Spirit Mandala," will be shown. For tickets to Saturday's event, please call ISU's ticket booth at 282-3595. Tickets are $20 per person. Advance reservations only. The festival will continue at 7:00 pm on Monday, Sept. 11 at the ISU Bengal Theater. The night will highlight two special guests: filmmaker, Liz O'Connell, and six-year old narrator, Zachary Clifton. The evening will also feature the children's film, "Alaska's Coolest Birds," narrated by Zachary when he was just five years old, and another showing of "Spirit Mandala." On Tuesday, Sept. 12 at the ISU Bengal Theater, "Spirit Mandala","Dune", and "10 Days to Paint the Forest" will be shown beginning at 7:00 pm. Tickets for Monday's and Tuesday's events can be purchased at the door. $2 for patrons 12 and over; $1 for children under 12; $1 for ISU faculty, staff, and students. In conjunction with festival events, the Sagebrush Steppe Regional Land Trust will sponsor an annual membership drive and "chili feed" on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the ISU quad at 6:30 pm. This event will feature "Terminal Velocity," an exciting, award-winning film about the hunting behaviors and amazing flight speeds of peregrine falcons. Two special guests, an experienced falconer and his peregrine, will be on hand to further educate and entertain the audience. The Sagebrush Wildlife Film Festival is being sponsored by numerous local wildlife enthusiasts, sportsmen's groups, conservation organizations, and state and federal agencies. For more information about the festival, please contact Karrie Schmidt at 237-9291, Jennifer Jackson of Fish and Game at 232-4703, or Scott Ransom, Director of the Pocatello Zoo, at 234-6264.