About: This program features a curated selection of short films, all official selections from the 2025 American Conservation Film Festival (ACFF). These films highlight compelling stories of environmental conservation, sustainability, and the natural world. This program is proudly presented in partnership with the American Conservation Film Festival.
About the Films:
Reviving the Forgotten River - The Anacostia River, nicknamed “DC’s forgotten river,” is an infamously polluted tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. But years of work from local activists has made a difference in the river’s restoration—the Anacostia may soon be swimmable for the first time in more than 50 years.
The Bird in My Backyard - In an urban backyard on Canada’s west coast, a window salesman created a living laboratory for investigating hummingbird behavior. This film follows citizen scientist Eric Pittman as he documents the journeys of two female Anna’s hummingbirds as they attempt to raise their young in his garden.
We Can Get There from Here - After studying marine microplastics globally, Abby Barrows returned to Deer Isle, Maine, in 2015 and transformed a leased oyster farm into Deer Isle Oyster Co., a thriving business committed to plastic-free mariculture. This film tells the story of a season on the farm, highlighting both the island's fragile present and its potential future.
Flora, Fauna, Funga - Chilean mycologist Giuliana Furci is joined in her search for new mushrooms on Tierra del Fuego by biologist and author Merlin Sheldrake and mycologist Toby Kiers. They outline a strategy for greater fungal inclusion in conservation policy—fungi underpin every ecosystem on Earth through nutrient cycling and the essential relationships they form with plants.
Saving the Southern Appalachian Red Spruce - A relic of the last Ice Age, the red spruce was once a mainstay of eastern North American forests. Today, red spruce exists mostly on the highest mountaintops, forming dark green “sky islands.” The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and partners are working to preserve and restore red spruce forests.
Content Warning: These films are not rated. Some language and content may be inappropriate for children.
About ACFF: The American Conservation Film Festival was created by a group of volunteers who shared both a devotion to film arts and a commitment to conservation. They also shared the belief that attitudes about the environment are shaped by our experiences in it and that people and their cultures are an essential part of Earth’s biosphere. From the outset, ACFF struck a chord with local film goers and tourists, now attracting more than 300 quality submissions each year, selecting just around 10% through a comprehensive and thoughtful jury process. Jury members include educators, film buffs, scientists, conservationists, and filmmakers. Visit conservationfilmfest.org for more information about the ACFF.
Date & Time: Friday, May 2, 2025. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the screenings start at 7:00 PM.
Ticket Price: All tickets are general admission. $10 in advance until 3:00 PM on the day of the screening. $13 at the door. Children 12 years and below are free when accompanied by an adult.
Ticket Information: Reserve tickets in advance online or by calling the Barns of Rose Hill Box Office at 540-955-2004 (hours). When our Box Office is closed, please leave a message. All ticket sales are final; no exceptions or exchanges.