EASTON — Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy (MRC) to host its 8th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Nov. 17. The festival presents eight short environmental and adventure films that illustrate the beauty of the Earth and the work that communities are doing to protect our increasingly threatened planet.

This year, the event will offer a new experience with two ticket options. Premier ticketholders will attend a pre-movie cocktail party at 5:30 at the Tidewater Inn. They will enjoy delicious appetizers, a full open bar, exclusive silent auction items, and reserved seating for the film presentation. The party will continue as guests move across the street to the Avalon Theatre, where doors will open at 7 p.m. for the film program, with films showing at 7:30.

As a second option, guests may purchase a ticket for only the film portion of the night, with doors opening at the Avalon Theatre at 7 p.m. Film-only ticketholders will enjoy an open beer and wine bar, view captivating and enlightening short films, and have the opportunity to support MRC’s extensive educational programs through the River of Giving.

This year’s slate features an exciting lineup of short films, including Pale Blue Dot — set to the words of Carl Sagan, situating human history against the tapestry of the cosmos while seeking to remind us that regardless of our differences, we are one species living on Earth; The Wild President — revealing President Jimmy Carter as an unsung environmental hero who grew up in awe of nature’s wonder, but didn’t understand the power of a wild river until he paddled the Chattanooga River’s Bull Sluice; and One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts — depicting the story of fourth generation cattleman Will Harris’s evolution from industrial, commodity cowboy to sustainable, humane food producer. The program will finish with a film highlighting the extensive stormwater improvement projects completed by MRC on the campus of Chesapeake College.

Film festival major sponsors are BB&T, Akridge Family Foundation, and KELLY Benefit Strategies, along with many other community supporters and film sponsors.

Full listings of films, sponsors, and silent auction items are available on the MRC website.

All proceeds go toward MRC’s efforts to restore and protect Midshore rivers through advocacy, education, outreach, projects, and community partnerships.

Film festival information and tickets are available at midshoreriverkeeper.org/wild-scenic-film-festival. For further information, please contact Kristan Droter at kdroter@midshoreriverkeeper.org or 443-385-0511.

Tickets/info: avalonfoundation.org 410-822-7299