Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour 2026

CEC is pleased to be hosting The Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour, one of the largest environmental film festivals in North America for the 10th time. 

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour helps CEC spread the message about the wonders of the Earth, as well as the challenges facing our planet and the work that communities worldwide are doing to protect the environment. The two hours of short to medium length films range from inspirational celebrations of the beauty of nature to roadmaps of how individuals, organizations, and communities work together to successfully fight environmental destruction and restore nature. Some of the films are quirky; some are all too reality based. All will educate you about our world and actions that are being taken to protect it.

For those who want to hear about how the issues illuminated by the films connect with environmental challenges in our own area, we will have a post-screening discussion with local environmental experts and advocates who will talk about their work and ways you can get involved to make a difference.

Serving as a fundraiser for CEC, the festival is an important extension of the CEC’s efforts to inspire people to act on behalf of the environment.  

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Wild & Scenic Film Festival Trailer

🎬 Featured Films

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Judy's Creek

Follow ecologist, educator, and author, Dr. Judy Li, into the world of caddisflies, the artisans of the aquatic world. With contagious passion, Judy shares how her childhood curiosity led to a career in freshwater science, and how she has found ways to share the joys of science with audiences of all ages.

Follow a group of vigilante crossing guards as they help frogs and salamanders navigate a busy road through a rainy Spring night, so these driven amphibians can arrive safely to the unique wetland that is critical for their life cycle

Aotearoa joins a fun, global competition where ecologists and enthusiasts scour cities to uncover the weird and wonderful wild. But can they save the planet, one photo at a time?

In “The Cost of Forever”, we uncover the hidden and costly dangers of ‘forever chemicals’ in our rivers and drinking water sources, following Riverkeepers and water protectors as they strive to protect communities—and themselves—from PFAS contamination.

“Make it Myself” encourages kids to think about what they can make themselves, rather than buying new. The upbeat video is packed with energy, creativity, and concrete ideas for educational and sustainable projects.
“Make it Myself” is the title track on the third album by social justice family music band Ants on a Log. Inspiring kids to face challenges with joy and justice, the Ants’ album is full of humor and harmony. Ants on a Log songs offer educational, socially conscious content in an irresistibly fun package.

Babacar Thiaw, a visionary Senegalese surfer, entrepreneur, and environmental activist, is on a mission to tackle his country’s escalating plastic pollution crisis and preserve its coastline for future generations. Deeply connected to the ocean through his family’s history and inspired by his father’s teachings, Babacar’s legacy is a call to action, reminding us all that safeguarding the future begins with the choices we make today.

“Welcome Home” celebrates the incredible story of wolf reintroduction to Colorado. When the people of Colorado voted to return wolves to the state, they set in motion a unique conservation success story. Welcome Home shows the value of returning this iconic and beloved carnivore to Colorado and how the state is recovering wolves in a thoughtful way that cares for wildlife and people.​

📢 Speakers

Meghan Riley

Senior Attorney
Gulf Regional Office
Earthjustice

EarthJustice is an environmental nonprofit law firm with the motto:  because the earth needs a good lawyer. 

Meghan began her legal career as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Saint Paul where she spent several years litigating and defending local public health and quality of life issues from smoking bans to building codes.  One of her first cases went all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

After several years of practice in the state and federal courts, Meghan moved her family to warmer climes and served as the Chief of litigation for the City of Austin, Texas for over ten years where she oversaw consequential and policy changing lawsuits, including challenges to State immigration laws and environmentally detrimental roadway projects. 

Meghan moved to Houston in early 2025 and joined Earthjustice in February of this year.  She now works on environmental quality of life issues on behalf of communities throughout the US with a focus on clean air and emissions reduction in the transportation, building and industrial sectors.

Outside of the court room, Meghan and her family enjoy travel and soccer and frequently combine the two hobbies.

Coral Lozada, Ph.D.

Sustainability Faculty Fellow
Office of Sustainability
Houston Methodist Academic Institute

Coral has a PhD in coastal and marine systems sciences and my research background in mixed-methods approaches allows me to approach sustainability with an interdisciplinary perspective. Much of my work has focused on how community perceptions and values influence resilience to both natural and man-made disasters, and how coastal communities adapt to changes in their livelihoods as a result of these disasters or shifts. I look forward to enhancing our hospital’s resilience and contribute to the environmental sustainability using a One Health lens.

Brittanie Crews

Zookeeper II
Herpetology
Houston Zoo

Brittanie is a zookeeper in the Houston Toad Recovery Program at the Houston Zoo. Her background is in wildlife conservation and animal behavior. She started as an intern in the Herpetology and Entomology department at the zoo and has been involved with the toad program since 2019. As a keeper, she manages the day-to-day husbandry of the Houston Zoo’s breeding colony of around 800 Houston toads, and is also involved with most of their education and outreach efforts. The Houston Zoo is 1 of 4 facilities in Texas involved in the ex-situ conservation of the species. In 2025, the Houston zoo released nearly 1.6 million eggs back into the wild.

Alenka Cardenas

Wetlands Policy and Outreach Specialist
Bayou City Waterkeeper

Alenka joined Bayou City Waterkeeper in September 2023. She bridges the realms of education and conservation as an aquatic scientist. Her expertise, rooted deeply in the ecosystems of Texas, is aimed at ensuring vibrant waters and communities throughout the region, especially in areas like the Lower Galveston Bay Watershed.

She received a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Houston and brings a record of impactful collaborations with local environmental justice initiatives, advocating for communities’ innate rights to pristine air and water. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and has worked at St. Edward’s University in Austin, concentrating on wetland delineations, environmental impact assessments, and conservation strategies, especially for regions facing challenges from environmental perturbations. Alenka has supported environmental education endeavors and youth-driven conservation projects within Texas.

A Houston resident since her formative years, she treasures the city’s multicultural tapestry, continually exploring its cultural nuances, art forms, and connecting with its diverse inhabitants.

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