Submitted by the Friday Harbor Film Festival.

Join us for a night of award-winning short documentaries featuring captivating stories and a filmmaker Q&A at the San Juan Island Grange on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Friday Harbor Film Festival’s Best of the Fest Series will screen “Managed to Extinction,” “Range Rider” and “Facing the Falls.” Immediately following the films, engage with special guests in person and by livestream. Dr. Deborah Giles (“Managed to Extinction”), Director Celia Aniskovich (“Facing the Falls”) and Daniel Curry (“Range Rider”) will speak about their work and answer your questions. Details are available at www.fhff.org.

“Managed to Extinction”

Witness the efforts of an indigenous visionary and an orca scientist teaming up to address extinction threats to Chinook salmon and orcas in the Pacific Northwest. Directed by Jessica Plumb. Running time: 16 minutes. Released in 2024.

“Range Rider”

In the Kettle River Range of Northeastern Washington, wolves are killed to protect grazing livestock. Range rider, Daniel Curry, uses nonlethal mitigation methods to prevent wolves from seeing cows as a food source — and to prove that coexistence is possible. Directed by Colin Arisman. Running time: 29 minutes. Released in 2022.

“Facing the Falls”

International disability advocate and entrepreneur, Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan, deep in the throes of an aggressive, fatal muscle-wasting disease and no longer able to walk unassisted, ventures out on a daring, 12-day expedition through the Grand Canyon. The descent into the canyon mirrors Yar Khan’s personal journey as she and her team battle physical and mental adversities that threaten to kill, wound or undo them without warning. Directed by Celia Aniskovich. Running time: 33 minutes. Released in 2023.

The Best of the Fest Series Schedule

Each month through September, Best of the Fest presents award-winning documentaries along with Q&As with the films’ directors and subjects. Programs begin at 7 p.m. Some are in collaboration with the San Juan Island Library; others are at the San Juan Island Grange. Since they’re on Fridays, they are a great “date night” activity.

“Porcelain War” – March 28 at the library.

“Out There: A National Parks Story” – April 18 at the Grange.

“Wilding” – May 16 at the Grange.

“Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers” – June 20 at the library.

“Resident Orca” – special event on July 16 at San Juan Community Theatre.

“A Dream Takes Flight” – Aug. 22 at the Grange.

“Hvaldimir” – Sept. 12 at the library.

Details about all of the Best of the Fest films are available on the fhff.org website. FHFF appreciates the sponsorship of The Journal of the San Juan Islands! Mark your calendar and plan to view the exceptional Best of the Fest documentaries.

Submissions for the October festival are now open for feature and short documentaries!

Details about how to submit your work are available at https://www.fhff.org/film-submissions.