This time three years ago the Barefoot bandit was on the run.

After a series of risky, brazen thefts across the Pacific Northwest, including two planes, one each from Orcas and San Juan Island, a speedboat from Friday Harbor and another plane from Anacortes, complete with crash-landing at the Orcas Island Airport—local authorities were on the heels of Colton Harris-Moore.

The notorious teenager, who became a pop-culture sensation, evaded arrest until 2011, captured in the Bahamas.

Fast forward to today, where the story has been caught on film. “The Barefoot Bandit Documentary,” directed by Carly Bodmer, depicts Harris-Moore’s two-year international crime spree and it will premiere at the second annual Friday Harbor Film Festival, Nov. 7-9.

“Barefoot Bandit is an in-depth documentary,” said Lynn Danaher, director of the Friday Harbor Film Festival. “You get a real sense of where this very bright, misguided youth came from.”

The Friday Harbor Film Festival strives to connect countries and communities across the Pacific rim. Its mission is to entertain, inspire and enlighten filmgoers to environmental issues, social concerns, efforts in activism and humanitarianism, and stories of grand adventure.

“We’re all neighbors of the Pacific Ocean,” Danaher said. “What happens in Papua New Guinea can affect Alaska.”

The films all have important stories to tell. In addition to the premiere of the “Barefoot Bandit,” two other full-length documentaries will be showcased for the first time at the film festival.

“Fragile Waters,” a film by Rick Wood and Shari Macy, examines the perils faced by the plumetting populations of resident orca whale and Chinook salmon of the Salish Sea. The film takes place in the heart of the San Juan Islands, a melting pot for environmental research and preservation, and explores the interconnection between people, whales, water and fish. Profiling orca experts, fisherman, hatchery scientists and Native American tribal leaders, the film uncovers the community at work to prevent an ecological disaster.

“Our film really centers on the San Juan Islands, the epicenter of the Southern Resident orcas’ range,” the film’s co-director Rick Wood said. “We need people to see the film, that’s the only way we’ll save the Southern residents and chinook salmon. There’s this tiny window of opportunity in which we can do what needs to be done.”

“Material of the Future,” directed by Vern Moen, challenges the role plastic plays in daily life. Inspired by the recent discovery of the floating island of garbage in the Pacific, the material that equipped humankind with the means to land on the moon and rebuild the human heart is poisoning the land and sea. The film not only presents the problems, but offers thought-provoking solutions.

A non-profit organization, the Friday Harbor Film Festival has 40 business sponsors this year. Since the event is being held in November this year (a year ago the inaugural festival took place in mid-October), much of that support has gone directly into advertising, and to getting the word out. The organization has received tremendous community support, but is still short on cash.

“We’re in dire straights for funding,” Danaher said. “This is by far the biggest challenge we face.”

Financial hurdles not withstanding, FHFF has incorporated major changes to this year’s format. Entry passes will be sold in increments of four, eight and 12 films per ticket, and a single pass can be shared among several people. The number of full-length films has increased from 25 to 30 and there will be 13 short films. The festival will sponsor a Young Filmmakers Project and feature films submitted by student filmmakers from the region.

The festival will be sans celebrities, but rich with artists and activists who each bring a unique voice and story told through the lens.

“The filmmakers themselves are the celebrities,” Danaher said. “They’re the ones going out into the world making underfunded, extraordinarily important films and doing it for the love of the medium. Robert Redford can come, but he’ll be just like any other attendant.”

For a full list of films, venues, events, or to sign up to volunteer, visit FHFF.com