Based on Isabella Tree’s best-selling book by the same title, Wilding tells the story of a young couple that bets on nature for the future of their failing, four-hundred-year-old estate. The young couple battles entrenched tradition, and dares to place the fate of their farm in the hands of nature. Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrust its recovery to a motley mix of animals both tame and wild. It is the beginning of a grand experiment that will become one of the most significant re-wilding experiments in Europe.
Film Intro | Anna Irwin, Tangled Bank Studios
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is a mission-driven production company dedicated to telling powerful, inspiring stories about science and nature.
Part of the CIFF SALUTE TO VETERANS MILITARY TRACK
The Atomic Rocketeer is a 2024 documentary from Larry L. Sheffield that tells the complete story of Wernher Von Braun, the German scientist and his band of German Rocketeers that was acquired by the Americans days after the fall of Germany.
The film that tells the untold story about Von Braun’s efforts to build a novel weapon to win WW2 which became the largest project every taken by Hitler and his Nazi command.
The results didn’t turn the tide of the war for the Germans but did gain the intense interest of the United States which led to a secret mission called “Operation Paperclip”.
Q+A with Larry Sheffield
Veterans are free to attend and tickets have been generously underwritten through the 2024 Coronado Community Grant
An investigation into abuse and missing children at an Indian residential school ignites a reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve. A stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life, SUGARCANE, the debut feature documentary from Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning.
In 2021, evidence of unmarked graves was discovered on the grounds of an Indian residential school run by the Catholic Church in Canada. After years of silence, the forced separation, assimilation and abuse
many children experienced at these segregated boarding schools was brought to light, sparking a national outcry against a system designed to destroy Indigenous communities. Set amidst a groundbreaking investigation, SUGARCANE illuminates the beauty of a community breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and finding the strength to persevere.
Deeply disquieting and indeed enraging. --Peter Bradshaw Top Critic The Guardian
Critics Consensus 100% Rotten Tomatoes
Accumulating immense emotional power as it methodically uncovers a grave injustice, Sugarcane is one of the most compelling and important documentaries of the year.
SAN DIEGO PREMIERE
WATER BROTHER is a poignant reflection on a life well-lived and a tribute to the enduring spirit of surf culture. The film celebrates the people and places that make surfing & skating more than just hobbies and shows how one man's dedication can inspire a community.
This feature documentary that follows the life of Sid Abbruzzi, an East Coast legend and culture icon. The film explores Sid's lifelong passion for surfing, skating and his commitment to protecting the sport's history and culture.
Through a mix of never before seen archival film, personal interviews, and large format cinematic footage, including exclusive interviews with Tony Hawk, Shepard Fairey, and other giants of the surf and skate world, this documentary takes the audience on a captivating journey through the history of surfing and skating; from 1960s Newport, to Santa Cruz, Cocoa Beach, South Africa's Jeffrey's Bay, and beyond. The film highlights Sid's influential role in shaping the surf and skate world, his remarkable achievements, and his unwavering dedication to preserving access to endangered surf breaks, skateparks, and public spaces for future generations to discover their passions, just as he did.
Q+A with SID ABBRUZZI, + filmmakers and special guests!
This will be an incredible afternoon celebrating skate & surf icons!
SALTWATERx: Your Prescription for Wellness
Discover the extraordinary healing powers of the ocean with SALTWATERx. Join us on a captivating cinematic journey as doctors - medical doctors, osteopaths, and psychiatrists - delve into the physiological and psychological benefits of immersing yourself in the majestic embrace of the ocean. From hormone boosts to toxin cleansing, from pain relief to mental rejuvenation, our documentary explores the remarkable ways in which the ocean can transform lives.
“What does a woman battling brain cancer, a surfer from Liberia, Africa with unthinkable grief and an amputee mentoring a group of lost teenage boys and a young woman with cerebral palsy all use as their non-traditional healing medicine?” The Ocean!
Nature as Therapy
The film sheds light on the remarkable benefits of natural aquatic settings on mental health. Discover how the ocean enhances mood, self-esteem, social connection, and overall well-being. With no walls to confine it, the ocean becomes a vast hospital of rejuvenation and a place of solace for those grappling with grief, trauma, and the day-to-day stresses of life. We introduce the "Blue Gym" initiative, which highlights the physical and mental benefits of immersing yourself in the ocean, interacting with nature, and getting fit. Get ready to dive into the ultimate gym, where nature itself becomes your personal trainer.
Filmed in La Jolla, Coronado, Pt. Loma, Encinitas, Oahu, Tahiti
**Features Coronado resident and US Adaptive Surf team member Quinn Waitley who competes in their Assisted Prone division
MILITARY TRACK | SALUTE TO VETERANS
A WWII transport ship equipped with non-functioning lifeboats and inadequate lifebelts was sunk by one of the first radio-guided missiles ever used in war. 1015 US soldiers were killed in the classified attack that remains the greatest loss of life at sea in the history of any US war.
ROHNA CLASSIFIED is a new film that uncovers classified documents revealing that neglect and oversight contributed to the large number of casualties. The government deflected responsibility by declaring the disaster classified and ordered all survivors to remain silent. The casualty families were stonewalled and most of them went to their own graves never knowing what happened...their boys just never came home.
Imagine: He once opened for the Rolling Stones, became one of the top attractions in San Francisco (2nd only to the Cable Car), performed in front of two Presidents and a Queen and became one of the most unique acts in Las Vegas, winning Entertainer of the Year two years in a row – all without saying a word!
This multi-award winning documentary, “Robert Shields: My Life as a Robot”, tells the story of how Robert Shields went from a teenager performing as a robot in front of the Hollywood Wax Museum to having a top-rated CBS variety show with his beautiful wife Lorene Yarnell in the '70s and, unbeknownst to him, became the inspiration for top dancers all over the world The cast of this film includes some of the great performers of the era (Tony Orlando and Mac Davis) along with family and friends, all of them assisting in the narration of Robert’s journey, from childhood to present day, helping the viewer to become directly connected to his story and the amazing ride his life became. His life is one that truly proves anything is possible.
Q+A to follow with Mark Bonn Director / Producer. Christine Bonn Producer. Robert Shields!
International Documentary
Across continents, one man's quest against the water crisis: five challenges, five countries, one cause.
Water is fundamental to life, essential yet increasingly scarce. "Maji" takes you on an epic journey across borders into the core of the global water crisis. This film is not just a viewing experience; it's a visceral encounter designed to stir empathy and heighten awareness about the critical issue of water scarcity.
Our film follows Leo, an intrepid adventurer moved to action by the water crisis. From the sweeping canyons of Arizona to the icy expanses of Iceland’s glaciers, Leo's journey through five physical challenges embodies the spirit of resilience and determination. "Maji" captures the stark realities of diverse ecosystems and cultures affected by water scarcity, from the whispers of ecologists to the urgent voices of indigenous peoples and local activists.
United Kingdom
Nostalgia Alert | After 53 consecutive years of touring and over 5,000 performances, the iconic duo of 'America' privately says goodbye to a lifetime on the road.
The film dives into their extraordinary journey and the profound decision that marks the end of a musical era. Join CIFF for this special screening celebrating one of the most prolific bands in American history.
You know them all - I Need You, Tin Man, Sister Golden Hair, A Horse With No Name
Q+A with Dustin Elm (Director). David Breschel (Director/Producer). Jack Piatt (Producer)
Just to get you in the mood: https://youtu.be/KOZD1BnMnl0?si=1KXXSF8YNcujNT21
The Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF) welcomes makers and lovers of film from all over the world to the storied seaside village of Coronado, California to celebrate the magical art of visual storytelling. Coronado’s enduring love affair with Hollywood began more than a century ago.