Environmental enthusiasts and film lovers gathered at The Blue Note on Sunday for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

The event was hosted by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, an environmental-advocacy organization that has operated in Missouri for 55 years. The event showcased a selection of films that highlight critical environmental issues, from climate change and conservation to innovative sustainability efforts nationwide.

The lineup of documentaries and short films was designed to inspire awareness and action.

“These films elicit emotion just like art does and our purpose for getting engaged is to use art to get people thinking about the environment,” said Jared Opsal, the executive director of MCE. 

Film topics included global challenges such as urban heat waves and lithium mining, and local challenges such as the restoration of St. Louis’s historic Greenwood Cemetery created by the MCE.

Additionally, the event served as a fundraiser for MCE’s ongoing work to support their activism statewide. Many attendees contributed by making donations to support future projects.

“We want to help you use your voice and work in partnership to think of ways of how we can improve our environment,” Opsal said.