REIFF Block C 2025

SNOWBIRD | Narrative Short | USA | 24m

A self-taught rocket scientist invites a big city journalist out into the desert to cover a launch that will prove, once and for all, that the Earth is flat.

THE MORTORCYCLE MAN | Narrative Short | USA | 10m

A 21st century trip set in the birthplace of the 60's, this slice of Americana stars Tony Award winner John Glover as an easy-riding and sharp-tongued guide to two young travelers looking for Ken Kesey's cabin deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Examining ideas of autonomy, cultural literacy, and unexpected connection, the film was shot by National Geographic's Emmy winning director of photography Ben Mullin and directed by Northern California filmmaker Jason Ward.

FOOLS' PARADISE (LOST?) | Documentary Feature | USA | 1hr 38m

How do we heal ourselves through reconnection to the natural world? How do we heal what is left of the wild – our own inner wild and the outer wild? Immersed in experiences recounted by writers, filmmakers, artists, environmentalists, adventurers, therapists, and political activists, we delve into scientific inquiry around topics such as personal action, sustainable business and life practices, nature therapies and how we need and use nature to regenerate ourselves. Alongside this exploration, we address the reality that we must heal what is left of our planet. Fools' Paradise (lost?) is a love letter to our wild. In a time when climate change and environmental degradation pose dire consequences for both humanity and the planet, we hope that by revealing pathways for healing through our reconnection to the natural world, we will learn to care for it – and if the earth benefits, we will all benefit. What can different cultures and histories offer us as lessons for our future? What are some of our most prominent thinkers and creators doing to make change within themselves and beyond? How can we tap into those lessons and experiences both as individuals and communities? What came before, what is happening now, and what can be done in the future?