Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

#7: Los Angeles Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Number 7 on our Top Ten highlights list is the first ever Los Angeles Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

Members mingle with Committee Board and staff at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Last March, the Mono Lake Committee brought the Wild & Scenic Film Festival to LA—featuring our film, The Mono Lake Story, in its Southern California premiere. The evening brought together local members, the filmmakers and composer, many of our partners in the area, and Committee Board and staff, all celebrating Mono Lake at the southern end of the aqueduct.

A shot from "The Mono Lake Story" film. Photo courtesy of Bristlecone Media.

After months of planning, attending the flagship festival in Nevada City for ideas and inspiration, and a whirlwind trip to LA, we can say that the inaugural Los Angeles Wild & Scenic Film Festival was a success. So much so that we’ll be bringing the festival back to LA in March 2013 … keep an eye on the Mono-logue for the dates and times!