Animals’ stories aren’t the only ones at Missoula’s International Wildlife Film Festival April 16-23

The festival https://wildlifefilms.org/ opens on a sad note with the passing of founder Chuck Jonkel on Tuesday.

"He was very active in our story," festival director Mike Steinberg said. "His consciousness around the ethics of wildlife film making was a huge motivation. The festival was his way to create an opportunity for scientists and filmmakers to network and learn from one another."

Steinberg said Chuck Jonkel’s memory would be honored during the festival’s awards ceremony on Friday. The 5 p.m. gathering at the Wilma Theater will also feature clips from a documentary now in post-production about Jonkel’s life.

Wildlife films aren’t just about animals anymore.

Sure, this year’s 39th annual International Wildlife Film Festival has movies about summertime habits of polar bears, but it also encompasses the importance of seeds; the effects of changing climates on creatures large and small, and the key role of environments like national parks and wildlife preserves. Plus, there’s a few virtual reality films.

CORY WALSH [email protected]

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/animals-stories-aren-t-the-only-ones-at-international-wildlife/article_00d687bc-5904-5326-bf38-64f8663ad7d9.html