Good wetland documentaries come in all shapes and sizes – from four minutes to forty minutes to feature-length films. In addition to the list below, Wetland Watchers often has links to news related to wetland films http://www.wetlandwatchers.org/ In some cases, films have been made to raise awareness about environmental challenges facing people and wildlife that live in wetland areas; in other cases, the documentary film tool has been used to teach young people about the importance of wetlands. See “Shooting wetland documentary helps urban teens go green” (Filmmaker not content to watch Orange Lake (FL) wetlands die) http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wetlands/filmmaker-not-content-to-watch-orange-lake-wetlands-die/1034788 (Sept. 2009)
Hurricane on the Bayou (summer 2009)
http://www.hurricaneonthebayou.com/
Iowa Wetland documentary with Ava Su (June 2009)
A Year on the Wing http://www.abc.net.au/wing/community/learningwetland.htm
Prairie Wetlands Documentary is a guided tour through the beautifully restored prairie wetlands, located just outside of Fergus Falls, MN http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7086226574538373361 (2006)
No Time to Lose – A documentary about a local heron rookery in Troy, MI, and the need for a wetlands ordinance to save it. Created by Zach Kilgore and Austin Schultz. 2008http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7086226574538373361#docid=-4754886072581651111
Great Lakes: Waterlife – at http://www.utoledo.edu/as/lec/events/Waterlife.html.Viewthe official trailer: http://campaigns.hellocoolworld.com/index.cfm?campaign_id=12Visit the official film website: http://waterlife.nfb.ca/
Houston’s disappearing wetlandshttp://blogs.discovery.com/animal_news/2009/09/shooting-wetland-documentary-helps-teens-go-green.html To watch the documentary, go to:http://www.schooltube.com/user/htv (Sept. 2009)
Cry of the Marsh – Wetlands of Minnesota documentary (1970s original and more recent re-make, Echoes of Cry of the Marsh)http://www.morris.umn.edu/cryofthemarsh/watch.html
Spike Lee’s documentary about Katrina: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783612/
Spike Lee’s ‘Levees’ sequel for HBO covers four hours over two nights
http://www.nola.com/tv/index.ssf/2010/08/spike_lees_levees_sequel_for_h.html
The Big Uneasy – Documentary
http://www.thebiguneasy.com/
For those who are interested in making a wetland film, there are training opportunities. For example, there is an upcoming week-long workshop in Washington state (affiliated with University of Washington) called “Introduction to Scientific Filmmaking,” to be led by Jeff Morales (National Geographic Film & Television, & VONIGO Films) and Dr. Colin Bates (Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre & Department of Botany, University of British Columbia). The workshop will teach participants to communicate scientific findings, natural history information, or conservation messages by creating compelling, professional-quality videos. No prior film making experience is required. The workshop will run with a minimum of 10 participants, and a maximum of 16. Workshop will be held at Friday Harbor Marine Labs (http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/) November 16 – 22, 2009. Cost: US$1100. Registration deadline is Sunday, November 1st. For further information and application materials, contact Colin Bates colinba@interchange.ubc.ca or visitwww.coastalimageworks.com/filmschool/
Update May 2012: Film about Indiana Wetlands is one big, unhappy ending
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/outdoors/12460286-452/film-about-indiana-wetlands-is-one-big-unhappy-ending.html
Updated April 2013: Playas Film Screened at Texas Film Festivalhttp://www.pljv.org/news/playa-post/april-2013#story4
Strange Wetlands™ 