The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “The American Southwest” showing Sept. 5-11 at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres.

Directed by Ben Masters, “The American Southwest” is a visually immersive and deeply moving exploration of the region’s fragile ecosystems, Indigenous resilience, and the growing fight against climate change.

A wild and unforgettable journey down the mighty Colorado River — narrated by Indigenous environmentalist Quannah Chasinghorse — the film beautifully showcases the region's abundant wildlife, confronts the ecological impacts of dams and river depletion, and boldly advocates for increased water and wildlife conservation.

The film travels through legendary landscapes from the viewpoint of some of the Southwest's most charming characters — such as wetland-building beavers, bugling bull elk, and desert-adapted rattlesnakes.

Made in association with Natives Outdoors, “The American Southwest” highlights the region's deep cultural history and the crucial need to better manage the river for both wildlife and society to thrive. The film is a cinematic call to action — honoring the landscapes, lifeways, and waters of the Southwest as they face unprecedented threats.

“The American Southwest” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres Sept. 5-11. Showtimes will be Friday, Sunday and Wednesday, Sept. 5, 7 and 10 at 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 6 at 3:30 p.m.; and Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Sept. 8, 9 and 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.