John Wesley Powell River History MuseumJohn Wesley Powell River History Museum
The Bowline Film Festival, a new cinematic celebration dedicated to the rivers, landscapes, and cultures of the Colorado Plateau, is thrilled to announce its official launch! Slated for March 20th – 21st, 2026, the festival will be held in Green River, Utah, in collaborative partnership with the esteemed John Wesley Powell River History Museum.
The festival will feature a curated selection of films across various categories, including feature and short documentaries, narratives, adventure films, natural history explorations, river-centric stories, and works by Indigenous filmmakers. Beyond screenings, the festival will offer filmmaker Q&As, educational workshops, and community events, all designed to engage audiences in dialogue and active stewardship.
Purpose
To celebrate and amplify cinematic stories that connect people to the rivers, landscapes, cultures, and natural history of the Colorado Plateau—fostering curiosity, stewardship, and meaningful connection to place.
Mission
The Bowline Film Festival curates and presents exceptional films and programming that elevate adventure storytelling, natural history, conservation, river culture, and Indigenous and local voices of the Colorado Plateau. In connection with the John Wesley Powell River History Museum, we provide inclusive screenings, filmmaker conversations, educational workshops, community events, and river-based experiences that inspire learning, dialogue, and active stewardship of the region’s waterways and landscapes.
Vision
We envision the Bowline Film Festival as the premier annual gathering where storytellers, scientists, river users, Indigenous communities, and conservation leaders converge to deepen public understanding and catalyze long-term protection and celebration of the Colorado Plateau’s rivers, landscapes, and cultures—ensuring their resilience for generations to come.
Friday, March 20th – Opening Day: Adventure & Early Submissions
4:00 PM – 5:45 PM | Festival Registration & Social Hour
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM | Event Welcome & Opening Remarks
6:05 PM – 7:16 PM | Film Block 1: Total Runtime: ~70 min, including intros ● Location: Museum Theater
7:16 PM – 7:36 PM | Grouped Filmmaker Q&A for Film Block 1 (20 min)
● Location: Museum Theater
7:36 PM – 7:46 PM | Break (10 min)
7:46 PM – 9:35 PM | Film Block 2: Total Runtime: ~96 min, including intros & Q&A
● Location: Museum Theater
9:35 PM – 9:45 PM | Audience Favorites Voting & Friday Night Wrap-up
● Location: Museum Theater / Exit
● Cast your vote for the Audience Choice Award for Friday’s films.
10:30 AM | Doors Open & Morning Coffee
11:00 AM – 1:23 PM | Historic Films & Presentations Block: “Echoes of the River” (Total Runtime: ~2 hr 23 min, including intros & Q&A)
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM | Afternoon Social Hour & Networking (1 hr)
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM | “Plateau Perspectives & Stewardship” (Total Runtime: ~111 min, including intros & Q&A)
4:46 PM – 5:51 PM | Afternoon Social Hour & Networking (1 hr)
5:51 PM – 6:21 PM | Concluding Event Keynote: “Guardians of the Plateau” (30 min)
6:22 PM – 6:35 PM | Film Intro: Glen Canyon Institute (What The River Knows)
● Location: Museum Theater
6:36 PM – 7:05 PM | Grand Finale Film: “What The River Knows” (34 min) – Will Buckley and Diego Riley
7:06 PM – 7:20 PM | Filmmaker Q&A: Glen Canyon Institute (15 min)
● Location: Museum Theater
7:21 PM – 7:41 PM | Festival Audience Awards Announcement & Closing Remarks (20 min)
7:44 PM onwards | Bowline Film Festival After-Party
Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00am – 5:00pm
Adults (18+)
Seniors (62+)
Children (7-17)
Family
$8
$6
$3
$25
Free admission for children under 7, museum members, and Green River residents.
1765 E Main Street
PO Box 387
Green River, UT 84525