A Climate Action NOW Monthly Film Festival EVENT
Monday November 17, 2025 | 7:00-9:30 PM
CINEMA ARTS THEATRES
9650 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22031
FREE!
Awarding-Winning Wilding
metfilm
BASED ON THE BESTSELLING BOOK BY ISABELLA TREE
a Climate Action NOW Monthly Film Festival Film
Monday November 17, 2025
Witness the inspirational journey of a daring couple as they take a bold gamble on nature, challenging centuries of tradition to revive their four-hundred-year-old estate. Determined to breathe new life into their failing farm, they embark on an audacious adventure, dismantling fences and letting the wild reclaim the land. With a diverse cast of animals—both domesticated and untamed—they initiate a groundbreaking rewilding experiment that promises not just to restore their estate, but to reshape the very fabric of the landscape itself.
This captivating documentary immerses viewers in the beauty of nature’s resilience, revealing the couple’s unwavering commitment to coexist with wildlife and the environment. As they navigate the challenges of their daring venture, “Wilding” becomes a powerful testament to the potential of nature to heal and thrive when given the chance. Don’t miss this transformative story that sparks hope and ignites a passion for conservation—grab your tickets now and be part of a movement that reimagines our relationship with the wild!
OUR AWESOME PANEL:
MADDIE BRIGHT is the Executive Director of Earth Sangha where she has worked full-time on native plant conservation since 2011, and where she grew up as the daughter of co-founders Lisa and Chris Bright. Maddie has worked closely with ecologists, botanists, and park managers across the Northern Virginia region on plant conservation and ecological restoration projects over the years, including a brief stint interning at Huntley Meadows Park. She regularly teaches for the Arlington Regional Master Naturalist chapter and serves on the steering committee for the National Capitol Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management.
LIZ TRAIN is the Co-Coordinator of the Audubon at Home Program for Fairfax County and an Audubon at Home Ambassador. She is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist and Extension Master Gardener, actively volunteering in northern Virginia with organizations like the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Liz leads two Virginia Master Naturalist training cohorts annually and participates in training Extension Master Gardeners.
Motivated by her belief in everyone’s role in combating climate change, Liz focuses on creating healthy habitats for wildlife and improving the Chesapeake Bay watershed’s water, soil, and air quality. She resides in Fairfax County.
CORY SUTER is a Permaculture farmer, community leader, and advocate for soil regeneration. Raised on a Mennonite homestead and trained in doctoral level Economics, he is a Fairfax County Tree Commissioner, and the Founder of LambMowers.com, a small business featured in the Washington Post that brings a friendly flock of sheep to over 140 different yards per year all around the DC metropolitan area to provide chemical free fertilizer, weed removal, and carbon sequestration services.
An experienced entrepreneur, Cory was a founding board member of the Philadelphia Orchard Project, a non-profit that has planted over 1650 fruit trees and 55 food forests. In 2006, Cory founded the second largest residential green roofing company in the Philadelphia area as of 2011. That year he sold BioNeighbors Sustainable Homes, LLC to a competitor to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics at Temple University. After earning a Masters, Cory bought an old horse farm in Fairfax, VA with his wife where he now raises chickens, Babydoll Southdown Sheep and over 200 cultivars of edible perennial plants.
MODERATOR:
ELLE KATHERINE CLEVELAND is an English and Communication Major at George Mason University, where she is dedicated to honing her skills in effective communication and literary analysis. Raised in Chesterfield, Virginia, Elle’s formative years were enriched by her deep connection to nature, fostering a lifelong appreciation for the environment. Her passion for the natural world informs her academic pursuits and creative endeavors, as she seeks to explore the intersection of language, culture, and the great outdoors.
EVENT SPONSOR: Climate Action NOW (CAN) 501c3. EVENT PARTNERS: FIRA, Plant NoVa Natives, Earth Sangha, Trace – The Zero Waste Store, American Solar, Go Electric DMV.
EVENT PARTNERS
WILDING
“Totally blown away by this documentary. I stumbled upon it during an Emirates flight back home. Conquered by the synopsis, I watched every minute in awe… Mesmerised by the courage of the couple for their brave undertaking, and then by the beauty of the images, the deeply touching regeneration that takes place in the landscape, the humanity with which the animals are treated, and the total symbiosis that is inherent to all living beings. Every fibre of my being and my soul have been touched by this film. It gives a true sense of hope for the future, a future that we should all striving for, a future where all beings have respect for each other, and where Mother Nature is allowed to care for all, as was intended, and where little daily miracles can happen, if only we trust in nature’s capacity to do her work. Thank you to Isabella Tree and her husband, Charlie Burrell for this inspiring endeavour. And to the filming crew for the stunning images captured.” – Nadine Filipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WILDING Audience FEEDBACK in Fairfax, VA
“I thought it was fantastic! What a wonderful example of restoring the native land. Personally, it inspired me to get more into adding native plants into the environment around us.”
“LOVED ‘Wilding’—this was beyond inspiring to see a failing farm…instead of seeing this as the ending, it becomes an enormous success to bring the land back to life. I want to do the same rewilding in my half acre yard. While we have deer, fox, squirrels and chipmunks, I want to invite more butterflies, moth, bees, and have small creatures thrive. I’m deeply inspired. Bravo!”
“It was great. It reinforced my dream to do the same! And to expand my native yard. Heartened after seeing so much destruction, spraying, lawn culture of the US. Watch for a website I’ll be starting. “10% wild” 😁
“Excellent! The film really illustrates how traditional farming methods have destroyed the health of our soil. It emphasizes the importance of planting natives in our backyards to benefit ecology.”
“We liked it and found it quite interesting and exciting and inspirational. We’re inspired to work on increasing biodiversity in our yard.”
“I thought it was a beautiful film and a beautiful example of the power of a devoted group of people. It inspired me to make change on a smaller scale and really emphasized the effect of rewilding on many ecological scales.”
“Excellent film—inspiring! It gave me hope that people can successfully rewild degraded landscapes, even when doing so goes against popular opinion. We have too many lawn-lovers in the suburbs who need a culture change!”
“Amazing! A moving experience. The photography was beyond exceptional. I’m inspired 100%.”
“Loved the ‘Wilding’ film. Amazing to see the changes over 15+ years. Inspired me to support similar efforts in the US.”
“Excellent! Spiritual experience. Moving and gives hope.”
“Excellent! Need more like this. We will continue to personally move to wilding.”
“The film was great. I’m glad I saw it. The role of animals transforming the landscape was important to see. It was inspiring.”
“I loved it! It was inspiring and hopeful. As someone with a family background in farming, and acres of land that will be passed on to me one day, it really gave me a lot to think on and aspire to. I found myself daydreaming about how to scale down their work to make it a reality with my own land one day. It also gives me hope for the future — a network of landowners (big and small) making changes and doing their own ‘projects’ to rewild their pockets of the world.”
“Thank you! Really was in awe of the film and the family that was courageous enough to make such a change!! Good for them. Hope (that others will be inspired and follow suit— nature is powerful and will take care of the land and us, we do not need to destroy it and ourselves by controlling and exploiting any aspect).”
“I really enjoyed it! I especially love the part with the painted lady butterflies and the cranes—both seemed miraculous. I’m already interested in planting native plants, but watching films like this, make me want to get more organized about such efforts.”
“It was inspiring to see what patience and tenacity can accomplish. Nature is adapt at healing and regeneration. Humans need to get out of the way.”
“Loved the variety of topics within the overall story plot. I’ve already landscaped my 1/4 acre with natives, but would love to have more areas rewilded.”
“Great photography and amazing story. Gives me a vision for the future. It makes me want to find out ways I can make it happen.”
“Loved it! Should be required viewing for everyone. So emotional!! Inspiring and hopeful—to let nature do the work for us. Please distribute this film as widely as possible.”
“Loved it! Have so many questions, like how did you get so many camera angles? Did your neighbors ever come around? Who do you have capturing and studying all the new activity? You had a lot of statistics, who is calculating them? Do you rely on grants for your project? I’m inspired to try harder in my own small yard!”
“Inspiring. Love the recovering species. Believe change on a large scale can happen.”
“I liked the film very much. A great case study, very well documented overtime.”
“The film was very good. It showed the natural links between the various species. Very insightful.”
“I liked it very much! I was inspired to re-wild my backyard.”
“Loved it! Excellent, hopeful, inspiring, and funny in parts. Thank you for a great experience.”
“I liked the film very much. It gives me hope that it will work in the USA.”
“Proud of the family and the filmmakers who shared the story.”
“Loved it! Gave me so much information. Positive reaction to natural habitat.”
“Loved it! Inspiring and a message of patience and hope.”
“Loved it! Leave mother nature alone. Quit pesticides.”
“Loved it! Reinforced how I already feel. Get it on PBS?!”
“It was well-paced overall. The CGI was hyper realistic, and I sort of wish the real footage was more noticeable. I think it would’ve felt more impactful, if the results felt less fabricated. I totally need a native garden. Bring this to the USA!”
“Great film. Beautiful cinematography. Want more info on how to collaborate with produce farmers to expand model.”
“It was well produced, very moving. We felt quite immersed in the environment and inspired to allow more natural growth in our own local region.”
“We loved it!! Exploring what changes I can make.”
“Loved it! Supports my desire to be the change in my tiny part of the world.”
STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK that will soon be uploaded…
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Climate Action NOW (CAN) 501c3
Mailing Address:
PO Box 650144
Potomac Falls, VA 20165
Climate Action NOW (CAN) 