The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy will present international award-winning cinema at the inaugural Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival on Fri and Sat., March 12 and 13 at the Poinsettia Pavilion, Ventura. A total of 20 films, ranging from two to 30 minutes in length, will be screened over two nights.

Friday’s schedule includes “Lady Bug Swarm,” “Trading Bows and Arrows for Laptops,” “A Year in the Desert: Anza Borrego” and “Brower Youth Award: Alec Loorz.”

Alec, a 15-year-old Ventura resident, will speak after the screening. Alec won for his leadership in bringing attention to global warming.

Saturday’s program will feature eight films about water, including “Big River,” Get Up, Stand Up,” award-winner “Sheltered Sea” and Rich Reid’s awardwinning “Watershed Revolution,” about preservation of the Ventura River watershed. Reid will speak at the Saturday event.

The festival is the conservancy’s 2010 membership drive. New or returning members that join at the $35 level will receive two free tickets. New members joining at a $50 or greater level will receive four tickets.

Current conservancy members can purchase tickets or get free tickets through the “Bring a Friend” campaign. Members bringing in new members earn a free ticket.

For more information or tickets, go to www.venturahillsides .org.

The Ventura Hillsides Conservancy works to permanently preserve the hillsides, canyons and open space of the Ventura region.