Returning for its second year, the Wild and Scenic Film Festival will showcase another round of films Saturday, May 14, at the Brenau Downtown Center in Gainesville.

Sponsored by the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the event will benefit its Neighborhood Water Watch Program.

A total of 16 films ranging in topic and length will begin to roll at 7 p.m. following an environmental expo at 6 p.m. The films will educate the public about the environment and explain how Georgia residents can make choices to help impact the environment for the better, said Janet Westervelt, Headwaters Outreach manager at Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival started many years ago by the California-based group South Yuba River Citizens League, which was fighting to protect a river.

“They show over a hundred films and allow nonprofits like Chattahoochee Riverkeeper to choose from those films and create our own kind of mini festival,” Westervelt said.

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival proved to be hit last year, so buying tickets in advance is encouraged. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, $10 for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper members and $15 for adults plus membership.

“The venue seats about 300 people, so we are anticipating another sellout this year,” Westervelt said. “We’re recommending that people buy them ahead of time online, and if not we definitely will be selling them at the door for walk-ups.”

The environmental expo will showcase nonprofits, who will share information about their organizations.

“We’ll have lots of freebies and a lot of great interaction with other local nonprofits in addition to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper,” Westervelt said.

Beer and refreshments, raffles and giveaways also will be on tap.

“We’ll be raffling off a kayak from Outside World over in Dawsonville and a few other paddling trips and a stay in a cabin,” she said. “There will be all kinds of giveaways from our local sponsors as well as our national sponsors like Patagonia and Keen. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

For more information, visit chattahoochee.org/wildscenic or call 770-531-1064.