The Pine Barrens, a documentary film by David Scott Kessler, will be shown on April 1 at 7pm, in Princeton, as part of the 2017 Princeton Environmental Film Festival. Previous live-score screenings have been sold out, and those that attend the festival will have the chance to see the pre-release edition.

The New Jersey Pinelands constitute the first National Reserve including seven southern New Jersey counties and encompassing more than 1 million acres of land, populating almost one-third of the state. The wonder of the pinelands continuing to thrive in the most densely populated U.S. state may also be its downfall. Kessler wanted to explore the beauty of the pinelands relationships with its dwellers and the importance of these relationships surviving urbanization.

Kessler worked on the film for five-plus years, following several characters throughout. Those within the pinelands are from generations within the pines, tracing back even to Native Americans. According to the state of New Jersey, nearly 500,000 people live in the Pinelands National Reserve. He showcases the traditions and cultures of area inhabitants and the problems they face as the modern world surrounds and evaporates what is left of their home.

Rare animals and plants can also be found. The aquifer (water-bearing storehouse) in the pinelands holds 17 trillion gallons of the country’s cleanest water. Blueberries and cranberries are also produced here which also service the region’s economy. It’s a civilization sustaining both humans and the natural resources that humans need. The Pine Barrens explores all of these ideas, issues and people.

The project was a labor of love for Kessler, a former North Jersey student of visual design. He studied at Parsons School of Design, University of the Arts, and Montclair State University, starting his filmmaking career in the early 2000s. His work has been displayed internationally as well as the Institute of Contemporary Art, in Philadelphia. A campaign to help complete funding for the film to shown at international film festivals will coincide with the special showing.

Location: First Campus Center Lecture Hall 302, Princeton University, Princeton. For more information, visit PineBarrensFilm.com.