Screening is open to the public with advance RSVP

St. Augustine, FL - Sing Out Loud Festival and Live Wildly Foundation are proud to present a free public screening of Path of the Panther, the acclaimed documentary that chronicles the fight to protect the Florida panther from encroaching development. The screening will take place on Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Gamache-Koger Theatre, located at 50 Sevilla Street, inside the Ringhaver Student Center at Flagler College. Following the film, a panel of local policy leaders and conservationists will answer audience questions and discuss ongoing efforts to protect the panther’s habitat and the wide array of species who live there.

Path of the Panther tells the story of how a haunting image of the elusive big cat draws together a wildlife photographer, veterinarians, ranchers, conservations, and Indigenous People to confront the expanding development that has pushed the Everglades to the brink of ecological collapse.

The work of this diverse coalition eventually led to the creation of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, an 18-million-acre network of connected lands and waters that, if permanently protected, offers hope for the panther and 2,000 other species.

“The Florida panther exemplifies the power of nature and its ability to bring us together,” said Lisa Shipley, CEO of Live Wildly. “But we don’t yet know how this story will end. We must continue working together to ensure the permanent protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor so it can bring benefits to both people and nature for generations to come.”

Path of the Panther is a cautionary tale that resonates across the globe. The panther’s habitat has become an island paradise vanishing into thin air, its lush territory transformed into subdivisions. Perched on the edge of extinction, the panther is an emblem of our once connected world, a vision of what could be again – or a harbinger of what could befall our planet if the ‘Path of the Panther’ becomes a dead one.

“In this moving documentary, stunning images of the big cats spur the movement to restore a majestic keystone species as well as dwindling wilderness,” wrote Carol Harada of Mill Valley Film Festival. “While National Geographic’s Carlton Ward, Jr. employs camera traps to capture thrilling video and still portraits of panthers and other marshland creatures, biologists track the elusive wild felines, vets rehabilitate them after car strikes and ranchers preserve working land and prevent overdevelopment. Through Ward’s art the Florida panther and the swampland itself speak eloquently of their right to continue. A gripping tale of survival, Path of the Panther offers hope that we can follow our love of beauty and nature toward better stewardship of the Earth.” View Path of the Panther Trailer HERE.

Following the 90-minute feature, there will be a discussion and Q&A session with Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner, City of St. Augustine Commissioner Professor Barbara Blonder and National Geographic Photographer George McKenzie.

This screening is part of Sing Out Loud Festival and Live Wildy’s ongoing commitment to fostering awareness about environmental conservation and the uniqueness of Florida’s natural landscapes and wildlife. The event aims to bring together the local community in a shared experience that not only highlights the plight of the Florida panther but also encourages discussions on how viewers can Join the Movement and contribute to preserving Wild Florida.

The screening of Path of the Panther will be held on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6:30pm EST at the Gamache-Koger Theatre inside the Ringhaver Student Center at Flagler College. This event is free and open to the public, but advance RSVP is required. RSVP HERE.

Sing Out Loud Festival is curated and produced by SJC Cultural Events, Inc. which manages and operates the award-winning St. Augustine Amphitheatre, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, and the nationally recognized Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series. Sing Out Loud Festival 2024 is proud to partner with Live Wildly Foundation and additional community partners St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, City of St. Augustine, St. Johns County, St. Augustine Distillery, PNC Bank, Sunbelt Rentals, Bozard Ford, Champion Brands, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Intuition Ale Works, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau, St. Augustine Songwriters Festival, Flying Saucer Presents, AVL Productions, St. Johns Cultural Council, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival and Concert Series, Jalaram Hotels, and Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach.