OCLT presents the Orange County premiere screening and panel discussion of The Nature of Nature: Biodiversity in the Hudson Valley at the Paramount Theatre in Downtown Middletown on Wednesday, November 4, at 6 pm.

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• Permanent protection of farmland and wildlife habitat

• Healthy watersheds that sustain the region

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• Stewardship of conserved lands for future generations

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About the film and event:

This short film celebrates the living fabric of the region’s unique landscape. From high elevation forests to the globally rare freshwater tidal marshes along the Hudson estuary, the 30-minute documentary film captures the beautiful, the complex, the familiar, and the unknown… guided by the plants, animals, and people that call the Hudson Valley home.

At the conclusion of the film, enjoy a discussion about the state of biodiversity in the region, what's at stake, and the partners aiming to preserve biodiversity locally.

Panelists include: 

• Dr. William Schuster, past Executive Director, Black Rock Forest
• Sacha Spector, Program Director for the Environment, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
• Michael Sweeton, Community Liaison, Orange County Land Trust
• Ronald Zorrilla, Founder and CEO, Outdoor Promise

Facilitated by Laura Heady from the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program.

Doors open at 5:30 pm. Admission is free. Advance reservation of tickets is required.

The Nature of Nature was directed by Laura deNey of Flicker Filmworks and produced by Laura Heady of the Hudson River Estuary Program, with funding by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation through the New York State Environmental Protection Fund in partnership with NEIWPCC. The film is an official selection in the 2026 London Nature Films Annual Festival and a nominee in the 2026 New York State Emmy Awards. Watch the trailer here.

For more about biodiversity and conservation planning in the Hudson Valley, visit: Home | Conservation Planning in the Hudson River Estuary Watershed.