Yarun EcoFlix 2026: Stories, Connections, and Hope

Around 100 people gathered at Woorim Community Hall on 4 July for the third annual Yarun EcoFlix Film Festival, sharing an afternoon of films, conversation and connection with others who care deeply about the future of our environment.

While the films transported us from the coral reefs of Western Australia to the deserts of the Red Centre and the coastlines of South-East Asia, a common thread ran through them all: people working to care for the places they love.

Some stories highlighted the importance of Indigenous knowledge and caring for Country. Others explored the pressures facing forests, reefs and oceans in a rapidly changing world. One looked at the growing challenge of plastic pollution through the eyes of a child. Although the settings were often far from Bribie Island, the themes felt surprisingly familiar.

That is one of the strengths of Yarun EcoFlix. It reminds us that the challenges we face locally are shared by communities across Australia and around the world. Whether it is protecting wildlife, restoring habitats, reducing pollution or adapting to environmental change, many people are working towards the same goal.

The timing of Walk Good Fire was particularly relevant as Bribie’s fire-dependent landscape is in the midst of another planned burn season. Alongside Forest Country, it offered a useful reminder that environmental management is rarely simple. Different habitats require different approaches, and good outcomes depend on understanding the unique ecology and history of each place.

Before the screenings and during the intermission, festival-goers explored displays from BIEPA project teams and partner organisations. Representatives from the Flora Team, Shorebirds and Turtle Awareness projects, Marine Debris and Mynah Eradication groups were on hand to share their work, joined by colleagues from the Bribie Island Nature Festival, Wildlife Rescue Queensland, The Moreton Bay Foundation, Moreton Climate Action Now, Bribie Island Turtle Trackers, Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group, and Nature Nose. Together they showcased the breadth of environmental action taking place across Bribie Island and beyond, while providing plenty of opportunities for visitors to ask questions, learn more and connect with like-minded people..

These displays were more than information booths. They were opportunities to share ideas, ask questions, discover local projects and connect with others who are making a difference. New volunteers met experienced campaigners, friendships were formed and conversations continued long after the films had finished.

At a time when environmental news can often feel overwhelming, Yarun EcoFlix offers something equally important: perspective. The festival reminds us that while the challenges are real, so too are the people dedicating their time, knowledge and energy to finding solutions.

Perhaps the greatest takeaway from the afternoon was the simple reassurance that none of us is working alone.

BIEPA thanks Environmental Films Australia, our volunteers, participating organisations and everyone who attended for helping make Yarun EcoFlix 2026 another successful celebration of community and conservation.

We look forward to doing it all again next year!