Welcome to The Newsfeed.

I'm Paris Jackson.

A Cascade PBS original documentary that garnered inclusion this past spring in the Seattle International Film Festival, is gearing up for its broadcast debut.

Wolf Land follows a relationship between a cattle rancher and a wolf protecting cowboys efforts to preserve what means most to them.

It premieres October 4th on Cascade PBS.

We caught up with the documentary director to learn more about how this small film is captivating larger audiences.

At the heart, what is Wolf Land all about to you?

-Wolf Land is about Daniel Curry, who is a wolf advocate and wolf protecting cowboy, as he refers to himself, who's working with a fourth generation rancher, Jerry Francis, and their goal is to use non-lethal deterrents to keep wolves away from cattle and protect both the cattle and protect the wolves from getting killed as a result of them attacking livestock.

-My goal is to prevent that wolf from losing its life, and then prevent this rancher from having to not have his livelihood affected negatively by the presence of wolves.

A range rider.

It's a balancing act.

What surprised you about the subjects that you follow and profile throughout the film?

Wolf protecting cowboy, as you said.

Daniel Curry and long time rancher Jerry Francis.

-I think what surprised me about them is how much they have in common.

They both have a deep, deep connection to the land that they live in.

And that became really apparent through line through the film.

How much the ranching culture for Jerry was important to him.

And then for Daniel, having these wild landscapes for wolves to thrive in and how important that was.

But they both live in these landscapes.

These are really rugged, rural areas, and they're committed to this being their home and their backyard, and it being able to be a place that they can all thrive together.

Wolf Land premieres on October 4th on Cascade PBS.

But take us back and tell us about the circuit that it's been on since you produced the film.

-Wolf Land premiered here in Seattle, at the Seattle International Film Festival.

We're also going to continue to show the film at some other Pacific Northwest festivals, including The Bend Film Festival in Bend, Oregon, the Tacoma Film Festival, and also the Friday Harbor Film Festival on San Juan Island.

Since the documentary, do you think the film has helped shine a light on the dichotomy between wolves and cattle?

-I think our main goal was to really take this black and white issue and break it down and show solutions.

This is a really divisive issue where people typically take one side.

They're either pro wolf or anti wolf, pro ranching or anti ranching.

And our goal was to really show that there are ways that if people can talk to each other, listen to each other and look for solutions together on issues that are, you know, breaking down in communication, that it could really create change.

And I hope that's also a message that can be taken into other issues that we're dealing with that are divisive in this time right now.

Last month, Cascade PBS teamed with the University Place Library in Pierce County to host a screening of the documentary Priced Out, followed by a Q&A with the journalists behind the reporting.

In a 2024 documentary Priced Out, Cascade PBS investigative reporters examined the business practices of mobile home park owner Hurst and Son, LLC.

It owns the land under 1 in 40 mobile home parks in Washington.

I'm Paris Jackson.

Thank you for watching The Newsfeed, your destination for nonprofit Northwest news.

Go to CascadePBS.org for more great local coverage.