Just over 100 miles away from San Juan Island, trout and salmon are returning to the Elwha River in the wake of demolition of two dams. For nearly one hundred years, those two dams blocked salmon and trout from venturing back to their primordial spawning waters.

Closer to home in Friday Harbor, Lynn Danaher and Karen Palmer are zipping around town, testing equipment and putting together final preparations for the second annual Friday Harbor Film Festival, Nov. 7-9, the aim of which is to inspire change by creating awareness.

“The film festival is a non-confrontational way to inform people about things they need to consider,” Danaher said. “The hope is that people chose something to be engaged in.”

One of the festival’s showcase films is “Return of the River,” a documentary chronicling the many forces that led to the first-ever dismantling of dams in the U.S. With the Salish Sea’s Chinook salmon in decline, and orcas doing the same, the film offers a ray of hope, that restoration efforts do succeed.

Stitched carefully into the FHFF hats and vests is a school of salmon and an Orca whale, suggesting that the two are intertwined. “Fragile Waters,” a film set to premiere at the film festival, tells the tale of the individuals and organizations at work to change the current fate of salmon and orcas in the Salish Sea.

In the forum Danaher and Palmer have created, issues are brought to light through the lens. The effects of mental illness and addiction, survival stories, brazen adventurers, and the marine food chain at risk are just a few of the themes explored at the festival.

In tradition with last year’s festival, this year features several films with a uniquely local element. “Red Sky in Mourning,” depicts San Juan Island’s Tami Ashcroft and her harrowing story of survival at sea. Ashcroft lost her fiancee on the voyage, and struggled on the water for 141 days until she reached land.

“A Gentlemen of Adventure” tells the extraordinary life story of San Juan’s late Ernest K. Gann, in which pilot, writer, and sailor, were only a few of the hats he wore.

“Shenandoah,” the Academy Award nominated film from 1965, will be shown in honor of the film’s director, the late Andrew McLaglen, who adopted San Juan as his home. McLaglen is this year’s recipient of the festival’s “Local Hero” award, and the first-ever “Lifetime Achievement” award. Both awards will be presented to McLaglen’s family Fri., Nov 7, 8 p.m.

Danaher and Palmer have each put in more than 1,000 hours of their time, and have donated a good chunk of change to the cause, but they haven’t brought the film festival to life entirely on their own.

“I think it’s really telling to look at the sponsors page in the program,” Palmer said. “Now that’s community support.”

Designed to make the festival more affordable and accessible is the new “multi-punch card” system of ticketing. Festival goers can purchase single tickets, or punch cards of four, eight, or 12 films. Cards can be shared among friends and family, so a family of three can see four movies. The greater the number of films you purchase, the more cost-effective it becomes.

A $120 pass gives you access to all of the films, in addition to entry into Saturday’s Filmmakers’ Soiree, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the San Juan Island Yacht Club.

New this year is the debut of the Young Filmmakers Project, which will showcase the best films submitted by local students, as selected by the festival’s panel of judges. This event is free, and begins at 12 p.m., Nov. 8, at the Whale Museum.

Throughout the weekend, film-goers can vote for their favorite films on the ballot inserted into the programs. The Audience Choice Award will be announced Sun., Nov. 9, at the Whittier Theatre. The winning film will be screened again at this time. The audience can also vote on the best films from each category. Categories include Explorers and Adventurers, Tales from the Heart, Things to Consider, and Local Heroes.

Although the festival is sure to inspire people to action on issues that speak to their heart, its overall purpose is to entertain.

“You’re not going to get anybody educated if you don’t entertain them first,” Danaher said.

The festival begins at 10 a.m, Fri., Nov. 7. Venues include San Juan Community Theatre, Friday Harbor House, and the Grange Hall. Tickets can be purchased from the SJCT Box office.

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Emily’s Picks:

Gasland II: Lights, camera, frack-tion. Josh Fox visited my college in upstate New York, which is where I learned about hydraulic-fracturing and its dangers for the first time.

Barefoot Bandit Documentary: When I first learned about Colton Hariss-Moore I admittedly gave into the hype and didn’t want him to get caught.

The Unknown Sea: As a novice sailor with a keen interest in protecting the environment, I’m looking forward to joining the voyage into the Salish Sea, captured aboard the S/V Orion.