Sisbro Will Screen at Japan Wildlife Film Festival

Toyama, Japan - May 30, 2011 - First Snow in the Woods, the latest wildlife film from the award-winning sister/brother duo of Laura Sams and Robert Sams, was chosen out of 359 films from 50 countries to be one of 30 films to be shown at the Japan Wildlife Film Festival 2011.

The festival has become the largest event of its kind in Asia and Pacific Rims. Founded in 1993, with the cooperation of the Wildscreen Film Festival in Bristol, U.K. and the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival in Wyoming, U.S.A., the festival has grown to become a four day event, attended by 40,000 members of the public, who come from all over Japan to see the world's best nature films.

"We decided to host the festival this year despite these conditions in Japan," said Mr. Hirohisa Ota, chairman of JWFF. "Because these films have shown the wonders of wild life and the co-existence of nature and people, hopefully it will lift the spirits of those who will see these films."

The festival, which will take place August 4^th - 7^th, 2011, is organized by the Nature Film Network, an authorized non-profit organization based in Tokyo, Japan. Since its establishment in 1992, the Nature Film Network has worked to encourage public enthusiasm towards nature through excellent wildlife films, which they believe "can be the first important encounter with nature for many people today."

"This is a real honor," said co-director Robert Sams. "We spent two years capturing footage of animals in the brilliant colors of a Michigan fall, from white-tailed deer to mice to birds, and I'm really excited our film will bring these North American animals to Japanese families." 

First Snow in the Woods is a half-hour movie based on the New York Times best-selling children's book by Carl R. Sams II and Jean Stoick. Set in the vivid fall season, the movie follows a worried scarecrow (who can't scare any crows) as he watches the animals prepare for an early snowfall. A little mouse moves into the scarecrow's heart and tells him the story of First Snow in the Woods, which helps him accept the changing seasons of life. The movie begins with a lively song written by Laura Sams, showcasing a singing groundhog, chipmunk and pileated woodpecker.