Screening Information

Date: Sunday, March 29, 2026
Start Time: 8:00 PM
Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes
Location: Arizona Science Center
600 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85004

​

Film Description

The American Southwest is a family-friendly wildlife documentary that takes viewers on an unforgettable journey down the mighty Colorado River. Narrated by Quannah Chasinghorse, the film explores the region’s rich wildlife while addressing the ecological challenges facing the river, including the impacts of dams and water overuse.

​

Created in association with Natives Outdoors, the film weaves an Indigenous perspective into the story while introducing audiences to some of the Southwest’s most fascinating wildlife—from industrious beavers and bugling elk to soaring California condors. Through breathtaking landscapes and powerful storytelling, The American Southwest invites viewers to better appreciate, cherish, and protect this remarkable region.

​

Director:

Ben Masters is a Texas-based filmmaker, writer, and conservationist known for wildlife and adventure documentaries. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in wildlife biology, Masters founded Fin and Fur Films, a production company dedicated to telling conservation and natural history stories.

​

His feature films include Unbranded, The River and the Wall, and Deep in the Heart, which have appeared on platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Starz and have screened in theaters worldwide. Masters has also worked with organizations including The Wildlife Society, American Rivers, and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. His work focuses on wildlife conservation, public lands, and the natural history of the American West.

​

Director of Photography

Ryan Olinger is an award-winning wildlife photographer, filmmaker, and conservation biologist. He studied Wildlife Conservation and Management at the University of Arizona and earned a Master’s degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Cape Town.

​

Through his work with NGOs, universities, and conservation organizations across Arizona and Africa, Olinger has spent nearly a decade studying wildlife and climate change while documenting species through photography and film.