The Wildlife Conservation Film Festival Brings a Celebration of Animals and Biodiversity to NYC

The 2013 <a href="http://iam.wcff.org/film-festivals/new-york/" target="_blank">Wildlife Conservation Film Festival</a> is in full swing in NYC, with another year of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/event/nyc-wildlife-conservation-film-festival/" target="_blank">film screenings</a>, panel discussions and exclusive Q&amp;A sessions with the filmmakers themselves. Wildlife film professionals and enthusiasts will be gathering together from October 16-20 to discuss current issues, network, and take in some of the best nature films the world has to offer. If you're in the NYC area and want to join in on the movies and talks, which tackle issues like extinction, survival, and the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/wildshorts-explores-wilderness-through-18-beautiful-short-films-in-salamanca-spain/" target="_blank">diversity of the animal kingdom</a>, read on to see how you can get tickets to this exciting event.

Barbara Roberts has been caring for sick, injured and underweight hedgehogs for the past 22 years. The short film Mother of All Hedgehogs highlights Roberts’ care with the adorable creatures and the animal hospital she works in.

The <a href="http://www.elephantreintroduction.org/" target="_blank">Elephant Reintroduction Foundation</a>’s work of reintroducing Asian elephants back into the wild in Thailand is outlined in Return to the Forest. Narrated by William Shatner, the film celebrates the foundation’s success at <a href="http://inhabitat.com/president-obama-issues-executive-order-to-protect-elephants-and-rhinos/" target="_blank">saving elephants from abuse and exploitation</a>, and shows the beauty and complexity of the elephant.

The life of the docile and gentle manatee is at risk in their native area of Florida, due to recreational boating, noise pollution, draining of rivers and hydroelectric power plants. Can Gentle Survive follows the Florida <a href="http://inhabitat.com/toxic-algae-bloom-kills-241-manatees-in-florida/" target="_blank">manatees</a>, and warns of the potential detriment to the peaceful creatures.

The remote wilderness of Ituri in Africa is rich with bio-diverisity. Ituri: Land of the Okapi showcases the untouched region, emphasizing the need to maintain a sustainable future for the animals that inhabit it.

Spirits of the Congo follows Baaka Pygmy guides deep into the mysterious jungle, giving an inside look at the rich vegetation and animals that live amongst the myths and legends that the Western World tells of the Congo.

Threatened: The Controversial Struggle of the Southern Sea Otter examines the mysterious deaths of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-study-links-water-pollution-to-smaller-penis-size-in-otters/" target="_blank">sea otters</a> along the California coast that have been increasing since 2010, followed by a Q &amp; A with Dr. Carl Safina.

The Bonobo Connection follows the closest blood relatives to humans, who only live in the Congo in Central Africa. The country’s instability is putting its citizens but also animals into danger. The story follows the lives of the bonobos, with hopes that their peaceful nature can be an inspiration for the humans that surround them.

Photographer Sandesh Kadur and Wildlife Trust of India veterinarian Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury’s rehabilitation of two adorable orphaned cubs and reintroduction into the wild is caught on film in Return of the Clouded Leopard.

A <a href="http://inhabitat.com/endangered-sumatran-tiger-and-two-lions-poisoned-in-indonesian-zoo/" target="_blank">Siberian tigress</a> named Zolushka was orphaned when her parents were killed by poachers. Zolushka, Siberian Tiger Release in Russia follows the beautiful animal’s rehabilitation by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. </br> Tickets for each film series are available online and at the New York Institute of Technology Auditorium.

Elsa’s Legacy: The Born Free Story goes behind the 1966 film which tells the tale of Joy and George Adamson, who became surrogate parents to orphaned lion cub Elsa, and successfully reintroduced her into the wild. </br> Tickets for each film series are <a href="http://iam.wcff.org/film-festivals/purchase-tickets/" target="_blank">available online</a> and at the New York Institute of Technology Auditorium.