On December 6, community members, families, and individuals with an interest in art, mycology, and science gathered in the basement of the Urban Ecology Center. Spread across the room, sitting in rows of chairs or curled up in blankets on the floor, they all shared a common goal: to experience the second iteration of the Fungi Film Fest, organized by Tyler Vinca, Neighborhood Engagement Specialist at the Center.

While in its second year being hosted at the Center, the festival, initiated by mycologist Peter McCoy in Portland, OR, has an established history, with 2023 marking the fourth installment. Beginning during the early stages of the pandemic as an online event, it has since transformed into a public gathering in Portland while still including streaming components. 

A distinctive feature of the Fungi Film Fest this year was its diversity in submissions, showcasing films from nine different countries.

“The only thing that the films have to do with, very loosely, is fungi,” Vinca said. “I think that this gives a lot of freedom… Every film was so different, and there [were] a lot of different ways that people explored fungi as a whole.”

Beyond being a cinematic showcase, the festival aims to bridge the perceived gap between science and art, providing a platform for these seemingly-disparate topics to converge.

“Science, in general, can sometimes feel a little inaccessible,” Vinca said. “A lot of people think that there’s a huge difference between creative minds and scientific minds when there really isn’t.”

For Vinca, the significance lies not just in the films but in creating a space where individuals can connect, share experiences, and find a sense of belonging within mycology.

“It’s really about bringing people together,” Vinca said. “The mycological community is really unique, and I think that there’s been a lot of challenges in getting people together since the pandemic … This is a way to get people outside, more knowledgeable about mycology around the parks, but it’s also a way to celebrate art and make friends.”

This connection with nature is deeply personal for Vinca, and it takes root in their childhood.

“I grew up with my grandparents in a rural area, and I was given a lot of freedom to be outside whenever I wanted,” Vinca said. “That kind of just carried with me as I explored what I could do as a profession… it always went back to when I was a kid milling around in the woods and looking at mushrooms.”

Similarly, Vinca encourages science and art-oriented individuals alike to focus on pursuing what brings happiness and sparks curiosity.

“It takes a lot of work to feel successful in both creative spaces and in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) spaces,” Vinca said. “I think we get hung up on how hard it is to get through mathematics or how hard it seems to feel successful … but if you just kind of think about it as working joyfully, you’ll feel happier with the process.”

Vinca also emphasizes a community-oriented approach to research, particularly in their ongoing project focusing on documenting and studying fungi through iNaturalist, a community database.

“We’re in the early stages of things, but this spring and summer, I’m going to be continuing it every Wednesday,” Vinca said. “It’s really just a matter of going out, seeing what we find, and teaching each other what we know and how to describe and photograph fungi.”

For those interested in exploring the festival’s offerings, the films are available for streaming through January 3rd.

Explore Vinca’s publications, research, and shop here.