Start the New Year with the City of Goleta at a free screening of the short film Ellwood Mesa: Beyond the Bluffs. This special event is happening tomorrow, January 7th from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Camino Real Cinemas (7040 Market Place Drive). You are encouraged to arrive early (by 5:30 p.m.) to get a seat. We have a full evening planned. Kick off the night with a short video highlighting groundbreaking monarch butterfly research happening right here in Goleta. And following the 23-minute-long film is a Q and A panel with those involved directly in the making of the film. Get a peek at what you will see - watch the film trailer here.

Before heading into the theater, learn about how you can get involved in the ongoing work happening to preserve Ellwood Mesa by stopping at the Ellwood Friends table. While there, pick up a free souvenir movie postcard from the City while supplies last.

Ellwood Mesa: Beyond the Bluffs was created as part of Ellwood Mesa’s 20-year anniversary of when the land was saved from development and officially turned over to the City of Goleta to be preserved as open space. It is the compelling story of how the Goleta community came together decades ago to protect this beautiful space and the perseverance that still exists today to steward the land for all to enjoy for generations to come. It highlights the race to protect the place thousands of monarch butterflies return to every winter.

The film premiered at the inaugural Wild and Free Film Festival in Goleta on November 16, 2025, as part of a California Stories Shorts Block. Because the theatre reached capacity and not everyone who turned out was able to see it, the City worked with Metro Theatres to put on a free community screening. We hope anyone with a connection to Ellwood, or who wants to learn more about this amazing place, will join us tomorrow.

The City was pleased to partner with Paradigm Pictures and Ellwood Friends to put together this short film. We recognize that there are so many more historical details, stories and people not included that are a part of Ellwood Mesa’s incredible story. For a more detailed account of Ellwood Mesa’s history and stories go to ellwoodfriends.org/stories.