Filmmakers Lee Ann and Thomas Szelog began filming back in 2014, creating a film which features intimate and beautiful moments of Maine’s natural world. Contributed / Lee Ann and Thomas Szelog

For 10 years, filmmakers Lee Ann and Thomas Szelog have poured their care, energy and passion into creating a feature-length film about the intrinsic splendor and enchantment of Maine wildlife.

They spent four years capturing footage, four years working in post-production, and two years marketing their creation to the world. With little narration, the film, titled “A Peace of Forest,” centers wildlife as its main subject, and the Szelogs anchored the project in patient observation: the film draws its beauty from the delicate, intimate moments that happen every day in the natural world around us.

Now, the film is screening around Maine. At the end of the month, a cohort of Greater Portland land trusts is presenting “A Peace of Forest” to celebrate the film and highlight their collective mission of land conservation.

On Saturday, March 29, the film will show at University of Southern Maine’s Hannaford Hall, followed by a 30-minute Q&A with the Szelogs. In total, 10 land trusts have banded together to present the film: Falmouth Land Trust, Portland Trails, Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, South Portland Land Trust, Freeport Conservation Trust, Scarborough Land Trust, Oceanside Conservation Trust, and Maine Land Trust Network.

Together, this group of trusts conserves over 11,000 acres of land and maintains an extensive trail network in the Greater Portland area. While there has always been a collaborative energy between each organization, said Rebecca Dugan, education and outreach coordinator at Falmouth Land Trust, this is the first joint effort between the land trusts in bringing a wildlife feature film to the area.

The screening will be a community event to celebrate the beauty of our surrounding wildlife and draw attention to the important work of land conservation, said Dugan.

“We can all share our collective mission and values, talking about area conservation and how important it is in the Greater Portland area,” explained Dugan.

She said holding the event at the end of the month was an intentional choice. March in Maine can be tough –  we have just shouldered another winter and often experience brief hints of spring long before the full seasonal transition occurs.

“The timing of this was a way to bring folks out of their house, visiting with their neighbors, seeing a really interesting film, and providing a little bit of hope.”

In making “A Peace of Forest,” Lee explained how she and Thomas centered ethics in their filming: they did not chase, bait or call any wildlife toward their lens. For hours, the Whitefield couple sat behind blinds – often in the freezing cold of winter or sweltering heat of summer – waiting for creatures and special moments to unfold before them. Oftentimes, they would return home with no footage, which Lee noted led to frustration and disappointment. But, with patience, that frustration would occasionally dissolve and transform into euphoria, resulting in rare bursts when, after hours of observation, a majestic coyote walked out onto a frozen pond or a familiar doe emerged from the woods with a speckled, newborn fawn.

“We are thrilled, humbled and honored that we can help open peoples’ eyes to the natural world and allow Mother Nature to open their hearts. We are so pleased that we have the opportunity to do that with this film. We hope to share it with the world,” said Lee Szelog.

At its core, “A Peace of Forest” is meant to spark moments of wonder, joy and calm, helping us reacquaint with the power and beauty of our surrounding natural world, she explained.

“We want people to experience and appreciate peaceful beauty that surrounds us. We all need more of nature’s restorative benefits.

“Thomas and I are very grateful that the land trusts have collaborated to bring (the film) to so many people because what they do in protecting land is so crucial to the survival of all species.”

The event is open to 400 guests and will start at 7 p.m., with the Q&A running from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through participating land trusts’ websites. Adult tickets are $15, children are $5, and there is a limited number of free tickets available.