Manta rays and their relationships to humans are pictured in this film still from the documentary "The Last Dive," directed by Cody Sheehy. The film is one of nine featured in the inaugural Eagle Cap Film Festival in Wallowa County, Nov. 5-7.
Courtesy Johnny Friday
The Eagle Cap Wilderness at the base of the Wallowa Mountains in Eastern Oregon encompasses nearly 360,000 acres. It’s in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, and for filmmaker Cody Sheehy, it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth — maybe the most beautiful.
He grew up in Wallowa County and lived elsewhere for 25 years. But six years ago, he returned to his roots and began thinking about how to best contribute to the local community.
Sheehy met Zach Halpern, a medical doctor and founder of the Oregon Psychedelic Institute. They discovered a shared love of community and film and together they launched the Eagle Cap Film Festival, which runs Nov. 5-7. Sheehy’s new documentary is one of the nine films showcased at venues in Joseph, Enterprise, Lostine and Wallowa.
We talk to Sheehy and Halpern about the event. We also get a preview of “The Last Dive,” which tells the story of a manta ray, a scuba diver and their unique friendship over time.
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