ENCINITAS -- The Wildlife Habitat-certified backyard of the Lemongrass Aveda Concept Salon and Spa was the perfect setting for launching the second annual Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival hosted by the Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association on the evening of June 5.

The VIP reception, which included city dignitaries, filmmakers and Dumosa Award winners, gathered in the beautiful setting to take part in the zero-waste event that included food and drink and much camaraderie.

Proceeds from the event were expected to be about $5,000 and will be used to restore the facade of the stately La Paloma Theater in downtown Encinitas and for scholarships for deserving students, said Carris Rhodes, programmer for the event.

She said the theater is one of the few of its type that is still running and being used for its original use.

Receiving Dumosa Awards for outstanding films were "Milking the Rhino," which won for documentary film; "Keeping Coast" won for Short Film; "Ashes From the Sky" won for Feature Film; and "A Sea Change" won the Dumosa Award for Coastal Film.

The Robert T. Nanninga Award for Excellence went to Homegrown Revolution and the Robert T. Nanninga Student Film Scholarship went to Emily Goldstein for her film "Noble Souls." Nanninga, environmentalist, art patron and business owner, died in February of pneumonia.

Dumosa is the Latin word for Encinitas, Rhodes said.

Among those attending the reception were Encinitas Councilwoman Teresa Barth; the Dervaes family, Justin, Anais, Jordane and Jules, who made the film "Homegrown Revolution"; Josh Berry; Keith Shillington, Mike Andreen, Doug Long and Dody Tucker. Also attending were Andy Gilmour, Bridget Bueche, Mary Platis, Bobby Virk, Brandon Strathmann, Adam Englund, Elizabeth Taylor, Leigh Reagan, Robert Goldstein, Emily Goldstein, Norma Salzhandler and Danny Salzhandler.