Leaving The Point is Encompass’s first short documentary directed by Michael Fearon that explores a long-running dispute over commercial ranching at Point Reyes National Seashore north of San Francisco.
The film centers on families who have ranched there for generations and who agreed to retire their 12 ranching operations on the National Seashore in exchange for compensation from The Nature Conservancy .
The film was the opening selection for the fourth season of the LA Times Short Docs series (which launched in September 2025), and as you mentioned, it premiered at Mill Valley Film Festival.
Directed by: Michael Fearon Produced by: Dominic Gill & Michael Fearon Executive Produced by: Nadia Gill Cinematography by: Dominic Gill & Derek Knowles Edited by: Michael Fearon & Dominic Gill Original Score: Greg Johnson/Acoustic Labss Color by: RKM Studios