history of mountainfilm in alta
Born amidst the towering walls of Telluride’s iconic landscape, Mountainfilm has brought together filmmakers with a collective desire to make an impact on our environment and community since 1979. Mountainfilm is a film festival that features documentary films that are created to inspire change, prompt social activism, achieve justice, share important stories, protect our environment, and celebrate adventures in mountains. This film festival takes place each year on Memorial Day Weekend and brings in directors, cinematographers, artists, and creatives from around the globe to celebrate and collaborate on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded homelands of the Nuchu (Ute) and Pueblo people. Each year, a series of non-fiction short films are selected and shown, with the mission of “[using] the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world”. As one of America’s longest running film festivals, this powerful event has morphed into a movement that transcends the bounds of a beautiful weekend in the mountains and continues to inspire around the globe.
Though many look forward to the Memorial Day Weekend celebration that is the Mountainfilm Festival, the entertainment no longer ends as Tuesday rolls around. Beginning in 1999, the Mountainfilm took to the road after the weekend came to an end. The Mountainfilm Tour is now an annual occurrence, showing each year’s film at universities, outdoor retailers, theaters, government establishments, and individual entities around the country. One of those places is right here in our enchanting pocket of the Wasatch Mountains. Alta Community Enrichment has the honor of sharing Mountainfilm with our community each year.
Alta is a breeding ground for forward thinking, change, and inspiration.
The raw glory and power of the Wasatch Mountains has left its dwellers in awe for generations and has a way of prompting thought that leads to true impact. With a community of recreators and mountain dwellers that value the natural environment which defines Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta has fostered brilliant minds and provided a canvas for impactful work. Many filmmakers have found their muses amidst the severe peaks and open glades of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Wielding cameras amongst the falling snow, fighting frostbite as their fingers repeatedly push the shutter, and gathering up other individuals who share a similar passion.
Gerry Oyama, an artist who winters in Alta, has attended the Mountainfilm in Telluride every year nearly since its inception. He shared a brief history of how Mountainfilm came to Alta:
In 1997, Gerry and a good friend, Jim Pettegrew, who happened to be a presenter at Mountainfilm, were skiing at Alta. Gerry had been attending the festival since 1980, its second year. He asked Jim if there was any way to show some of the films in Alta, and Jim agreed to look into it. The next year, 1998, Alta was the first location to sign up for a date in the 1999 Mountainfilm Tour. There were only 3 total venues who hosted the 1999 tour. Gerry recalled “I made the tickets by hand & had various friends sell them to their friends. I asked a few people if they’d be willing to help underwrite the show. When I asked Jay Grossman, Little Cottonwood skier and Alta homeowner, if he’d be interested he stepped right up & then continued his support for many years”. The first year of Mountainfilm in Alta was under the auspices of ACE, the second year Deb Collinson's school at Our Lady of the Snows was the beneficiary of the profits. The Alta School kids made pizza with Bob Allen for the guests of the show. That support went on until the kids left for high school in 2008. Gerry shared “It’s been a great ride for me: so many friends, such fine movies. When I handed off the show to [Sara] & ACE in 2009, I knew it would have a good home”.
Alta School students making pizza to give to attendees with Chef Bob Allen in 2000.
Alta Community Enrichment now has the pleasure of sharing these films with the community and keeping the tradition alive.
Throughout the years, multiple Alta locals have had their films featured in the Mountainfilm Festival. Last year, local cinematographer Mike Brown had his film “The Farmer” shown. “The Farmer” is a cinematic, storytelling piece on local legend, Farmer Dave. Dave Van Dame spent 35 years of his life making perfect turns through the Wasatch powder and leaving a legacy in his congruent, s-shaped tracks. Viewers of the Mountainfilm got to experience this ode to our canyon, crafted by local talent. There are many great films that have come out of our canyon, and Mountainfilm is an incredible vessel for bringing these creations to the screen.
This year, Alta’s own Iz La Motte has her film “Fuel” featured in the line-up. Iz La Motte has been an integral member of our community for years, working as Alta’s photographer before venturing out to pursue her personal career in photography and cinematography. Fuel was filmed here at Alta and is a storytelling piece about professional skier Madison Rose Ostergren. This stunning short film features moments in the Sitzmark and on the slopes of Alta Ski Area. Alta Community Enrichment had the honor of showing this film at Our Lady of the Snows and is extremely proud to see it featured in the Mountainfilm.
This year, ACE will show the Mountainfilm series at Our Lady of the Snows on Friday, February 17th & Saturday, February 18th.
The doors will open at 6PM and the films will be shown at 6:30PM. For only $15 you can join ACE for a sampling of some of the incredible storytelling pieces that are featured as part of the tour. Saturday and Sunday will each have a different lineup, film lists can be viewed here. Attendees are welcome to gather up their friends and a picnic dinner and enjoy a night of film in the Wasatch Mountains.
Mountainfilm is a culturally rich celebration of brilliant minds who have used their energy and talent to spur change with the power of film. This union is a beautiful representation of how the inspiration of a mountain environment can be a breeding ground for activism and storytelling. The historically abundant, scenic landscape of Alta is a perfect venue for these collections of films to take the screen.
ACE is proud to show this collection to a community of forward thinking, alpine enthusiasts and encourages all to join for this unique opportunity.
Author : Milan Norling. Milan is a freelance producer, creative, marketer, & writer. Milan is an avid skier, lover of the outdoors and worked for ACE from 2021 - 2022.
IG: @milannorling