Mountainfilm Festival Returns for Its 46th Iteration

Mountainfilm Festival, a film festival dedicated to inspiring audiences to create a better world, is back this May for its 46th year. The event is one of North America’s oldest film festivals, starting in 1979 and continuing its extensive lineup with a focus on highlighting documentary films, environmental activism and Indigenous rights.

The festival will commence on May 23 and continue through May 27 with documentary world premieres, an Art Walk, a chance to adventure with professional athletes, Happy Hour walks and talks, and more, all in the Telluride Valley. This year, the festival spotlights films that honor adventure, social justice, art and storytelling.

Attendees also have the chance to experience a special appearance from the environmental queen herself, Pattie Gonia. Pattie is the co-founder of The Outdoorist Oath and the founder of the Queer Outdoor and Environmental Job Board. Attendees can get their party on at the free drag show and dance party filled with high energy. The event is set to kick off a screening of the short film Won’t Give Up. festival-goers can attend the soiree on Saturday, May 25, at 8 p.m. The event will be located at High Camp (the Telluride Conference Center).

Executive Director Sage Martin exclaimed, “We’re all about celebrating diversity, inclusivity and forging unforgettable connections within our community.”

Festival-goers can also look forward to hearing from this year’s Guest Director Wade Davis. Davis is expected to be a major highlight as a speaker during the festival with the introduction of his new book, Beneath the Surface of Things: New and Selected Essays. The festival will also welcome a new film program dedicated to Indigenous Storytellers as well as a new partnership with the Redford Center and IF/Then Shorts for a first-ever Nature Connection Pitch event.

This year the festival boasts a lineup of over 100 film viewings including 18 features and 83 short films that has been curated into 15 different programs. Some of the spotlighted films include three feature world premieres, A Good Wolf – a film that takes a deeper look into a 40-year conflict of North America’s most iconic predators, Public Defender – a film that depicts some of the infamous January 6th rioters and a lawyer who is taking on America’s misinformation epidemic, and Between the Mountain and the Sky – a look at the journey of Maggie Doyne, who is redefining family and rebuilding after loss.

You can explore the full lineup of films, speakers and events schedule here.

As in past years, Mountainfilm attendees can vote for their favorite features. This year, a filmmaker will receive a $5,000 Audience Choice. Other awards include a $5,000 prize for Best Documentary Feature, a $3,500 prize for Women in Film and a $1,000 Best Short Film award that will be decided by a jury selection. 

Mountainfilm Executive Director Sage Martin encourages visitors to, “join us high in the San Juan mountains of Colorado for a weekend you won’t soon forget as we share heartfelt and impactful stories that will inspire you to create a better world.”

Festival passes ranging from $210 to $5000 are available for purchase here. The festival events are located in various locations in Telluride Valley.

Editor’s Note: The lineup of films and scheduling of events has been added following Mountainfilm’s announcement of this year’s festival itinerary.