Ready to roll

A scene from”Lhotse"

If you’ve gotten skunked out of Mountainfilm every year, now may be your chance – all without the spendy condo rental. The annual festival of all things adventure is going virtual this year. Sure attendees won’t be able to rub elbows with their outdoor heroes – but then again, they won’t have to rub elbows with anyone else, either.

Typically taking place over the Memorial Day weekend, this year’s festival will span 10 days, May 15–25. Patrons can hunker down with a “Bivvy” pass for $75, which gives them full access to more than 100 films, a symposium and additional presentations. If $75 is too steep for the pandemic family finances, viewers can also buy individual films, shorts programs or presentations for $10 each.

“We’re psyched for the chance to bring great programming to people who’ve been curious about Mountainfilm for all these years, but have never been able to come,” Mountainfilm Festival Director Suzan Beraza said.

According to Beraza, the virtual format allows Mountainfilm to be more accessible to a wider audience, bringing adventure films and inspiring documentaries from around the globe directly to people’s homes. This year’s highlights include “Personhood,” a film about fetal rights and “Public Trust,” a film by a former Telluride local that looks at the loss of public lands. The festival has made an effort, in light of current events, to bring uplifting and lighthearted films as well, Beraza said.

And, of course, for the true binge-watcher, there will be full-length features. This year’s lineup contains more than 25, including “By Hand,” a documentary following the paddling journey of two brothers from Alaska to Mexico, and “Big Fur,” about a devotee of Bigfoot. And for those with a little less time on their hands, the festival offers a bevy of shorts like “Concepcio?n,” on climber Hazel Findlay's attempt at a 70-meter splitter crack route outside Moab, and “Huntsville Station,” which depicts the realities of inmates just released from prison.

Complementing the films is a symposium and presentations featuring directors and other luminaries, including: Director Louie Psihoyos; Sea Shepherd Captain Paul Watson; youth activists Jamie Margolin and Jonah Gottlieb; and former White House Chief of Staff Jack Watson.

“We’re really excited about this year’s symposium and presentations, plus we’re going to have meet-the-author events, Q&As and filmmaker workshops that will showcase what Mountainfilm does best – bringing connection and conversation to our greater community,” said Beraza.

For more info., go to www.mountainfilm.org.