The Backcountry film festival is a one night festival that celebrates the human-powered winter experience. Produced by the Utah-based nonprofit, Winter Wildlands Alliance, the festival tours to more than 100 showings around the world.
The Festival is renowned for its collaboration with filmmakers from all corners of the globe, ranging from grassroots to professional. It provides a fresh lineup of films each year which feature outdoor activities and environmental initiatives happening all around the world.
Created in 2004 to highlight Winter Wildlands Alliance’s efforts to preserve and promote winter landscapes for human-powered users, the festival begins in Boise and includes showings in locations throughout the United States and Canada and now in Antarctica, Europe, Australia and Asia. Funds raised stay in local communities to support like-minded, human-powered recreation and conservation efforts.
This year’s program includes:
- Winner of Best of Festival, Japan by Van immerses us in the head-deep powder of the Shirakawa backcountry. A Sweetgrass Productions film.
- Winner of Best of Grassroots Award, Shared Lines features the story of Vermont Backcountry Alliance and their community in a short film by T-Bar Films.
- Winner of Best Environmental Message Award, from filmmaker Kt Miller, Shifting Ice is an all-women team on a journey at the intersection of scientific exploration and, of course, grueling fun.
- The Weight of Winter, filmmaker Ben Sturgulewski brings us a ride to tune in, sit back, and enjoy.
- I Love Splitboarding, a fresh way to play in the backcountry along with a fresh way of living. A film by Right on Brother opens up the world of splitboarding.
- 55 Hours in Mexico, in true tribute to weekend warriors, Joey, Karl, Thomas, and filmmaker Max Lowe take us on an adventure of 55 Hours in Mexico.
- Always Above Us, gives us a glimpse of the tremendous amount of sacrifice and hardship involved in the life of a climber. Sherpas Cinema follows Kris Erickson and Conrad Anker in a memoir for David Bridges and Alex Lowe.
- Connections, the Dynafit team shares the story of the simple “low tech” design that changed the face of backcountry skiing.
- The Forecaster, expert Avalanche Forecaster Drew Hardesty leads by example, paying respect to the responsibility that comes with our backcountry freedom. From Spindle Productions.
The festival has two shows in Australia:
For full details on the festival visit their website.
This festival also screens at Mt Buller every season!