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2024 Mountains of Color Film Fest
Event info
Based in Jackson, WY, the Mountains of Color Film Festival (MOC) creates spaces to showcase and celebrate BIPOC+ (Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+) in outdoors, adventure, and conservation filmmaking to inspire our community and beyond to cultivate a welcoming and inclusive outdoor culture for all. The festival is a place to share, learn and celebrate stories that are not typically featured in mainstream mountain town culture.
MOC is the first film festival of its kind, as no other outdoor and adventure film festival focuses primarily on BIPOC+ stories. It is a unique and empowering opportunity to learn about different perspectives, including highlighting people, nonprofits, initiatives, and companies that increase conservation and diversity, equity and inclusion in the outdoors.
In addition to nightly film screenings – built from a curated lineup of uplifting and inspiring stories that interweave adventure, the outdoors, and conservation with themes like connection, family, and belonging – the festival is expanding in 2024 to include special experiences for panelists to make meaningful connections with other BIPOC+ filmmakers, industry professionals, and potential sponsors, as well as filmmaking and photography workshops.
Ticket costs are $10 plus $3 service charge.
The 2024 Mountains of Color Film Festival is funded by grants from the Bronco Wild Fund, Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, National Geographic Society, Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, and Wyoming Humanities Council, and sponsorship support from Outside, The North Face, Virginian Lodge, Purple Orange PR, Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Stio, Flylow, Redford Center, Orvis, Nemo, and other national and local businesses.
For more information about workshops and special screenings happening at the Center for the Arts on June 8th and June 9th prior to the evening screenings, please visit www.mountainsofcolor.org.
The Mountains of Color Film Festival seeks to be accessible and inclusive to all. If you are in need of a free or discounted ticket, you may use codes MOC100 (free) and MOC50 (50% off). If you are able to purchase tickets, please know that you are helping to offset the costs of running the festival, including bringing in BIPOC+ panelists, workshop leads, and filmmakers to enrich our programming.
2024 Film Lineup
Saturday, June 8th
The Truth and Dignity Project
Director: Will Truettner
Producers: Nick Nelson, Will Truettner
Runtime: 7:28
Description: On July 24th, Erick Cedeno, aka Bicycle Nomad, crossed into St. Louis, Missouri, after spending 41 days in the saddle: The 1900-mile journey born of a commitment to bring truth and dignity to an oft-forgotten part of history. Erick’s ride serves as not only an invitation to learn the story, but also a means of paying homage to the Buffalo Soldiers’ 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps by reliving their history.
Don’t Doubt the Trout
Director: Isabela Zawistowska
Field Producer: Niko Georghiou
Runtime: 13:12
Trailer: Vimeo
Description: Bernard and Rebecca of the band, Par Avion, are not your average surf rock musicians. They’re passionate fly fishing anglers and conservationists who are advocating for the protection of California’s endangered Steelhead trout. As ambassadors to CalTrout, they’ve become observers on the ground to document the health of Southern California’s waterways, especially around Malibu’s 100-ft Rindge Dam, a major obstacle to wildlife. Thanks to the efforts of CalTrout and advocates like Bernard and Rebecca, the Rindge Dam is due to be removed with demolition work planned to begin 2028 and finish in 2035.
One for All
Directors: Michael Stevens, Spencer Miller
Runtime: 19:05
Description: Tony Drees actually considers himself to have “good fortune,” despite being born into an abusive household, surviving the deadliest bombing of the Gulf War, beating cancer, and having his leg amputated up to his hip. After it all, and through his newly found passion for skiing, Tony sets an ambitious goal for this season.
Riding Han (한)
Director: Eugene Pak
Videographer: Young Mazino (BEEF)
Runtime: 24:16
Trailer: Vimeo
Description: Riding Han is an adventure cycling film, with its foundational essence based on the Korean word, “Han” (한). Han is an inherent part of being Korean. It is internalized intergenerational trauma from war, colonialism, and imperialism. Han manifests itself in creation. Riding Han captures the journey of three Korean-Americans, exploring their identities through Han as Asian Americans, in a divisive time during the COVID-19 pandemic with anti-Asian hate on the rise.
Bravo
Director: Bryana Robles
Producers: Zoe Herwitz, Marie-Louise Nkashama
Runtime: 11:31
Trailer: Freeway Film
Description: Xavier Bravo identifies as a queer Chicano climber who dreams of bringing climbing to his Latiné community, and with Escaladores Unidos, he’s creating a movement. After receiving his Single Pitch Instructor certification through the AMGA’s BIPOC affinity program sponsored by Black Diamond, he set out to bridge the climbing gap he noticed in his community. While the Latine & Hispanic community comprises ~20% of the U.S. population, less than 8% identify as climbers, meaning close to 1 million Latiné folxs either have never been exposed to the sport or do not have regular access to climbing. He founded and created the first chapter of Escaladores Unidos to foster connection in the latiné climbing community.
Forward
Director: Palmer Morse
Story Producer: Rachel Weinberg
Producer: Matt Mikkelsen
Director of Photography: Skyler Bocciolatt
Runtime: 16:00
Trailer: Vimeo
Description: While navigating a myriad number of life challenges from being her mom’s care taker, working several jobs, to facing housing insecurity, Anjelica Avella turned to the outdoors in her mid-twenties to improve her mental health. Despite feeling the benefits of time spent outside for her well-being, the lack of other plus-size women of color she was encountering on trail was noticeable. In an effort to form community, Anjelica began leading weekend hikes and trips for other women who too were seeking others with shared lived experiences. Forward chronicles Anjelica’s perspective in a space that has historically excluded individuals like her and shares a profound connection between women who once felt sidelined and are now a catalyst for change.
Moving Mountains
Director: Jessa Williams
Producers: Jessa Williams, Peter Goetz
Runtime: 20:00
Trailer: Instagram
Description: Moving Mountains is a story about Artist & Big Wave Surfer Tre’lan Michael who found himself and found peace and purpose through surfing, and how the healing power of nature saved his life.
Sunday, June 9th
Renegade
Director: German Torres
Producers: Abdul Kassamali, Davis Goslin
Runtime: 9:14
Trailer: Freeway Film
Description: Renegade Running, founded by Victor Diaz, is an inclusive run specialty store in Oakland, CA. Bucking the norms of the industry, Diaz’s journey with running and his fierce determination led him to create a vibrant and rebellious space, where every runner, especially those often underrepresented, can find a home and be celebrated for who they are. No rules, no judgments – just pure running freedom and support.
Beyond the Salish
Director: Richard Chen, William Chong
Producer: Merissa Mah
Runtime: 17:57
Description: Two kayakers take on a once-in-a-lifetime journey off the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island, breaching into relentless waves, unpredictable weather, and the uncharted depths of their own fears. The duo finds themselves in a life-altering struggle against the elements. As their journey unfolds, a near-death experience forces them to confront the raw power of the open ocean, pushing the boundaries of their friendship, endurance, and luck.
Slides on the Mountain
Director: Seth Gillis
Producers: Sandy Ward, Aline Mayerhoffer
Runtime: 29:46
Description: Two young brothers from the Lil’wat Nation set out to ski the sacred mountain they were raised beneath, pushing both themselves and their culture to evolve.
Stronger Together // Identity and Endurance with Alexandera Houchin
Director: Brandon Watts
Producers: David Thomas, Isaac Presson
Runtime: 19:42
Trailer: N/A
Description: It has taken time for Alexandera Houchin to weave layers of her identity together. First and foremost, Alexandera is an Ojibwe woman. She’s also an artist, a farmer, a mechanic, a cyclist and a person who cares deeply about her community on the Fond Du Lac reservation near Cloquet, Minnesota. “Stronger Together” takes an intimate look into Alexandera’s life while examining concepts of identity, forgiveness and what it means to merge seemingly different aspects of your soul in order to continue moving forward, one pedal stroke at a time.
Visibility
Director and Producer: Tyler Soares
Assistant Editor: Alexandra Soares
Stills Photography: Arian Stevens
Runtime: 15:11
Description: Lael Johnson, Steelhead guide, navigates Washington waters while unpacking challenges faced throughout his youth and present day
Keepers of the Land
Director: Deirdre Leowinata, Douglas Neasloss
Producers: Deirdre Leowinata, Douglas Neasloss
Runtime: 28:28
Trailer: Vimeo
Description: In the heart of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, one Nation is reclaiming the power they held for millennia. As the impacts of colonial exploitation and mismanagement take an increasing toll on their territory, the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation finds strength in its stories and culture, emerging as a stewardship leader in a new age of reconciliation in Canada. A powerful story of resurgence, the weight of hereditary leadership, and the responsibility they carry into the modern world told through the eyes of elder and hereditary chief Nismuutk, Ernest Mason Jr., and the new young leaders following in his footsteps.