Colorado’s 5Point Adventure Film Festival held its ninth four-day concert-style film festival, in Carbondale, Colorado, April 21-24, 2016.
The sell-out flagship festival, founded in 2008 by former Climbing Magazine owner Julie Kennedy, and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, offers audiences a real taste of adventure with a program of more than 50 short films, panel discussions, community events and parties. The festival has become a highlight on the adventure film industry calendar and this year’s film program featured world premieres including “Dog Power” by Kale Casey, “The Fledglings” by Cedar Wright, “When We Were Knights” by Anson Fogel, and “Joy of Walking” by Brendan Leonard and Forest Woodward.
Guest speakers included Lance Mackey, four-time Iditarod champion and cancer survivor; Steve Casimiro, editor of the Adventure Journal; Stacey Bare, Director of the Sierra Club; Emily Harrington, professional climber; Cedar Wright, professional climber; as well as filmmakers Krystle Wright, Skip Armstrong, Steph Davis, Anson Fogel, Pete McBride and more.
Sunday’s film program Sunday was a packed house with about 700 attending, and incorporated a celebration of the National Park Service Centennial with a Grand Canyon centric program — featuring special guests, film, and performances including local adventure filmmaker Pete McBride and Flagstaff adventure filmmaker Q. Martin.
The Colorado event has also expanded its regional concert-style festival across the country, and 2016 regional festivals are announced for Bellingham, WA, August 25-27, 2016; and Asheville NC, October 6—8, 2016. 5Point is set to unveil more with future Midwest and Northeast locations to be announced for 2017 and 2018. Over the last five years, 5Point has supported more than 15 film projects, which have gone on to win awards and tour in festivals and theaters around the world. 5Point connects artists and filmmakers with opportunities to showcase their work, with outdoor industry funding, and to a network of creatives.
“Every year we aim to evolve and bring more depth to 5Point’s signature event. We are proud of this year’s film lineup. We have more world premieres than ever before and that’s one indication of the community we’re cultivating here. We’ll continue to support filmmakers and artists through our Film Fund while connecting them to our outdoor industry network,” said Sarah Wood, Executive Director of 5Point Film. “We are also focused on inspiring young adventurers through our Dream Project teen scholarship program. Without great stories and filmmakers to tell them, we wouldn’t be here.”
Festival prize categories and winners were as follows:
Pure Joy: In Current
Creative Excellence: Snowflake
Most Inspiring Story: The Uni-saders
Spirit of Adventure: Eclipse
Best Cinematography: DreamRide
5Point Award: Operation Moffat
Best of Festival: The Great Alone
People’s Choice: Being Here
Salween Spring – Clip from Banff Mountain Film Festival on Vimeo.
–By PL Contributing Editor Aaron H. Bible
