Sunday Festival Film Screening and Panel
Mountains of Color Film Festival (MOC) showcases and celebrates BIPOC+ (Black, Indigenous, People of Color, + other intersecting minority groups) in outdoors, adventure, and conservation filmmaking to inspire our community and beyond to cultivate a welcoming and inclusive outdoor culture for all. Each evening of films is built from a curated lineup of uplifting and inspiring stories that interweave adventure, the outdoors, and conservation with themes like connection, family, and belonging. Moderated panels featuring select filmmakers and film subjects allow the audience to go deeper.
Sunday’s panelists include: Sandy Ward (Slides on the Mountain); Alexandera Houchin (Stronger Together); and Lael Johnson (Visibility)
Enjoy food by Rosa’s Tamales and Dairoku food trucks, and a raffle supporting local nonprofit organizations. Doors open at 6:00 pm, films start at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $10 + $3 processing fee.
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.
SUNDAY LINEUP
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.
Indigenous-Led Conservation Special Screening and Panel Featuring How the Land Remembers Us and Covenant of the Salmon People
Join us for a special screening featuring two powerful films centered on Indigenous-led conservation, created with Indigenous representation behind and in front of the lens. A panel after the films featuring moderator Dr. Shane Doyle (Apsáalooke Nation / Crow Tribe), film director Jared Wahkinney (Comanche Nation), and a representative from the Nez Perce Tribe (details TBD) will allow audience members to dive deeper into topics – like the complex relationship between the National Park System and Tribes, and the campaign to remove the lower Snake River dams to recover anadromous fish – and learn how they can support these efforts, as well as hear perspectives from Indigenous filmmakers.
How the Land Remembers Us: Amidst Yellowstone National Park's 150th anniversary, an awe-inspiring event unfolds: "Yellowstone Revealed." Indigenous artists, deeply connected to their ancestral land, share projects steeped in traditional ecological knowledge, the act of rematriation, and ceremony. What surfaces is a profound revelation: how they exist in relation to this living, breathing landscape is interwoven with the memories of their ancestors and the enduring legacy they are crafting for generations to come. Here, the land itself cradles their memories, recognizing them as integral threads in its rich tapestry.
Covenant of the Salmon People is a 60-minute documentary portrait of the Nez Perce Tribe as they continue to carry out their ancient promise to protect Chinook salmon, cornerstone species and first food their people have subsisted on for tens of thousands of years. As a dammed river system and climate impacts threaten the extinction of Chinook salmon, a cornerstone of their culture and ancestral diet, they continue to do their part to uphold this relationship–but will it be enough to save wild salmon from extinction?
The event is free with a $10 suggested donation to help offset costs. Please register using the link below.
About the panelists:
Dr. Shane Doyle is a Montana-based scholar, teacher, and community advocate whose work focuses on the history and heritage of Native American tribes of the Northern Great Plains. Shane is an enrolled member of the Apsáalooke Nation (also known as the Crow Tribe), and he holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University. Shane grew up in Crow Agency and he has built his career around making Native American history a cultural mainstay in everything from Montana’s educational system to governmental land management decisions. Whether designing educational curriculums, making films, or singing Northern Plains tribal music, Shane is always focused on serving his community.
Jared Wahkinney, a proud member of the Comanche Nation, is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous communities and ways of knowing. At a young age, Jared felt a deep connection to the natural world and his Indigenous roots. His passion for understanding positionality and his Comanche lens led him to document and tell stories with Indigenous people. In his professional career, Jared has worked for the National Park Service for three years and is currently the Indigenous Communities Project Manager for the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. Working for the National Park Service as an Indigenous employee is balanced thoughtfully within the two worlds he lives in. Within the NPS, he is also a Co-Chair for the Council of Indigenous Relevancy, Community, Leadership, and Excellence. Graduating in 2019 with his M.A. in Native American Studies, focusing on Indigenous Media and Indigenous Knowledge System, Jared had the opportunity to research within his own community to further understand Comanche Food Ways. Academically, Jared is currently a Visiting Indigenous Scholar and researcher with Salish Kootenai College in Polson, MT. Beyond his professional and academic accomplishments, Jared is a husband and loving father of two. His dedication to family mirrors his commitment to preserving ancestral lands and cultural knowledge, making him a role model both at home and in his professional life. Jared’s future goals in filmmaking are to continue giving a platform for Indigenous knowledge within his own community and others across the nation.
Nakia Williamson |
Ipeliikthil’aamkaw’aat (One Who Gathers the Clouds)
Graduated from Lewis Clark State College, B.S. Social Science. Gained much of knowledge and education concerning the traditional ‘Way of life’ of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) from Nimiipuu Culture Bearers over a lifetime. Worked in the area of Cultural Resource Management for 27 years, currently serves as Program Manager for the Nez Perce Tribe Cultural Resource Program. Conducts and coordinates technical consultation with various federal/state agencies, such as: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bonneville Power Administration, 13 National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management, to name a few.
DEI in the Outdoors Workshop with Mirna “The Mirnavator” Valerio
Join us for a special workshop led by Mirna “The Mirnavator” Valerio, Bronco Ambassador:
Lots of us (correctly) make the assumption that the outdoors is for all. This is so true!
But sometimes the perspectives, perceptions, behaviors, and lived experiences that we bring to the trail (the mountain, river, or porch) don't leave room for the ways in which people outside our own circles experience the outdoors. Come and look into your own identity and the way that you interact with outdoor spaces and listen to/ explore the ways in which folks outside your circles do as well. This learning and interaction is crucial for creating equitable access and programming in outdoor spaces.
The event is free with a $10 suggested donation to help offset costs. Please register using the link below.
About Mirna:
Mirna Valerio is a native of Brooklyn, NY, a former educator, cross-country coach, ultrarunner, obstacle course enthusiast, and author of the recently published memoir, A Beautiful Work in Progress. Although she began running in high school, she recommitted to the sport after a health scare in 2008. It was then that her love for running and all its attendant benefits were reignited. She soon started her blog Fatgirlrunning, about her experiences as a larger woman in a world of thinner athletes. Mirna's athletic story was featured in the WSJ, Runner’s World, on the NBC Nightly News, CNN, on the CW Network, and in the viral REI-produced documentary short, The Mirnavator. Her writing has been featured in Women’s Running Magazine, Self Magazine Online, Outside Online, and Runner's World Magazine. Most recently, she was chosen as a 2018 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
Saturday Festival Film Screening and Panel
Mountains of Color Film Festival (MOC) showcases and celebrates BIPOC+ (Black, Indigenous, People of Color, + other intersecting minority groups) in outdoors, adventure, and conservation filmmaking to inspire our community and beyond to cultivate a welcoming and inclusive outdoor culture for all. Each evening of films is built from a curated lineup of uplifting and inspiring stories that interweave adventure, the outdoors, and conservation with themes like connection, family, and belonging. Moderated panels featuring select filmmakers and film subjects allow the audience to go deeper.
Saturday’s panelists include: Eric Cedeno (Truth and Dignity); Tony Drees (One for All); Eugene Pak (Riding Han (한)); Anjelica Avella (Forward); Jessa Williams and Tre’lan Michael (Moving Mountains)
Enjoy food by Street Tacos and Dairoku food trucks, and a raffle supporting local nonprofit organizations. Doors open at 6:00 pm, films start at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $10 + $3 processing fee.
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.
SATURDAY LINEUP
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.
Filmmaker’s Workshop with Monica Medellin
Filmmaker workshop for emerging creatives, directors, producers, and filmmakers to elevate their creative projects and navigate the film & TV industry. Q&A to follow.
The event is free with a $10 suggested donation to help offset costs. Please register using the link below.
About Monica:
Monica Medellin is a filmmaker dedicated to expanding narratives around women and people of color in sports through media, including ahead-of-the-trend film, TV, and branded & commercial content. Monica is the creator and executive producer of Surf Girls Hawai’i on Prime Video. Her work has been featured by the Emmys, Forbes, Sports Business Journal, Elle Magazine, and Shondaland. She has directed and produced films for global brands including Nike, Red Bull, The Olympic Channel, Prime Video, Hello Sunshine, TOGETHXR, World Surf League, Vans, Patagonia, and Women’s Health, among others. Monica is passionate about making the art of filmmaking more accessible to women and people of color.
Panel: Navigating the Film Industry: BIPOC Women Behind the Lens + TO Touch the Earth Special Screening
A candid conversation with Faith Briggs Rose, Sofia Jaramillo and Monica Medellin about navigating the branded, commercial, and film & TV industries as BIPOC women directors.
The panel will also include a special screening of To Touch the Earth, a 12 min. film directed by Faith Briggs Rose that tells the story of Hike Clerb and its founder Evelynn Escobar.
The event is free with a $10 suggested donation to help offset costs. Please register using the link below.
About the panelists:
Faith Briggs is a documentary filmmaker, creative producer and podcast host passionate about sharing contemporary stories from diverse communities. Both behind and in front of the camera, she works with brands, non-profit organizations, institutions and individual creatives to create media representative of the world we live in and the better one we are working together to create.
Sofia Jaramillo is a Colombian-American filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer based in Boise, Idaho. As a Colombian-American, her mission is to uplift and tell the stories of BIPOC athletes in film and photography. She is a co-founder and co-director of Mountains of Color Film Festival and the Wading For Change BIPOC Filmmaker’s grant. She directed Wading For Change, an award-winning film about fly fishing and Hispanic culture. She aims to tell the stories she wished she'd seen as a kid. She works as a Director and Executive Producer in filmmaking. Clients that trust Sofia include National Geographic, The New York Times, The Guardian, Outside Magazine, The Northface and Patagonia.
Monica Medellin is a filmmaker dedicated to expanding narratives around women and people of color in sports through media, including ahead-of-the-trend film, TV, and branded & commercial content. Monica is the creator and executive producer of Surf Girls Hawai’i on Prime Video. Her work has been featured by the Emmys, Forbes, Sports Business Journal, Elle Magazine, and Shondaland. She has directed and produced films for global brands including Nike, Red Bull, The Olympic Channel, Prime Video, Hello Sunshine, TOGETHXR, World Surf League, Vans, Patagonia, and Women’s Health, among others. Monica is passionate about making the art of filmmaking more accessible to women and people of color.
Camina Conmigo and Mirnavator-led hike
Join us for a special hike up Cache Creek on the Bridger-Teton National Forest with Camina Conmigo and Bronco Ambassador Mirna “the Mirnavator” Valerio. While typically focused on offerings for Jackson’s Latino workforce, Camina Conmigo is graciously offering to lead a hike on Saturday morning for Mountains of Color Festival attendees.
Camina Conmigo’ mission is to inspire Spanish speaking adults in our community to experience the outdoors by centering education, skill development and relationship building on local excursions.
La misión de Camina Conmigo es inspirar a los adultos que hablan español en nuestra comunidad a experimentar el aire libre al centrar la educación, el desarrollo de habilidades y la construcción de relaciones en las excursiones locales.
One of the goals of Camina Conmigo hikes is to help Jackson's Latino workforce enjoy and connect with the beauty of the place where they live and work. We do this by providing our guides with all the training and resources they need to feel comfortable leading to other outdoor groups summers and winters.
Uno de los objetivos de las caminatas de Camina Conmigo es ayudar a la fuerza laboral latina de Jackson a disfrutar y conectarse con la belleza del lugar en el que viven y trabajan. Hacemos esto proporcionando a nuestros guías toda la capacitación y recursos que necesitan para sentirse cómodos liderando a otros grupos al aire libre los veranos e inviernos.
The event is free with a $10 suggested donation to help offset costs. Please register using the link below.