Each fall, Mountainfilm awards $25,000 in grants to filmmakers, artists and photographers whose projects are intended to inspire audiences to create a better world. Mountainfilm’s Commitment Grant initiative helps creatives tell the stories that fuel the organization’s mission.

While Mountainfilm gets a rest each summer from the breakneck pace of festival planning, it’s not all bench-sitting, weekend camping and mountain biking for the staff. Along with putting on a slew of tour and education shows, summertime is the season for Mountainfilm Commitment Grants.

  We have an important announcement to share with the Mountainfilm community. After 10 years, David Holbrooke's tenure as festival director of Telluride Mountainfilm has come to an end, effective July 12, 2017. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the leadership and staff of Mountainfilm, and on behalf of all friends, supporters, and fans of Mountainfilm, we offer our most heartfelt gratitude to David for his decade of dedicated service to the organization.

Mountainfilm, which is in full swing in Telluride and Mountain Village this Memorial Day Weekend, is at its foundation a documentary film festival — a platform for cutting-edge films about environments worth protecting, epic adventures, remarkable cultures, complex political issues and indomitable spirit. But Mountainfilm is more than just a parade of movies on the big screen. There’s a whole other side of the festival that doesn’t involve moving pictures. At Mountainfilm, you will find theater presentations by some of the most impressive humans on the planet, workshops aimed at filmmakers, live music, live art, parties aplenty and a studio that turns film-watching into an immersive experience. Following is Mountainfilm’s guide to some of its best programs that don’t involve movies on the big screen.

Mountainfilm rolls into Telluride this week, a tidal wave of documentary films, theater speakers, panel discussions, adventure tales, scientific discourse, bold activism and outdoor events. It’s a lot to digest and a lot to plan for. And what many locals may not realize is that amid the talks, walks, films and presentations, there are many free events  — so many that you could string together an entire itinerary without purchasing a pass, getting your yearly dose of inspiration, even if you don’t have a lanyard. At Mountainfilm, we believe in spreading stories of indomitable spirit far and wide, but we also don’t want to forget the people who live in our backyard. That said, the following guide of free festival events should ensure that you emerge from the festival moved, motivated — or at least with a shift in mindset.