Mountainfilm at 35
“Mountainfilm was a good idea looking for a good place to happen,” said Lito Tejada Flores, one of the co-founders of the first festival in 1979. Thirty-five years later, Mountainfilm has grown tremendously. “I never foresaw Mountainfilm becoming such a broad-reaching success and am honored to have been inspirational in its inception,” said Bill Kees, another co-founder of the festival.
For many Memorial Day weekends, the festival has been infused with what former festival director Rick Silverman describes as, “magic, audacity and an eclectic and accessible gathering of good spirits and intellects that keep faith with both our roots and community.”
Below is a list of favorite films from previous Mountainfilm directors, people like Jim Bedford who “wanted to present and challenge audiences with films.” And after the festival, keep an eye on www.mountainfilm.org, where we’ll post stories from these directors about inspiring guests and memorable moments from the old days. As former festival director Arlene Burns said, “when you get that many high-caliber, creative people together for several days in a beautiful box canyon, good shit happens!”
In honor of the 35thedition of Mountainfilm, we present several former festival directors who will show clips from their favorite films (though not necessarily from the list below) and reflect upon the legendary guests who have come through Telluride. They will discuss their most memorable moments — and mishaps — with current festival director David Holbrooke.
Founding Favorites
Lito Tejada Flores and Bill Kees (co-founders and early festival directors)
Death of a Guide(La Mort d’un Guide) (1980)
Jim Bedford (general manager, 1984-1992)
Filming the Impossible(1983), C’mon Geese (1992), Paucartambo — Inca River (1986), River Song (1988), Is There a Dining Car on the Mule Train? (1991), Peacock’s War (1988), K2: Triumph and Tragedy (1989) and The Man Who Planted Trees (1989)
Rick Silverman (festival director, 1993-2001, 2004)
Turtle World (1998), He Dances for His Cormorants (1994), The Janitor (1995), Moj Maly Everest (1990)andVision Man: An Eskimo Hunter (1999)
Arlene Burns (festival director, 2005-2007)
The Real Dirt on Farmer John (2006), The Queen of Trees (2006), What Remains of Us (2005), Loop (2007) and Edge of Eden: Living with Grizzlies (2007)