Telluride Mountainfilm's awards are unlike those at most other festivals. Our Moving Mountains Prize goes to a nonprofit featured in a film. The Student Award is selected by students who take part in our festival program Mountainfilm for Students. Another big prize, the Norman Vaughan Award, goes to a film that epitomizes the namesake's indomitable spirit. Other awards go to films and filmmakers.
The Audience Choice Award is chosen via ballot by all festival passholders.
Winner: Chasing Coral
This juried award goes to the feature and short films with the most outstanding cinematography.
Winner: City of Ghosts
This award is chosen by Mountainfilm’s festival director and can go to either an individual or a film.
Winner: Stash Wislocki
Charlie Fowler was a Telluride local and world-class climber. He’s represented in spirit by this $1,000 juried award that goes to a climbing film.
Winner: The Hanging
This $3,000 prize goes to a nonprofit featured in a film at the festival. Judges watch the nominated films and examine the mission of each organization, considering its scope, impact and need. Film production is not part of the decision.
Winner: City of Ghosts
High-school students in Mountainfilm’s Mountainfilm for Students festival program select the film that they think will most inspire their generation.
Winner: Chasing Coral
The great polar explorer Norman Vaughan was a friend to Mountainfilm whose motto was "Dream big and dare to fail." Funded by his widow Carolyn Muegge-Vaughan, Rick Silverman and Lindsey Walker, this award is given to a film that epitomizes Vaughan's indomitable spirit.