Mountainfilm's awards are unlike those at most other festivals. Our Moving Mountains Prize goes to a nonprofit featured in a film. The Student Choice 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.
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.
This juried award goes to the most outstanding film under 40 minutes.
A jury will select the feature documentary with the most compelling story, artful cinematography and high-caliber filmmaking.
This $3,000 prize supports a nonprofit featured in a festival film. It is given based on the mission, scope, impact and need of the nonprofit’s work. Film production is not part of the decision.
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.
High-school students in Mountainfilm’s Mountainfilm for Students festival program select the film that they think will most inspire their generation.