Mountainfilm for Students is offered at no cost to K-12 public schools worldwide, wherever Mountainfilm on Tour has already scheduled a show. The program's playlists are customized by grade level for educational, entertaining and inspiring content. Educational materials accompany some films in the program with filmmaker interviews, extensions, discussion questions, activities and more. In addition to traveling worldwide, Mountainfilm for Students also plays year-round in Telluride and is part of the annual Telluride Mountainfilm festival in May.

Education is a primary element of Mountainfilm’s mission. We accomplish this in three ways:

1. TOUR EDUCATION

2. FESTIVAL EDUCATION

3. REGIONAL OUTREACH

The very nature of our programming — eye-opening adventure, environmental and cultural documentary films on contemporary issues — educates students by simply presenting exceptional content to contemplate, study and explore. Students are an important audience, and we aim to share Mountainfilm’s inspiring content with them because they may otherwise never experience it.

TOUR EDUCATION

Mountainfilm for Students is available at no cost to hosts of Mountainfilm on Tour at their nearby schools. We offer three playlists for different age groups:

1. High School, Grades 9-12
2. Middle School, Grades 5-8
3. Lower School, Grades K-4

MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL

These playlists are a curated program made up of short films (typically eight to 10 films that run a total of 45 to 60 minutes) focused on educating, entertaining and inspiring students in middle and high school. The films are accompanied by educational materials for teachers to incorporate before or after the screening. These materials can be downloaded easily and include one-on-one interviews, filmmaker information, resources and more — all aimed at engaging students and instructors in an in-depth exploration of identified topics.

Download a sample copy of the education programs materials

Education Program Film List

LOWER SCHOOL

The lower school playlist is a documentary film program (typically eight to 10 films that run a total of 45 to 60 minutes) for kindergarten to fourth-grade students. It’s an engaging playlist with light educational content focused on outstanding, age-appropriate short films sourced from our festival.

FESTIVAL EDUCATION

Telluride Mountainfilm teams up with Telluride Academy to offer Mountainfilm for Students at the annual festival. This interactive program gives students unique access to films, filmmakers and festival events. The experience culminates at the awards ceremony where the students present the Student Choice Award, a $1,000 cash prize to the festival film that they think will most inspire their generation. This program is open to all students ages 14 and up. Space is limited. Please visit Telluride Academy to enroll.

REGIONAL OUTREACH

Mountainfilm for Students reaches out to Telluride, the West End and beyond to offer film screenings and special guest programming in the area’s schools. Whether the free Mountainfilm Presents series at Wilkinson Public Library or our interactive classroom series — with special guests who travel to share their experiences in person, such as Lynn Hill (Valley Uprising) or Louie Psihoyos (The Cove) — Mountainfilm is on a mission to reach local youth.

HELP EDUCATE

Mountainfilm seeks opportunities to expand our reach to youth audiences, bringing the passion and vision of our filmmakers and guests into classrooms, after-school programs and local theaters and across the country. Contact us if you would like to get involved.