Mountainfilm

  • Festival
  • World Tour
  • News & Views
  • Initiatives
  • Support Us
  • About Us
  • Donate

Festival

  • Passes
  • Films
  • Volunteer
  • How to Mountainfilm
  • Speakers
  • Schedule & Events
  • Awards
Toggle Menu

Person of the Forest

2017 Borneo/Sumatra/USA / Duration: 17 mins
Directed by: Tim Laman, Melissa Lesh

In the vanishing lowland rainforests of Borneo, research is underway to uncover and understand the unique cultural behaviors in wild orangutans before it’s too late. There, photographer Tim Laman, researcher Cheryll Knott and young explorer Robert Suro have documented these incredible animals in action as the orangutans make pillows, fashion umbrellas and display their greetings. The project, 20 years in the making, offers a fascinating glimpse into the habits of these apes, as well as a window into human evolution. And with habitat disappearing at an alarming rate, the research may prove to be key in protecting this critically endangered species.

Mountainfilm 2017 Official Selection
    • Tim LamanDirector
    • Melissa LeshDirector
  • Film Resources

    • Classroom Materials

Take Action

Do you feel inspired, amazed and moved to act?

If you would like to learn more or to take action, please follow these links to see what our partner organizations are doing. Let's help create a better world.

Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program

The Gunung Palung Orangutan Program (GPOCP) was established by orangutan researcher, Dr. Cheryl Knott in 1992, and is now in its 22nd year. The project represents one of the longest running studies of wild orangutans in existence. Since the project’s inception there has been an exponential increase in the amount of land converted to large-scale agriculture, as well as illegal logging and mining within the park. These activities have made immediate conservation action in this area of paramount importance.

Discover More

Previous Tour Screenings

DateVenueLocation
May 4 2018The Don CeSarSt. Pete Beach, FLWebsite
Apr 28 2018Georgetown University – Copley LawnWashington, DC
Mar 23 2018Henrico TheaterHenrico, VA
Nov 3 2017Grosvenor AuditoriumWashington, DCWebsite
Persian Powder
Persian Powder
Personhood
Personhood

Join Our Community

Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and event information.

Sign Up Now

Thanks for signing up! Please check your email and confirm your details.

Please complete the following form. Fields marked * are required.

By submitting this form, you are granting: Mountainfilm, P.O. Box 1088, Telluride, Colorado, 81435, United States, http://www.mountainfilm.org permission to email you. You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. (See our Email Privacy Policy for details.) Emails are serviced by MailChimp.

Thanks to all our Sponsors!

Mountainfilm's sponsors choose to partner with us for more than just return on investment considerations; they strongly believe in Mountainfilm's mission to use the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world.

Presenting

The North Face

Summit

Osprey

The Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation

Yeti

Nonprofit Partner

Woodwell Climate Research Center

National Media Sponsor

Grist

Camp III

1% For The Planet

Jagged Edge

Mountain Lodge Telluride

Stio

Tandem Vault

Telluride Express

Telluride Foundation

Telluride Ski Resort

Topo Designs

View All Sponsors

Main menu

  • Festival
    • Passes
    • Films
    • Volunteer
    • How to Mountainfilm
    • Speakers
    • Schedule & Events
    • Awards
  • World Tour
    • About the Tour
    • Tour Schedule
    • Tour Films
    • Host a Tour Show
    • Host Support
    • Mountainfilm for Students
  • News & Views
    • Mountainfilm News
    • Watch Mountainfilm
    • Image Gallery
    • Press Releases
    • Festival Archives
    • Upcoming Events
  • Initiatives
    • Commitment Grants
    • Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship
    • Take Action
    • Mountainfilm for Students
  • Support Us
    • Our Donors
    • Our Sponsors
    • Lodging Sponsors
    • Become a Donor
    • Become a Sponsor
  • About Us
    • About Mountainfilm
    • Staff
    • Festival Staff
    • Boards
    • Media Resources
    • Employment
  • Donate
  • Purchase Passes
  • Special Events
  • Festival Alerts
  • Festival Archives

Mountainfilm has a rich history, beginning in 1979. Check out our festival pages or world tour. Need something you don’t see here? Contact us.

  • About Mountainfilm
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us
  • Vimeo
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

©2022 Mountainfilm - All Rights Reserved

Toggle Menu Close

Mountainfilm

  • Festival
    • Passes
    • Films
    • Volunteer
    • How to Mountainfilm
    • Speakers
    • Schedule & Events
    • Awards
  • World Tour
    • About the Tour
    • Tour Schedule
    • Tour Films
    • Host a Tour Show
    • Host Support
    • Mountainfilm for Students
  • News & Views
    • Mountainfilm News
    • Watch Mountainfilm
    • Image Gallery
    • Press Releases
    • Festival Archives
    • Upcoming Events
  • Initiatives
    • Commitment Grants
    • Emerging Filmmaker Fellowship
    • Take Action
    • Mountainfilm for Students
  • Support Us
    • Our Donors
    • Our Sponsors
    • Lodging Sponsors
    • Become a Donor
    • Become a Sponsor
  • About Us
    • About Mountainfilm
    • Staff
    • Festival Staff
    • Boards
    • Media Resources
    • Employment
  • Donate
  • Purchase Passes
  • Special Events
  • Festival Alerts
  • Festival Archives

Mountainfilm has a rich history, beginning in 1979. Check out our festival pages or world tour. Need something you don’t see here? Contact us.

  • Vimeo
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
donate purchase passes

Share this page via social media

Use one of the following services to share this content with your friends.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Show/Hide this window