Chris Sharma and Steve House Confirm Appearances in May

Telluride, Colorado (January 31, 2012) – Mountainfilm in Telluride presents a literal rock star lineup for its 34^th annual festival this May 25 to 28. Chris Sharma — considered one of the world’s best rock climbers — and Steve House, hailed as one of the best high-altitude mountaineers in the world — will attend this spring’s festival as guest speakers.

Mountainfilm in Telluride has a celebrated history in mountaineering. The event began in 1979 with a few screenings of climbing films and, since then, the festival has always attracted leading names in alpinism, such as Sir Edmund Hilary, Royal Robbins, Yvon Chouinard, David Breashears, Conrad Anker, Lynn Hill, Timmy O’Neill and Alex Honnold. “We have a rich history of bringing the world’s best climbers and mountaineers to Telluride and are thrilled to continue that tradition by having Steve House and Chris Sharma at the festival for the first time,” said David Holbrooke, Mountainfilm in Telluride’s festival director.

Sharma was featured in the film King Lines, by Sender Films, which won Mountainfilm in Telluride’s Charlie Fowler Award in 2008. A pioneer who has mastered some of the most spectacular and difficult routes in the history of rock climbing, Sharma is one of the only people in the world to have topped out on multiple routes graded at 5.15a (using the Yosemite Decimal System), a trend that began for him in 2001 with the first with ascent of “Realization,” a route on the southern face of Montagne de Ceüse in France. Since that time, Sharma has completed many other noteworthy first ascents, and he continues to set new routes around the world while also dominating world bouldering competitions.

House — best known for his routes on K7 and the Central Pillar of the Rupal Face, both in Pakistan — is a master of mixed terrain and has been lauded by legendary mountaineer Reinhold Messner as the “best high altitude climber in the world.” His contributions to modern mountaineering are enormous, perhaps best recognized by his popularization of the “alpine style” of climbing, which involves ascending with as little gear as possible and leaving no gear or ropes on the mountain. In 2009, House published Beyond the Mountain, an award-winning book that chronicles his many high-alpine adventures.

“We are excited to have such a strong mountaineering component to this year’s festival,” said Holbrooke. “Adventure is an essential part of Mountainfilm’s roots but, of course, we will also showcase programs about leading environmental, cultural and social issues, as well. As always, there’s something at the festival for everyone.”

About Mountainfilm in Telluride: Established in 1979, Mountainfilm in Tellu­ride is dedicated to educating, inspiring and activating audiences about critical environmental, cultural and social issues. Working at the nexus of filmmaking, adventure and activism, its flagship program is the legendary Mountainfilm Festival—a one-of-a-kind combination film festival, ideas summit and jamboree. Mountainfilm also reaches audiences year round through its worldwide tour, on Outside Television, with its online Minds of Mountainfilm interviews and in classrooms through its educational outreach initiative, Making Movies that Matter. Mountainfilm has the power to change lives. To learn more, visit the website. To join the conversation, please visit the blog, follow us on Twitter, and become a fan on Facebook.