No pass? No problem.
Mountainfilm has plenty of free programs on tap
The 38th annual Telluride Mountainfilm festival, which is just days away, will fill the box canyon with events of all shapes and sizes — from world-premiere film screenings to photography hikes, theater presentations, an all-day symposium and the closing picnic. It’ll be a smorgasbord of inspiration.
And you don’t need a pass to enjoy the festivities. Mountainfilm offers a range of free, open-to-the-public events throughout the weekend, including films, talks, a virtual reality studio, gallery walk and a book fair. This way, we can make sure the entire community can take part in the magic.
Mountainfilm’s free events kick off Wednesday night with the annual Mountainfilm edition of Twenty(by)Telluride — a collaboration with Telluride Arts that brings five artists to stage to tell their stories, 20 slides at a time (with just 20 seconds per slide). The event, which takes place Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the New Sheridan Bar, features an all-star roster of photographers, filmmakers and storytellers: Gabe Lifton-Zoline, Crystal Merrill, Brendan Leonard, Krystle Wright and Ace Kvale.
From there, it’s on to Base Camp Outdoor Theater in Telluride Town Park for the first of five nights of free films under the stars. Mountainfilm’s “soft opening” film screening include two ski shorts followed by the 2008 snowboarding feature That’s It, That’s All, which stars Travis Rice, a 2016 special guest at the festival. (We think it’ll be a fantastic way for people to whet their appetite for his Saturday presentation.)
From then on, audiences have plenty of free events to choose from, including Town Talks, the Ice Cream Social and Farmer’s Market, Sunday’s Reading Frenzy and, new this year, Mountainfilm’s Virtual Reality Studio.
The VR Studio, located at Gallery 81435, will feature a number of VR headsets loaded with amazing VR documentaries curated by the good folks at RYOT Films. Volunteers and RYOT reps will also be on hand to help navigate the films. The studio is Mountainfilm’s way of dipping its toes into a new and exciting storytelling platform.
And finally, Mountainfilm 2016 has several Free-Range Programs on tap. These free events get people out of theaters and into the rivers, lakes and trails around town. They include everything from National Geographic Your Shot photo walks to shinrin-yoku, which is Japanese for forest bathing.
Here’s a rundown of the festival’s free films and public events (find a complete schedule at www.mountainfilm.org):
BASE CAMP SCREENINGS
Town Park
8:45 p.m. nightly, Wednesday-Sunday
VIRTUAL REALITY STUDIO
Gallery 81435
9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday through Sunday
9:30 a.m.-noon, Monday
GALLERY WALK
Galleries and venues in downtown Telluride
3:30-6:30 p.m., Friday
ICE CREAM SOCIAL & MOUNTAINFILM FARMER'S MARKET
Main street in front of the San Miguel County Courthouse
Saturday
Farmer's Market | 1-5 p.m.
Ice Cream Social | 2-3:30 p.m.
COFFEE & CONVERSATION
Various venues in Telluride and Mountain Village
Saturday through Monday, 8-9 a.m.
BOOZE & BANTER
Oak, Smuggler’s and Black Iron at Madeline Hotel
Saturday and Sunday
5:30-6:30 p.m.
FREE RANGE PROGRAMS
Saturday through Monday
Various Locations
READING FRENZY
Sunday
2-4 p.m. | Hotel Madeline
KIDZ KINO
Monday, May 30
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Palm Theatre
* Children are free - adults $10
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About Mountainfilm: Established in 1979, Mountainfilm uses the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. Working at the nexus of filmmaking and action, its flagship program is the legendary Telluride Mountainfilm festival, a one-of-a-kind combination of films, conversations and inspiration. Mountainfilm also reaches audiences year-round through its worldwide tour and Mountainfilm for Students, an educational outreach initiative for youth. Mountainfilm has the power to change lives. To learn more, visit www.mountainfilm.org. To join the conversation, please read Mountainfilm’s news and follow Mountainfilm on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google+.