Flashback. Your girlfriend has kicked you out of the house. While you solemnly heap your camping gear, books, and banjos into a pathetic cardboard box she stands beside you with a fresh haircut, hanging strange paintings on the wall. Sometimes there’s no time to wait for the old to clear out before welcoming in the new. And just as the summer season clings to the last vestiges of long, sunny days in a futile attempt to fight off the looming fall, suntanned filmmakers across the country are already looking forward to the Winter Wildlands Alliance’s annual Backcountry Film Festival.
Created in 2005 to help grassroots and professional filmmakers share their passion for winter outdoor recreation, the Backcountry Film Festival has grown to be shown in more than 30 towns and cities, and raised thousands of dollars to help efforts to preserve our winter environment. Funds raised from the festival benefit the Winter Wildlands Alliance and its network of grassroots groups, which work in unity to protect wild areas throughout the country.
Last year Wend contributors (look for their newest story, about cycling Norway in search of ski spots, in our winter issue this year) and general outdoor-adventure media supercouple Brian Mohr and Emily Johnson were awarded first place in the category of Best Short Short for their film, Fat Grass and Dirty Corn, while the Colorado-based film company Sweetgrass Productions, whose director claims on the comapny’s website to have been “born in a back-alley dumpster in New York City” took home the Best in Festival award for their film, Gentemstick.
Organizers bill the festival as an every-man’s film competition, with more of an emphasis on compelling storytelling and fun, educational or juicy topics than extreme shots captured in precarious outdoors situations. Prizes (cash, goods, or a combo of both) will be awarded to the best films in each of the following categories: Best of Festival, Best Short Short and Best Environmental Message. The only rules for contributing are that films should be no longer than 30 minutes, should take place during winter or be otherwise related to winter, and that they should tell a thought-provoking, interesting story of backcountry, non-motorized recreation or environmental preservation. Documentaries, fiction and experimental films are all welcome.
The Backcountry Film Festival premiers in Boise on November 13th before hitting the road to show in more than 30 locations throughout the west during the winter months. Submissions must be in DVD format, received in Boise by September 15 and include three copies and a $20 submission fee.
Mail submissions to: Winter Wildlands Alliance, Attn: Lana Weber, 910 Main Street, Suite 235, Boise ID 83702. Contact Lana Weber at lweber@winterwildlands.org or 208-344-8692 for details.
