The Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival keeps getting bigger and better and the 2010-11 Tour was the best yet. Celebrating the human-powered experience, the festival promotes the work of grassroots filmmakers who tell entertaining and compelling stories of the winter backcountry and environmental preservation. WWA compiles the films into a 90 minute package and provides the festival to our Grassroots groups and SnowSchool sites as a means to fundraise and raise awareness on local issues.
This year, the 6th annual Backcountry Film Festival toured 53 cities, 4 continents, 5 countries, 16 states and was
enjoyed by more than 5000 outdoor enthusiasts! The festival entertained and engaged audiences young and old with fast-paced big mountain powder skiing, humorous and classic backcountry skiing footage and environmental activism through the six unique films chosen for the tour. Information tables and talks at the events further engaged and educated festival goers about issues affecting quiet winter use, the protection of public lands, and current environmental issues impacting our quality of life.
Collectively, this year’s festival raised more than $55,000 dollars for our Grassroots member groups and SnowSchool sites. The dollars raised benefited local communities by funding outdoor education programs, advocacy efforts, avalanche centers and winter equipment purchases.
We are already in the planning stages for the 2012 Backcountry Film Festival and will begin accepting film submissions soon. We look forward to continuing to improve and expand the festival. Thanks to all who attended the 2011 Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival, making it such a success!
Oh Yeah! And who was the big winner of the Black Diamond Grand Prize Giveaway? Drumroll please….Charles Lui from Sandpoint Idaho! Charles was kind enough to then turn around and give those sweet boards and BD gear to his wife. What a lucky gal!
Are you interested in hosting the film festival next year, or hosted this year and want to get on the schedule again? Contact Shelley Pursell at spursell at winterwildlands.org.
