Mountainfilm Awards $15,000 to Nonprofits through Moving Mountains Awards

Six Organizations Cited for Outstanding Work Receive Funding

Telluride, Colorado (June 8, 2012) –Mountainfilm in Telluride held its 34^th annual festival over Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28. The event aims to educate and inspire audiences on subjects that range from outdoor adventure and exploration to critical environmental, cultural and social issues, and the program was packed with guest speakers and roughly 90 films, many of which featured the work of diverse nonprofit organizations.

The activities of nonprofits often attract the attention of filmmakers because the struggles and strains of fighting the good fight provide thought-provoking material for a documentary, and Mountainfilm traditionally awards $3,000 to one nonprofit. But this year, the Moving Mountains Awards were bolstered by several donors and an unprecedented six organizations received a total of $15,000.

Judges watched more than a dozen nominated films, examining the mission of each organization, considering its scope impact and need. Festival director David Holbrooke said, “Unlike other prizes at Mountainfilm, the Moving Mountains Award is not based upon the actual quality of the film, even though these are all strong films. This prize is focused on the subject of the film. We’re a film festival, but we really hope the festival has a tangible impact, and this is just one step we take in that direction.” Actor Laura Linney, Artist Chris Jordan, global ophthalmologist Geoff Tabin and filmmaker Geralyn Dreyfous juried this year’s films.

The Winner

• Peaceful Uprising with the film Bidder 70, $7,000. (In addition, a Mountainfilm attendee donated another $5,000 directly to Peaceful Uprising.)

Runner Ups

• Colonel Eric Hastings/Warriors and Quiet Waters with the film Not Yet Begun to Fight, $3,000
• Shelton Johnson/National Parks Conservation Association with the film The Way Home: Returning to the National Parks, $3,000
• Julio Solis with the film Julio Solis, A MoveShake Story, $1,000
• Telluride Adaptive Sports Program with the film Load Bearing, $1,000
• Alec Loorz with the film Trust: Youth Sue the Government, $1,000

To learn more about these organizations, visit the Mountainfilm website, where you can watch trailers of the films. “The judges—and audiences—were moved by the efforts of these organizations and showed it by significantly boosting the overall prize money,” pointed out Holbrooke. “And in return, we’re moved by their generosity and proud to have been able to help ramp up the support for such worthy causes this year.”

About Mountainfilm in Telluride: Established in 1979, Mountainfilm in Telluride is dedicated to educating and inspiring audiences about environments, cultures, issues and adventures. Working at the nexus of filmmaking and action, its flagship program is the legendary Mountainfilm Festival — a one-of-a-kind combination of films, conversations and inspiration. 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 www.mountainfilm.org. To join the conversation, please visit the Mountainfilm in Telluride blog, follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.