Mountainfilm Freebies
It doesn’t take a lot of money or planning — actually, it takes neither — to enjoy Mountainfilm in Telluride. The weekend is full of free things to do, including three feature film world premieres: The Ants & The Grasshopper, Buried and The River Runner (showtimes and venues below).
And if the film you’ve been dying to see isn’t on this list — or you’ve been wanting to check out one of our 2021 speaker series — don’t worry, tickets for paid programming ($20 per program) are still available online and a percentage of seats are being held for people in the stand-by line.
If “free” is still calling your name, here’s a daily rundown of all things free and beautiful at Mountainfilm in Telluride 2021.
Wednesday, May 26
FILMS
Formerly known as Adrenaline, the Local Legends & Steep Thrills program is a true ode to Telluride. You’ll witness gnarly bike stunts and graceful ski lines alongside films dedicated to some of Telluride’s most iconic characters. Q&A to follow.
Base Camp Outdoor Theater — 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 27
ART WALK
Telluride Arts is hosting a special Art Walk where local galleries — marked with an Art Walk flag — can introduce new exhibits and artists to the public.
Throughout Telluride — 5 to 8 p.m.
FILMS
A trio of films, two shorts and one feature, that pay homage to the wonders of Earth: Joseba Cruz, Bug Farm and The Ants & The Grasshopper (world premiere).
Lawson Hill Fields Outdoor Theater — 8:30 p.m.
Buried (world premiere) offers up a taut autopsy of the fateful event that took place at Alpine Meadows ski resort in 1982. Q&A to follow.
Base Camp Outdoor Theater — 8:30 p.m.
Friday, May 28
MURAL UNVEILING
Join Mountainfilm’s gallery and mural manager Drew Ludwig for a behind-the-scenes exploration of Telluride’s new street art. The piece was created by JR, a French photographer and street artist, and is based on a photograph by Gordon Parks, a renowned Black photographer, musician, artist and director, under special permission from the Gordon Parks Foundation.
Ghost Town — 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
FILMS
Spaceship Earth offers a thrilling peek into the story behind the iconic Biosphere 2 project, what went on behind the scenes and what the outcome tells us about man’s relationship with Earth. Q&A to follow.
Lawson Hill Fields Outdoor Theater — 8:30 p.m.
Two intimate adventure films, one short and one feature: A Conversation and Godspeed, Los Polacos! (Commitment Grant Recipient). Q&A to follow.
Base Camp Outdoor Theater — 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 29
FREE-RANGE PROGRAMS
Hike with Hilaree Nelson — Join the captain of The North Face global athlete team, Telluride local and Mountainfilm 2021 Guest Director Hilaree Nelson on a hike around Telluride. Nelson has more than 40 expeditions under her belt, including the first-ever ski descent off Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world, and a 24-hour summit of both Everest and Lhotse.
Elks Park — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Hike & Concert — A hike around Telluride culminating in an acoustic concert in nature from indie singer-songwriter Kayla Marque. Organized in collaboration with Sustain Music & Nature.
Elks Park — 1 to 2:30 p.m.
FILMS
Follow kayaker Scott Lindgren’s 20-year quest to be the first person to paddle the four great rivers that originate from Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash in The River Runner (world premiere). Q&A to follow.
Lawson Hill Fields Outdoor Theater — 8:30 p.m.
Get down and dirty with the Dirt & Rock Shorts, a selection of short outdoorsy films that kick up some dust. Q&A to follow.
Base Camp Outdoor Theater — 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 30
Hike with Hilaree Nelson — Join the captain of The North Face global athlete team, Telluride local and Mountainfilm 2021 Guest Director Hilaree Nelson on a hike around Telluride. Nelson has more than 40 expeditions under her belt, including the first-ever ski descent off Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world, and a 24-hour summit of both Everest and Lhotse.
Elks Park — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Hike & Concert — Colorado singer-songwriter Daniel Rodriguez will provide live acoustic music deep in nature at the end of a local hike. Organized in collaboration with Sustain Music & Nature.
Elks Park — 1 to 2:30 p.m.
FILMS
Cine de las Montañas is a program of Spanish/English films for the community. Films are either in Spanish with English subtitles or vice versa. Reserve your free spot here.
High Camp – 9 to 11:15 a.m.
Take on water in its various forms with the Water & Ice Shorts, a collection of short outdoor films. Q&A to follow.
Lawson Hill Fields Outdoor Theater — 8:30 p.m.
A trio of adventure films, one shorts and two features: On Falling, Running the Roof and Reel Rock 15: Black Ice. Q&A to follow.
Base Camp Outdoor Theater — 8:30 p.m.
Monday, May 31
THE DOWNLOW
An evening of curated stories organized around the theme, “Comebacks.” Performances by Mountainfilm special guests and beloved Telluride locals. Be sure to reserve your free spot.
Transfer Warehouse — 7 to 9 p.m.
