Mountainfilm in Our Nation's Capitol

December 11, 2007It’s great to get out on the road with Mountainfilm. Although our Tour shows can only hint at the variety and mix of our festival programming, it’s a treat to be able to introduce, or re-acquaint, people to what we’re about.Last week I was in Washington, D.C. for four shows. The first was at the Chevy Chase Club—an exclusive, blue-blood venue, for sure. Notwithstanding Mountainfilm’s rabble-rouser credentials, I could not have been more warmly received. And what a hoot to play hardcore, extreme, adventure films jacked-up on rap and hip-hop tunes to a mostly white-haired crowd—and to have them love it!Our show at National Geographic the next night was a sell-out and, apparently, the biggest show of the season for their Live! Series, which featured twenty-two programs prior to ours this fall. Not bad for our maiden effort with the series and the crowd seemed pleased with the program.

Small shows at Woodrow Wilson High School (DC’s largest and most culturally diverse comprehensive school) and the Bell Multicultural School (in conjunction with The Latin American Youth Center) rounded out the week. At the Bell show we had special permission to screen one of my favorite films from the 2006 festival—“Favela Rising”—an exceptionally well-told and inspiring story of personal and community redemption.

Ando from the film Favela Rising. Photo courtesy Favela Rising, LLC

The four DC shows were radically different in terms of playlists and audiences. The cool thing for me was that Mountainfilm could span such vast programming and demographic differences and still make solid connections at every show.Click here to read a blog post from a member of the audience.Posted by Peter KenworthyEditor's note: Today is Peter's birthday. Please join me in wishing him a very happy birthday!