Sophia Bush Announced as Mountainfilm’s 2025 Guest Director
TELLURIDE, CO — Mountainfilm is honored to announce that longtime festival attendee, actress, activist, producer, and entrepreneur Sophia Bush will serve as the Guest Director for the 2025 Mountainfilm Festival. As Guest Director, Bush will play a key role in shaping the festival’s programming, participating in programs and events, and bringing her unparalleled passion, insight, and indomitable spirit to our 47th annual festival.
“I am so thrilled to be a part of a festival that means so much to me. For over a decade now, Mountainfilm has been a sacred tradition for me and my friends. It is an annual journey that brings us home to a community of humans, from all around the world, who share both the mission and desire to learn, to expand our empathy, to make strangers into our neighbors, and to better protect this planet. It is one of the most intentional and inspirational gatherings there is, and to join the legacy of friends and mentors who have helped shape this experience that has shaped me so profoundly is an honor.” — Sophia Bush
Bush is known for starring in iconic acting roles in television and film projects such as One Tree Hill, John Tucker Must Die, Chicago PD, Incredibles 2, Good Sam, and Junction. Most recently, she joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy as the recurring role of Dr. Cass Beckman.
At Mountainfilm, we celebrate the power of storytelling to inspire change, and Bush’s far-reaching activism efforts align with our mission. Bush currently hosts two iHeart podcasts, “Work in Progress with Sophia Bush” and co-hosts “Drama Queens” with One Tree Hill co-stars Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz. Beyond entertainment, she's a dedicated activist and philanthropist, raising nearly half a million dollars for causes, and passionately supporting projects empowering girls and women. Alongside her business partner Nia Linder Batts, Sophia is an investor in Aunt Flow, a company working to combat period poverty, and is a General Partner and investor in Union Heritage Ventures, a majority African American and women-owned capital firm founded in the early 1990s. She also co-founded and sits on the board of I am a voter® and serves as a Strategic Advisor for First Women’s Bank with Billie Jean King.
“We are downright beaming with excitement that Sophia will be our Guest Director for Mountainfilm in 2025,” Festival Director Crystal Merrill said. “It is wonderful to collaborate with her since she is such a talented and celebrated artist who is also committed to making a positive impact in the world.”
Sophia Bush’s dedication to social justice and environmental advocacy, combined with her passion for storytelling, makes her an ideal choice to lead the 2025 festival, further enhancing Mountainfilm’s legacy of driving positive change through art and activism. Her dedication to using her voice to inspire others is remarkable.
“Mountainfilm is absolutely thrilled to welcome Sophia Bush as our guest director. Her passion and commitment to numerous important causes will inspire our audiences in many meaningful ways. We look forward to sharing her magic with the Mountainfilm community.” — Sage Martin, Executive Director
Join us in welcoming Sophia Bush back to Telluride and being part of Mountainfilm 2025. Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting programming we have in store.
About Mountainfilm: Established in 1979, Mountainfilm is one of North America’s longest-running documentary film festivals, held annually over Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colorado. Mountainfilm is dedicated to using the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. The festival offers an immersive experience featuring a wide range of filmmakers, speakers, adventurers and activists in addition to screening cutting-edge, award-winning documentary films from around the world. Mountainfilm is an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival in the Documentary Short Film category. Mountainfilm on Tour also reaches audiences year-round through its global film program, and through Mountainfilm for Students, an educational outreach initiative for youth. Simply put, Mountainfilm has the power to change lives. To learn more, visit www.mountainfilm.org. To join the conversation, please read Mountainfilm’s news and follow @mountainfilm on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and LinkedIn.