Wasatch Mountain Film Festival Reveals First Round of Films to be shown April 2016

Stuart Derman — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 00:18:03 +0000

Wasatch Mountain Arts Presents Wasatch Mountain Film Festival Line up

Local Non-Profit organization Wasatch Mountain Arts brings to you the 2nd annual Wasatch Mountain Film Festival to be held the beginning of April 2016. We will be showing approximately 40 films in numerous theaters throughout the Wasatch front.

We are pleased to announce the first round of films to be screened at next spring’s Wasatch Mountain Film Festival (WMFF). Held every year at the beginning of April, WMFF is a professional and amateur documentary film festival that features inspiring stories concerning the environment, adventure, cultural, political and social justice issues that are making an impact in our world.

We have had some great films submitted already, and are still accepting film submissions from amateur and professional filmmakers until Feb 8th, 2016. The films being presented here to you are only a portion of the films that will be shown at the film festival. As the Film Festival gets closer, we will be announcing more film selections as they are chosen.

Keep Exploring - Brice Portolano

A 3 weeks adventure with the French photographer Brice Portolano backpacking in the wilderness of British Columbia. After a week on Vancouver Island, Brice hiked in the South Chilcotin mountains with the aim of reaching the highest summits.

BLUETOPIA

For we Humans the challenge of the future is to learn how to co-operate afresh. Here in the Blue Mountains of Oz we decided to put this to the test by making a film on our own, amongst our close friends, without any commercial involvement.

The Quest for Inspiration

Born of numerous solitary wanderings through autumnal forests, Alexander Deschaumes, landscape photographer, has developed his own universe. Guided by the dreamlike and enchanted atmospheres of wild and open nature, he attempts to transform his emotions into a certain form of evocative beauty. While preparing a new expedition to Patagonia, Alexander must face the torments of nature in his quest for the ethereal image.

Martin's Boat - Official Trailer

Documentary about the conservationist and whitewater rafting pioneer, Martin Litton.

DARKLIGHT

Unlike anything ever seen before in the world of mountain biking, Darklight features arrestingly beautiful landscapes and world class riding.

The Waters of Greenstone-Official Trailer

The waters of Greenstone Explores the ever changing landscapes on the South Island of New Zealand.

Sierra Quitiquit: How Did I Get Here Teaser

From the runway to the big mountain, professional skier and model Sierra Quitiquit is quickly redefining what it means to be a modern woman. How Did I Get Here—a film about her rise to the world stage—chronicles the journey, triumphs and challenges of Sierra’s incredible and inspirational story. A coming-of-age story, full of adventure, exploration, heartbreak, growth and inspiration.

STREIF - ONE HELL OF A RIDE - HD Trailer

Canadian skier named Erik Guay is favored to win the Hahnenkamm downhill on the Streif, the world’s most difficult and dangerous downhill track.

Avaatara - David Lama's First Ascent of a Magical Sinkhole

An incredible first ascent of Avaatara, in the Baatara Gorge, Lebanon.

The Crash Reel Official Trailer

This documentary portraits snowboard legend Kevin Pearce, incorporating 15 years of footage, from his rivalry with childhood friend Shaun White, to his recovery from a traumatic brain injury he suffered while training for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Humble Pie

Mayan Smith-Gobat and Niels Tietze are setting their sights on freeing “free Rider” on El Capitan and The Regular Northwest Route on Half Dome in a 24 hour push.

BE BOLD | Elite Runner Shandi Kano

The story of a woman driven to exhaustion by social pressures and the need to prove her worth via work titles and fast marathon status. After experiencing a nervous breakdown at the bombings of the 2013 Boston Marathon, she rededicated her life to finding true happiness and part of that meant leaving her career behind, healing from PTSD and overcoming a fear of running, right here in the trails of the Wasatch Front.

WALK THE RIDGE

Aims to share the deep feelings we can experience hiking up in the mountains, highlighting those precise moments when you’re finally going to make it, those very precise seconds when you finally walk the dizzying ridge before reaching the final summit.

Broken Landscape Trailer

In the resource-rich Indian state of Meghalaya, unregulated coal mines poison natural systems that once sustained decent livelihoods, adequate food and potable water.

Into The Sunshine: The Picture of the Mountains

Captivating footage of Iceland’s towering peaks provides a powerful backdrop for this poetic short film uncovering the geological mystery behind a mountain’s formation stages.

Life in a Legend’s Shadow

Opportunities may be handed to you a little easier when you’re the son of a legend but that doesn’t guarantee success. A story about Jess Roskelley the son of legendary climber John Roskelley.

Brilliant Darkness: Hotaru in the Night

‘Brilliant Darkness: Hotaru in the Night’ explores the importance of darkness, and the erosion of it, through the study and preservation of firefly habitats in Japan and the United States.

For more information about any of these films visit www.WasatchFilmFestival.org, to submit a film visit the website and click on “submit your film”.

The Wasatch Mountain Film Festival was conceived from the idea that the Wasatch Mountains are home to one the most incredible mountain communities in the world. Each year millions of visitors travel from around the globe to experience this spectacular place with unparalleled ease of access to the mountains.

DONATE: WMA Nepal Disaster Relief Fund

Stuart Derman — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 15:53:23 +0000

On April 25, 2015, Nepal was struck by a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake. This disaster resulted in the destruction of large sections of the densely populated city of Kathmandu and the surrounding region. In addition to promoting mountain culture domestically, Wasatch Mountain Arts also supports mountain culture internationally. Thus, the Wasatch Mountain Arts Nepal Disaster Relief Fund will go directly to helping those affected by this tragedy. Although nothing can bring back those we lost today, we hope that this fund can help ease the burden and help those needing immediate assistance.

To make your contribution, click on the following link: http://igg.me/at/3OQPh-33-c0.

Contributions will go directly to current disaster relief efforts within Nepal.

- The Wasatch Mountain Arts Team

5 Tips to Photographing Jenny Lake

Stuart Derman — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 04:54:57 +0000

Living in Salt Lake City, Utah deciding on a destination for wilderness travel can seem daunting. With so many national and state park in reach the selection is quite large. With this post I want to focus on Grand Teton National Park.

Growing up in New Jersey my access to wilderness areas was quite limited. However, I had the good fortune of having parents that wanted to vacation somewhere other than the typical beach destination. My family traveled to some of the most amazing wilderness areas in the world. America’s National Parks System has served as a model for both preservation and connecting people with some of the most beautiful and stunning natural environments on earth. Grand Teton was one of the first National Parks that I traveled to on my quest to visit each of the 58 National Parks in the system. Coming from New Jersey, I had never seen mountains like the Tetons. Their huge and incredible heights dwarfed everything around them. One of my favorite places in the park is Jenny Lake. This incredible lake is estimated to be over 400 feet deep. As a photographer, I love this area in the spring/early summer. The snow is dramatic and makes for an amazing vista.

Photo Recommendations:

1) Get there early!

2) Stay near Jenny Lake

3) Clouds make the peaks more dramatic

4) Get as close to the water as possible

5) HAVE FUN!

Spread Stoke » Stuart Derman