Mark your calendars; buy your tickets and stock up on popcorn – the fourth annual MountainSummit: Mountainfilm in Aspen is coming to town on August 23rd through the 26th. Created in collaboration between MountainFilm in Telluride, the Aspen festival brings to the forefront of thought, the remarkable stories of the people, places and issues of our time through film and thought-provoking discussion.
This year’s festival will highlight films confronting every issue from Chinese dissention, ‘safe’ pesticides and their connection to cancer, protest within the U.S., outdoors adventure, the Kennedys and the Dust Bowl, among others. In each of these highlighted films the director, writer and principal real life characters are available in person or via Skype, to discuss their motivations in creating such a film, the process therein, and how this issue or person can shape the future of our world.
In addition to the film and the special post-viewing discussion, special 10 a.m. Coffee Talks with several of the directors of these films allow these artists, visionaries and voices of our times to engage with each other and the audience in a free admission, open exchange of ideas. This year there will be two such gatherings, the first to be held Saturday, August 25th, hosted by Tom Shadyac and will feature National Geographic photojournalist, and filmmaker James Balog along with Sandra Steingraber, environmental activist, cancer survivor and filmmaker. The second 10 a.m. Coffee Talk will be an informal gathering with New Yorker writer Steve Coll, journalist/poet Eliza Griswold and Tom Shadyac to take place Sunday morning.
Most viewings of the films will take place at the Wheeler theatre, although a few viewings will be held at Ute Mountaineer. Check with the Wheeler Opera House website for the complete viewing times and places. Experienced MountainSummit attendees recommend that tickets be purchased well in advance, and for those free events, such as the 10 a.m. Coffee Talks, early arrival is key to getting great seats for partaking in the sure-to-be stimulating discussion.
In the three previous years the MountainSummit has brought its film festival to Aspen it has been met with resounding community support. Most of the summaries of the upcoming films include a local society or group that has co-sponsored the presentation of the film. Such groups as, the Aspen Historical Society, the Thompson Divide Coalition, The Aspen Institute and the Aspen Art Museum, among others have stepped forward to ensure the MountainSummit: Mountainfilm festival and the issues it brings to the public conscience have a permanent place within the community.
The culture of Aspen and Snowmass Village support a community committed to deeper thought and confrontation of difficult local and global issues with the end goal of resolution of these issues. Unlike so many communities in the world, Aspen/Snowmass have not only the means to change to world, but the deep and abiding desire.
Make sure you are part of the conversation, and most importantly part of the solution! Click here to find the perfect home in Aspen/Snowmass Village where the conversation and the ideas for a better world and brighter tomorrow are taking place!