Backcountry Film Fest comes to Whitefish
On Friday, Feb. 12, the Montana Wilderness Association will host the 11th annual Backcountry Film Festival at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the films begin at 6:30 p.m.
This year’s festival includes nine short films about human-powered winter recreation activities such as skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, mountaineering and even sailing. Exclusive to the Whitefish showing of the Backcountry Film Festival, guest speakers Martha Hunt, of Whitefish, and K.T. Miller, of Bozeman, will share stories from the making of their film, “Shifting Ice.”
In March of 2014, Hunt, Miller and four other women set out on an unprecedented Arctic journey, capturing their adventure in the short film, “Shifting Ice.” The team sailed from Isafjordur, Iceland, across the North Atlantic Ocean to Greenland. While sailing up the west coast of Greenland, they climbed and skied some of the most remote peaks in the world along the way. Envisioned and enacted entirely by an impressive team of women, the goal of their ski-and-sail saga was not only to explore the corners of the globe under human power, but also to explore the effects of climate change in the region where its effects are arguably the most prevalent — the Arctic.
“Their vision, and the team’s ability to bring a global perspective to the sport that brings so many people together in this community — skiing — is astounding,” said Grete Gansauer, of the Montana Wilderness Association. “‘Shifting Ice’ is a testament to the importance of conserving our local natural resources and landscapes. It showcases how our actions can resonate across the world.”
“Shifting Ice” will be featured at the Backcountry Film Festival along with other films by Sherpa Cinema, Sweetgrass Productions, Dynafit and others. Tickets are on sale now at Rocky Mountain Outfitter, Runner-Up Sports and Great Northern Brewing Company. Tickets are $5 presale and $10 at the door.
Montana Wilderness Association works with communities to protect Montana’s wilderness heritage, quiet beauty and outdoor traditions, now and for future generations. Established in 1958 by Montanans who were instrumental in the passage of the 1964 Wilderness Act, Montana Wilderness Association has since worked for the designation of virtually every wilderness area in the state, as well as Wild and Scenic designations for suitable stretches of the Flathead and Missouri rivers. For additional information about the Montana Wilderness Association, please visit wildmontana.org.
For more information about the Backcountry Film Festival, contact Grete Gansauer at ggansauer@wildmontana.org or find the event on Facebook (search Backcountry Film Festival Whitefish) or visit www.wildmontana.org/join-us/events-calendar/.