The epic Wasatch Mountain Film Festival returns to Utah for its third year--bigger and better than ever--on June 19-24. Modeled after other film events celebrating the great outdoors, the festival showcases more than fifty films featuring adventures in everything from skiing to paragliding. This year, the festival has teamed up with Utah's Adventure Week, which means that, in addition to watching great films, you can also participate in a number of activities, clinics, and other events highlighting a variety of outdoor recreation and sports. You'll have plenty of opportunities to get in on the action as screenings will take place in a variety of locations around Park City, Salt Lake City, Sandy, and Snowbird.

Opening Night

The festival's opening night will be held at the Park City Library's Jim Santy Auditorium. The evening kicks off at 6 p.m. with a pre-show mixer where festivalgoers can mingle while listening to music from the band Bill N Diane and checking out info tables hosted by local organizations, including Wasatch Backcountry Alliance, Sierra Club, Wild Utah, and others. The screenings begin at 7 p.m. and include award nominees Elk River, Holy, and Dodo's Delight. The evening will also feature some very special guest appearances, including local photographer and director of Holy, Lindsay Daniels, who, with her film's main character, Jay Griffith, will be on hand for a Q&A following the screening. Also making an appearance is the famous 99-year-old skier and star of the evening's first film Happiness - 99 Year Old Skier George Jedenoff. A resident of California, Jedenoff learned how to ski at Alta when he was 43 and returns to shred the slopes in Little Cottonwood every year. He, along with director Tim Roberts, will be present for a Q&A session following the screening of that film. 

The program is as follows:

• Happiness – 99 Year Old Skier George Jedenoff, Directed by Timothy Roberts, 4 mins: 99.5 year old skier, George Jedenoff is back at Alta and Snowbird for his 57th consecutive year of skiing in Utah. George reflects on the happiness skiing has given him throughout his life. (View of teaser of Robert's film here.)

• Elk River, Directed by Jenny Nichols, 28 mins: Scientist Arthur Middleton, photographer Joe Riis, artist James Prosek and filmmaker Jenny Nichols join forces in this documentary that captures the migration of elk in the Yellowstone area through a multidisciplinary lens. ***Nominated for the 2017 Environmental Awareness Award

INTERMISSION

• Holy, Directed by Lindsay Daniels, 9 mins: When opportunity knocks, a middle-aged man (Jay Griffith) told he should never run again defies doctors’ orders and ends up finding himself doing 100-mile mountain races. ***Nominated for the 2017 Shane McConkey Award and Cinematography Award

• Dodo’s Delight, Directed by Josh Lowell, Nick Rosen, & Peter Mortimer, 28 mins: Jump on board a madcap sailing adventure to the biggest rock walls in the Arctic Circle with a team of elite climbers as zany as they are talented. Amongst rough seas, falling rocks and freezing temperatures, this hilarious and badass gang of adventurers forge bold new routes and have the time of their lives. ***Nominated for the 2017 Shane McConkey Award

Additional Screenings + Events

After opening night, the festival moves onto Salt Lake City (June 20), Sandy (June 21-22), and Snowbird (June 23-24). You can see the full screening schedule here. One particularly notable appearance is that of Greg Mortenson, the subject of award nominee for Social Awareness and controversial film 3,000 Cups of Tea, which calls into question the journalistic integrity of 60 Minutes and the allegations made regarding corruption in Mortenson's overseas charities. Mortenson will be making a public appearance along with the director Jennifer Jordan for the first time in years following the 7 p.m. screening at Snowbird on June 23. Other big names within the outdoor world to look out for include Julian Carr, Andrew Muse, Mike Libecki, and Caroline Gleich who will be helping festival staff host events.

We also highly recommend checking out all the amazing Adventure Week events that are also happening, including photography clinics, trail races, equestrian, the REI Garage Sale (June 17), and Adventure Gear Fest at Snowbird on June 23-24.

If you're buying tickets for any of the Wasatch Mountain Film Festival events, don't forget to use the promo code: iloveparkcitymag to get 50 percent off any of the screenings (including, opening night in Park City)! Get your tickets here!