Celebrating its 11th anniversary this year, the Backcountry Film Festival will feature nine unique films aimed to inspire winter adventurers to explore the beauty, diversity and fun of the winter backcountry experience. Produced by the Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Backcountry Film Festival covers diverse films that deal with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and other backcountry winter sports. Proceeds from the Spokane showing support the Inland Northwest Backcountry Alliance’s efforts to preserve and promote opportunities for quiet human-powered winter recreation in the Inland Northwest.
A few of the films this year include:
- “Japan by Van,” a Sweetgrass Productions film, explores the head-deep powder of the Shirakawa backcountry.
- “The Weight of Winter” by filmmaker Ben Sturgulewski.
- “I Love Splitboarding,” a film by Right on Brother opens up the world of splitboarding.
- “Always Above Us” offers a glimpse of the tremendous amount of sacrifice and hardship involved in the life of a climber. Sherpas Cinema follows Kris Erickson and Conrad Anker in a memoir for David Bridges and Alex Lowe.
- “Connections” highlights the Dynafit story of how the company’s “low tech” design changed the face of backcountry skiing.
- “The Forecaster” features expert avalanche forecaster Drew Hardesty and the responsibility that comes with backcountry freedom.
The festival hits Spokane Thursday, January 28, at the Bing Crosby Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. and films start at 7. Admission is $12 and advance tickets are available at TicketsWest outlets and at Mountain Gear. Learn more about the films and the Inland Northwest Backcountry Alliance at Ibackcountry.org. //
