OCT. 2 & 3 2026

Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Dr, Evergreen, CO 80439
Doors Open 5:30 PM Show starts at 6:30 PM

Box Office Opens in August. Stay Tuned.

OUR 2026 SPECIAL GUEST

Jonathan McAfee of Western Exposure
Fine Art in Kittredge.

Every year, we hope our audience leaves inspired, not only by the films, but by the people they meet.

Last year, we were honored to welcome Evergreen author Diane Gansauer, who shared stories from her remarkable life of conservation, community, and celebrating life's meaningful moments. Her warmth and generosity made the weekend even more memorable.

This year, we're excited to welcome Jonathan McAfee of Western Exposure Fine Art in Kittredge.

The gallery was created from a simple belief: that art should be welcoming, approachable, and part of everyday community life. During the festival, he'll be joining us with artwork available for purchase and an opportunity to connect with over the shared belief that stories can be told in many forms.

Film. Art. Conversation.

That's what community looks like.

Gallery website: https://www.westernexposurefineart.com/

Instagram: @westernexposurefineart

OUR 2026 FEATURED
FACILITATOR

MIRIAH ROYAL
SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR

Join Miriah Royal for a thought-provoking social justice book club inspired by one of the featured films in the 2026 Mountainfilm Evergreen lineup. At the festival event, attendees will discover which book and film have been selected to spark this shared experience and deeper conversation.

The book club meeting will take place at a later date. We invite participants into meaningful dialogue, personal reflection, and community connection. Together, we’ll explore challenging ideas, embrace uncomfortable conversations, and engage with empathy, curiosity, and courage.

THE 2026 line-up

Friday, Oct 2 - THE MEDLEY

Click the + to see the film’s synopsis

  • Borrowed From the Earth tells the story of the powerful connection between the Blackfeet people and horses, and how that life-giving relationship remains alive today. Throughout their histories, both horse and Indigenous people have been corralled — horses by fences and Indigenous people onto reservations. Yet centuries-long attempts to subdue both ultimately strengthened the bond between them.

Director: Directed by Zach Johaneson
Duration: 15 min

  • “The faster you go the less that you see. Why don’t you slow down and cruise like me?” At 83 years old, Lester still lives his passions as an artist, surfer and craftsman. The film celebrates an appreciation for strolling, reading, making music and painting — the antithesis of the mainstream American ethos to go faster and get more. See the world anew as you walk with Lester through an inspiringly and intentionally slow-paced life.

Director: Paul Collins
Duration: 11 min

  • When news anchor Paul Linnman arrived in Florence, Oregon, he had no idea that the story he was about to tell would forever define his career. Chronicling a small Oregon town, an exploding whale, and the man who made the story famous, Oh Whale is about how we don’t get to choose our fate, only what we make of it.

Director: Winslow Crane-Murdoch
Duration: 26 min

  • In 1970, Pat Palinkas became the first woman to play professional football when she stepped onto the field for the Orlando Panthers. A schoolteacher with no playbook and everything to prove, her appearance shocked the nation and was quickly forgotten. Panther Pat resurrects this high-stakes moment in sports history, tracing how one woman challenged the gender barrier of America’s game.

Director: Ashley Brandon
Duration: 12 min

  • Professional backcountry skier Sierra Schlag has built a career around focus, grit and always chasing the next big line. She takes her job and her skiing seriously. Her funky, free-spirited best friend Waverly Chin, aka Waves, is the counterbalance to Schlag, showing up with snacks, silliness and a reminder not to take life (or skiing) too seriously. That One Friend is a fun and lighthearted look at friendship and the beauty of balance because, sometimes, we all need that one friend.

Director: Sarah Beam Robbins and Grant Robbins
Duration: 9 min

  • A dedicated team of passionate bakers work the King Arthur Flour call center, offering expert advice and answering perplexing baking questions from an eclectic array of callers. The Baker’s Hotline reveals the transformative power of baking and the unexpected long-lasting connections it fosters.

Director: Dave Schuman and Emily Schuman
Duration: 13 min

Saturday, Oct 3 -INDOMITABLE SPIRIT

Click the + to see the film’s synopsis

  • Tying in with a climbing partner means more than just sending the crux together. For renowned alpinists Ines Papert and Sarah Hueniken, the peak of their aspirations comes as they both climb past the age of 50 — pushing themselves harder while learning more about each other, as well as themselves.

Director: Angela Percival
Duration: 11 min

  • This past summer, as ICE raids turned Los Angeles upside down, the singer NEZZA stepped out into Dodger Stadium on No Kings Day and did something both simple and defiant: She sang the national anthem in Spanish. It was a declaration of belonging for the city’s Spanish-speaking communities. NEZZA’s singing was a poignant act of protest that gave hope to immigrants when they needed it most.

Director: Christina Costantini
Duration: 23 min

  • In Pressure Drop, Kai Jones pushes the limits of modern freeride skiing, blending creativity, speed and style. His segment captures a new generation redefining big mountain riding — fearless, fluid and boundary-breaking — while showcasing his evolution from prodigy to one of the sport’s most dynamic and progressive athletes.

Director: Todd Jones
Duration: 7 min

  • When Teresa Bennett was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, she never imagined that a year later, she’d be scaling 60-foot walls with the grace and determination of a seasoned climber. With the knowledge that exercise helps improve symptoms, Bennett has been integral to the expansion of Up Ending Parkinson’s, a nonprofit that provides guided rock climbing for people with Parkinson’s. Bennett transforms her battle with the disease into strength and endurance.

Directors: Clare Bennett & Isabela Zawistowska
Duration: 17 min

  • Indian Relay Racing is a sport that is fast, dangerous and rarely includes women. The riders leap from horse to horse bareback, racing at full speed around the track. It’s a coming-of-age experience that hinges on the bond between horse and rider. Talliyah Timentwa (Colville) is one of the best.

Director: Fritz Bitsoie
Duration: 4 min

  • In small town rural America, this coming of age story examines the intersection of wrestling and fatherhood as a high school coach uses the sport to help the community's youth understand what they can and can't control in their lives.

Director: Brendan Young
Duration: 22 min