5Point Adventure Film Festival Returns To Carbondale April 21-24, 2022

After a two-year hiatus, 5Point Adventure Film Festival returns April 21-24, 2022 to a live audience. Celebrating 15 years running, 5Point’s flagship gathering in Carbondale is one of Colorado’s top adventure film events. 

This year’s captivating program is designed to celebrate the 5Point audience and filmmaker community coming together again, with panel discussions that steer the conversation around themes that have shaped the world in the last two years including social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion, mental health and wellness, and the pursuit of adventure throughout the world; plus an array of outdoor recreational activities, parties and social events built around the four-days of film programming which is set to engage and inspire audiences.

“It’s been three years since the 5Point community was last able to come together in-person to celebrate our shared values and the art of inspirational storytelling, and who could imagine how the world would change during that hiatus and how it would shape us with new resilience and perspective to forge a positive path ahead,” says 5Point Film executive director, Luis Yllanes. “We are humbled and excited to showcase some incredible filmmaking, but most importantly bring our community together after all this time for that vital connection that sparks ideas, collaboration, sharing and inspiration.”

This year’s film programming includes some of the best adventure filmmaking and storytelling, with world premieres and a stellar line-up of film guests to introduce their work and content themes. New for 2022, film screenings will take place at several venues across Carbondale including Steve’s Guitars and Thunder River Theatre Company. Along with three matinee feature film presentations, and a bilingual family show, 2022 film program highlights include:

Learning To Drown: directed by the highly acclaimed Felt Soul Media team (Ben Knight, Travis Rummel) Learning To Drown tells the remarkable story of snowboarder Jess Kimura.

The River Runner: The story of Scott Lindgren’s 20-year quest to be the first person to paddle the four great rivers that originate from Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailash. This Saturday matinee feature film presentation will include a Q&A with special guests from the film.

TORN: In 1999, climber Alex Lowe was lost in a deadly avalanche on Mount Shishapangma. Surviving the avalanche was Alex’s best friend and climbing partner, Conrad Anker, who married Alex’s widow and help raise his sons. From filmmaker, photographer, and National Geographic Explorer Max Lowe, TORN turns the lens on his own family, as the body of his father is uncovered 17 years after his death. This Sunday matinee feature film presentation will include a Q&A with special guests from the film.

The Ballad of Pecos Hank: A lonesome musician down on his luck and in love with Mother Nature risked what he had to traverse Tornado Alley in search of the world's most violent weather. World Premiere.

A Baffin Vacation: Erik Boomer and Sarah McNair-Landry set off on a bold multi-sport 45-day expedition traveling through the remote landscape of Baffin Island in search of stunning cliffs to climb and unexplored rivers to whitewater kayak. World Premiere.

This Is Beth: Rock climber Beth Rodden is one of the most prolific athletes in climbing history, with multiple free ascents of El Capitan and first ascents of cutting-edge lines to her name. This is Beth takes an intimate look beneath the forward-facing success of her career, diving into Beth’s grapple with body image and cruel self-talk and celebrating how she transformed this dynamic to rediscover the love of her sport. World premiere and a 5Point Film Fund recipient.

Before I Die: Following the untimely death of their father to Early-onset Alzheimer’s, the Bussell family grapples with the life-altering decision of whether to find out if they too carry the gene. Out of the family’s five children, Tristan Bussell, 36, is the only one who decides to take the DNA test. This uplifting documentary short focuses on how those test results profoundly changed the way Tristan chooses to live his life. A 5Point Film Fund recipient.

An Accidental Life: On October 11, 2017, in Yosemite on El Capitan, while at the peak of her mountaineering prowess, Quinn Brett experienced one of the most traumatic accidents in the history of rock climbing. The lessons from such horror are only shared among those who survive and not only did Quinn astonishingly live to tell the tale but even more to endure the irreparable aftermath. Over time and with great effort she finds different ways to move in the wilderness, a worthwhile job opportunity emerges, and a spark of romance returns. To forgive herself for all that she’s lost Quinn must return to her accident, confront her ghosts, and reveal the beauty of what remains. This Friday matinee feature film presentation will include a Q&A with special guests from the film.

A Thousand Casts: Throughout the course of Oliver White’s life fly fishing has been at the root of a series of once-in-a-lifetime events. What started as physical therapy led to the financial district, a business opportunity, and a near-death situation. His pursuit of fish on the fly now takes him to the mythical, magical country of Bhutan to do what he does best – figure things out.

Attack and Release: After moving with his family to the U.S. from Sri Lanka, Ranga lost his father to an unexpected heart attack. Coping with the loss eventually led him to Montana, where he was drawn to the magic of fly fishing and the solace of the river. Through being in nature and meeting the challenges of his journey, he learned the importance of mindfulness and living life with an open heart. World Premiere.

In addition to a range of top filmmaking, 5Point is also curating a reflective line-up of thought-leaders and influencers to lead panel discussions on topical subjects and trends or events shaping the outdoor world, human interest subjects, and the culture around visual storytelling.

See the full festival program here: 5pointfilm.org/15th-annual-flagship-festival/.

Festival passes are priced from $365, individual program tickets from $15 (adults, kids under 12 are free) for Saturday’s family film program, $20 for afternoon feature film programs and $38 for Sunday morning Changemaker program and all evening programs. All passes and tickets can be purchased at 5pointfilm.org.