SPIRIT OF THE PEAKS + RETURN TO EARTH + FINDING GULO

2400 Flora Street,Dallas TX 75201

14 May, 2022

Description

Saturday, May 14, 1:30pm: SPIRIT OF THE PEAKS Studio Theater Short Films: RETURN TO EARTH + FINDING GULO Feature Film: SPIRIT OF THE PEAKS (dir. Connor Ryan, Tim Kressin) Saturday, May 14: STUDIO THEATER 1:30PM Short Films: RETURN TO EARTH + FINDING GULO Doors at 1:00pm | Films at 1:30pm Skiing in Ute Territory has always raised questions about the relationship between the past and present for Connor Ryan. This story is a poetic reconciliation for Ryan, between Native American heritage and the injustices that have displaced the Utes with ongoing colonization, erasure and extraction. Spirit of the Peaks connects a conflicted past to an awakening in cultural awareness that can create an equitable future for Indigenous people and skiers around the world. Runtime: 42mins Year: 2021 Screening Times: Fri , May 13 - 1:15pm at Hall Arts Sat, May 14 - 1:30pm at Studio Theater Meet the Directors: A proud Hunkpapa Lakota and passionate skier, Connor Ryan was born and raised on the Arapaho, Cheyenne and Ute homelands at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Ryan considers these places among his biggest inspirations and closest relatives. Ryan seeks to decolonize, reconnect and learn to better honor all his relations through adventure and activism. Skiing is his dance and prayer, a ceremony of its own. Lakota traditional ecological knowledge helps Ryan understand the true value of the sacred land and water we ski on in deeper and more tangible ways. Tim Kressin is passionate about asking hard questions, calling people into adventure and diving deep into friendships. Kressin does this mainly through film and tacos. Based in Seattle, WA, Kressin has led the creative charge on stories from climbing gyms in Memphis, TN to communities affected by violence and war in Syria and the Middle East. In all of the work he produces, his goal is to evoke empathy, compassion and ultimately show new perspectives that can create change. Short Film: RETURN TO EARTH (dir. Darcy Wittenburg, Darren McCullough, Colin Jones) Runtime: 14min Year: 2021 Time is either spent wisely,or it is just spent. Return to Earth is a cinematic journey into the simple act of living completely in those moments, by way of riding bikes. Meet the Director: Darcy Wittenburg leads creative development and production at Anthill Films. An experienced and accomplished cinematographer, Wittenburg pioneered many of the early filming techniques used in mountain bike film. Wittenburg has directed nine feature cycling films as well as hundreds of short films and commercials for brands such as Toyota, Sony, Red Bull, Clif Bar, Shimano, Trek, The Olympic Channel and many more. Colin “CJ” Jones is an aerial cinematography specialist and director for Anthill’s feature films and major commercial projects. One of Anthill’s most versatile team members, Jones has directed, shot and edited dozens of video projects and continues to raise the bar of Anthill’s creativity. Jones has directed nine feature cycling films as well as hundreds of short films and commercials for brands such as Toyota, Sony, Red Bull, Clif Bar, Shimano, Trek, The Olympic Channel and many more. Short Film: FINDING GULO (dir. Colin Arisman, Tyler Wilkinson-Ray) Runtime: 26min Year: 2021 Finding Gulo follows Steph Williams, a ski guide and field biologist, as she works with wildlife photographer Dave Moskowitz to capture images and data of a recovering population of wolverines near her home in Washington state. Williams has long been concerned about the impacts of climate change, and as her connection deepens with the wolverines, so does her commitment to prove that citizen science can be a critical tool to protect endangered wildlife. Meet the Director: Colin Arisman is a non-fiction director whose work focuses on outdoor culture, backcountry recreation, ecology, conservation, wild foods and rural communities. Arisman’s impact filmmaking synthesizes complex topics into compelling human stories grounded in visceral experience. Arisman’s roots are in Vermont, but these days you’re most likely to find him in Alaska. Tyler Wilkinson-Ray is a filmmaker whose work fits in the outdoor film genre., and Hhis passion lies in capturing unique characters, discovering off-the-beaten-path stories, and finding new ways to talk about old problems. Wilkinson-Ray can build a team around a budget and creative direction and carry a piece from concept development through post-production. Mostly, he enjoys a challenge and a good story that needs to be told. Wilkinson-Ray is based in Aspen, Colorado. www.earthxfilmfestival.org