Ben Sturgulewski’s film “Champions of the Golden Valley” takes place in the remote mountains of Afghanistan where a determined coach, Alishah Farhang, organizes a ski race that unites the community in a moment of joy and triumph just before the country’s collapse. The film will screen at the 5Point Film Festival in Carbondale on April 25.
In 2007, Climbing Magazine founder Julie Kennedy launched a one-night event in Carbondale featuring adventure films. Taking inspiration from a climbing term, she called it the 5Point Adventure Film Festival.
What began as a homegrown affair now spans four days and is one of the most respected festivals for outdoor, mountain and adventure short films (with an occasional feature-length film in the mix) in the world.
The 18th annual festival happens April 24-27. 5Point Film announced its lineup this week. Tickets and program information are available now on 5pointfilm.org.
5Point Film champions the best documentary films in the world that entertain, inspire, connect and educate audiences about their environment and the outdoors. Guided by five principles — commitment, respect, humility, purpose and balance — 5Point Film seeks to build community and inspire change through visual storytelling, engaging dialogue and acting as a beacon for global stewardship.
“This year’s festival will feature 39 films spanning topics of adventure, outdoor recreation and important issues related to the Roaring Fork Valley community,” said Aisha Weinhold, interim executive director at 5Point Film, in an interview. “Attendees can expect a weekend filled with inspiring films, thought-provoking conversations and community-driven experiences that celebrate adventure in all its forms.
“Thematically, one of the things that comes through with our lineup this year is the force and the power that joy has in adventure sports. Sometimes it’s nice to remove yourself from the more goal-oriented approach to adventure and revel in the pure love of the moment. There is a definite through line of joy in the films this year.”
The 5Point Film Festival will present the Colorado premiere of the film “Row of Life,” the incredible journey of Marine Corps veteran and world record-holding ocean rower Angela Madsen, chronicling her solo and unassisted row across the Pacific. The film is one of 39 films that will be presented at this year’s 5Point Film Festival in Carbondale, set for April 24-27.
Weinhold is currently serving as co-director of the festival alongside Luis Yllanes, who will be leaving his job as executive director later this year.
“This is an opportunity for me to get mentorship from Luis before he moves on,” Weinhold said. “I’ve worked in film festivals for a long time, and I’m from Carbondale so it definitely feels very full circle to be coming back to 5Point.”
5Point Film will present two feature-length films this year, including “Champions of the Golden Valley,” a critically acclaimed movie that takes place in the remote mountains of Afghanistan where a newfound passion for skiing attracts young athletes from rival villages to the slopes. With minimal gear and makeshift wooden skis, determined coach Alishah Farhang organizes a ski race like no other that unites the community in a moment of joy and triumph, just before the country’s collapse.
The film has won awards at festivals all over the world. The Port Townsend Film Festival in Washington presented the film with its Jury Award, saying, “For its mesmerizing visual aesthetic, cinematic vibrancy, and distinct stylistic perspective, this film wonderfully captures the humor, joy and sense of freedom on the slopes of Afghanistan set against the constricting reality of a refugee and his family’s existence.”
5Point Film will welcome special guests, including Jedidiah Jenkins, a bestselling author and adventurer. He will host a conversation on stepping away from screens and into nature to cultivate creativity and purpose. He also will present two films in the program — “Miles Between Us, Miles to Go,” in which he embarks on a road trip across the Canadian Rockies with his mother and her best friend, and “If I Disappear,” in which he retreats to a remote mountain shed for eight weeks to see if he can reclaim his focus.
This year’s Saturday night party will feature The Charities from Los Angeles. They are a band of six brothers from Southern California whose music draws influence from the funk and soul sounds of Motown, to jazz, disco, R&B with a hint of jam oriented rock.
On Sunday, the festival presents “5 Point Family Day,” featuring a family friendly film program that starts at noon at the Carbondale Recreation Center, followed by a free ice cream social. The film program and ice cream social is a “pay what you can” event, free for children 12 and under.
5Point Film will debut a new event this year, the 5Point Obstacle Course in which festivalgoers can participate in an interactive obstacle course with prizes from festival sponsors.
Weinhold said she hopes the festival will leave viewers with an overwhelming sense of inspiration that they can do anything they set out to achieve.
“That would be my hope that people, and especially young people, walk away with a very real idea that they can accomplish whatever they set their mind to,” she said. “I hope we inspire them to like, get out, and especially now to get out and get outside and and interact with our public land and natural spaces while we’ve got them.”