Backcountry Film Festival returns to Bishop, Mammoth
Proceeds benefit snowschool for local students
Local conservation nonprofit Friends of the Inyo (FOI) is bringing back the Backcountry Film Festival in 2024.
The public is invited to join FOI in Bishop or Mammoth Lakes for a night full of winterinspired stories on film selected by the Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA).
The event will take place as follows:
In Bishop, at the Bishop Twin Theater, 237 N. Main St., from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, and
In Mammoth Lakes, at the U.S. Forest Service Welcome Center, 2510 Main St., from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27.
According to the WWA website, winterwildlands. org, “The Backcountry
Film Festival manifests the power of humans and their spirit. We screen cinematic stories of outdoor stewardship, grassroots policy and advocacy work, backcountry adventure, and snow cinema by human-powered advocates, athletes, brands, activists, adventures, and outdoor enthusiasts.”
The 19th Annual Backcountry Film Festival lineup features short films about athletic pursuits in the mountains, artistic vision, friendship, and how the snow-sports community is adapting to change.
Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online at FriendsoftheInyo. org/Events.
All proceeds from the festival, which besides ticket sales will include the sale of local brews on tap and raffle tickets for items from generous local sponsors, will help fund SnowSchool, an outdoor education program offered free of charge to local elementary schools by
Friends of the Inyo in partnership with the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association and using the WWA SnowSchool curriculum.
Friends of the Inyo Stewardship Director Lindsay Butcher described the program this way: “SnowSchool is an outdoor classroom that gets kids outside and playing in, learning about, and interacting with their local snowy environments. It is a hands-on learning experience that ignites their curiosity and creativity. The smiles of joy and discovery on the faces of SnowSchool students are priceless!”
Indeed, Inyo and Mono County fifth graders all bundled up in puffy jackets, mittens, and hats learn how to strap on snowshoes, then have fun
romping around in the snow as they dig snow shelters, study snow crystals, and learn about their watershed, including snow-to-water ratios.
“Once we get a deep enough base layer (fingers crossed for some substantial snow sometime soon!) we will be hosting SnowSchool in Aspendell at Cardinal Village in the Bishop area, and in Mammoth at the USFS Welcome Center,” Butcher said.
For more information about the Backcountry Film Festival or SnowSchool may be directed to FOI Stewardship Director Lindsay Butcher at Lindsay@friendsoftheinyo. org.