Operation Moffat
2015 USA / Duration: 20 mins / Directed by: Claire Carter, Jen Randall
Long before “dirtbag climber” was an archetype, Gwen Moffat exemplified it. As a young woman in the 1940s, the pioneering British climber pieced together work, camped in barns, hitchhiked from crag to crag, bathed in icy lakes, went days without food, deserted the Army and rearranged her life to maximize time spent scaling rock. She went on to become Britain’s first female mountain guide, as well as a mother, writer and force to be reckoned with. With a rope around her waist and bare feet, she eschewed the path society told her to take in favor of an enduring and adventurous love affair with the mountains. In Operation Moffat, young climbers Claire Carter and Jen Randall chronicle Moffat’s life, gleaning crucial lessons about sacrifice, passion, love and rock from the 91-year-old legend.
Mot Nord
2016 Norway / Duration: 10 mins / Directed by: Jorn Nyseth Ranum
Ice, driftwood, foamy waves and … skateboards? In this poetic short film by Jørn Nyseth Ranum, four skaters head north to the cold Norwegian coast, applying their urban skills to a wild canvas of beach flotsam, frozen sand and pastel skies. The result is a beautiful mashup — biting winds and short days, ollies and one ephemeral quarterpipe.
Grey
2016 USA / Duration: 3 mins / Directed by: Brendan Calder, Tyler Haft
Breaking the stereotype of Adrenaline, a beautifully shot film of ankle-high waves can be brilliant when done with thoughtful artistry and the right skills on a longboard.
The Accord
2016 Iceland / Duration: 18 mins / Directed by: RC Cone
Iceland is an island in the very north Atlantic where the wind is unpredictable at best, where perfect waves are almost as rare as albino elephants and where frigid temps require a full wetsuit arsenal.
When We Were Knights
2016 USA / Duration: 12 mins / Directed by: Anson Fogel
Understanding that his life was threaded with risk, climber and BASE jumper Matt Blank embarked on a project: writing letters to his closest friends and family to let them know how much they meant to him. That way, he figured, if his life were cut short he’d leave something behind to express his affection. What he didn’t expect was that one of the recipients — his best friend and longtime climbing partner Ian Flanders — would go first. When We Were Knights, an elegiac film by Anson Fogel, explores friendship, partnership, adventure and the many iterations of love that give meaning to our lives.
Mile 19
2016 USA / Duration: 10 mins / Directed by: Vincent DeLuca
Since the inception of the Los Angeles marathon in 1986, 178 runners have completed every race. They’re called “Legacy Runners.” Johnnie Jameson is a member of this special group, but he’s not an elite runner: He’s a working man, a postal employee. But what he lacks in speed, he makes up in creativity. He ran his first marathon backward, finishing in last place. He dribbled a basketball the next year. Each race, wearing his signature Payless shoes, he stops and talks and takes his sweet time. And over the years, the marathon has become a form of therapy for Jameson, who was scarred deeply from serving as an infantryman in Vietnam. The annual challenge of running 26.2 miles has helped him cope, grow and recover from those traumatic experiences. “It’s not about how long you out there, it’s about completing the race,” he says. “You gotta grind it out, because life ain’t nothing but a grind.” This poignant film from Vincent DeLuca conveys a lifetime of lessons in 10 short minutes, spinning a powerful story of resilience, humor and healing.
Guest Speaker
Johnnie Jameson, Star of Mile 19
The Festival Pass grants access to all screenings and opening night party, priority seating, transferable to friends and family.
