Editor

As festival time draws near we want to share some highlights of our upcoming 30th Annual Festival May 23-26, 2008.

The world mourned the loss of Sir Edmund Hillary in January 2008. Mountainfilm honors the life and achievements of the humble mountaineer with a tribute hosted by David Breashears. Breashears will moderate the event with other notable guests, intimately related to Hillary and his profound impact on the world of exploration. Rarely seen films chronicling his life and exploits will be presented. (Photo of Sir Edmund Hillary as Mountainfilm 1991 Guest of Honor.) More here
A Sneak Peak into 2008's Festival
This year we'll continue to evolve as an impetus for change and action by exploring critical environmental, social and political issues. Some not-to-miss programming will include:
• Drilling Down: Water and the Southwest: As a special corollary to the Moving Mountains Symposium, our 2008 Festival will play host to a specific and locally relevant forum addressing water issues in the arid Southwest United States. Special attendees will be Martin Litton and Katie Lee. More here
• Hot Spots Around the World: A Foreign Policy Roundtable: Gathering some of the top names in foreign policy to look at what is happening in countries like Kenya, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and of course, Iraq.
• Contemporary Slavery: Today, 28 million people are enslaved - more than any other time in history. Modern slavery comes in many forms and is not limited to developing nations. You may be shocked to learn that human trafficking follows drug and weapon trafficking in terms of the world's largest criminal industries. More here
Attention Aspiring Filmmakers
For the second year in a row, Mountainfilm and Telluride Academy will team up to offer the Aspiring Filmmakers Program during the four-day festival weekend. The program is designed for 11th and 12th grade students who are interested in filmmaking and videography. The program will follow an engaging itinerary of film screenings, outdoor activities and intimate conversations with filmmakers.
What Our Friends have to Say...
Keep up with Mountainfilm attendees, guests, filmmakers and athletes at our Blog. We've got tales about inspiration in Nepal, free soloing, and even hostage situations in Uganda - Guest Bloggers spill thier stories every Friday...
Guests Announced for Symposium on Water
The looming global water crisis may be the largest threat ever to the health of the planet and its inhabitants. The Moving Mountains Symposium (May 23, 2008) will highlight the enormous risks we are taking with our most precious resource, as well as offer solutions on how best to take action. Moderated by noted journalist, Wade Graham, the panel will also feature Peter Gleick, Alexandra Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, Maude Barlow, Azzam Alwash, and Dennis Dimick. More here