Films came from across the globe, but at the end of Mountainfilm weekend, the people’s choice went to two flicks homegrown in Telluride. Local filmmakers shared the 2007 People’s Choice Award, while top honors and Best of Festival award went to our northern neighbors for “Edge of Eden: Living With Grizzlies” by Canadian filmmakers Jeff and Sue Turner.
Local filmmakers Ben Knight and Travis Rummel won the People’s Choice Award with “Running Down the Man,” a short film tracking fisherman Frank Smethurst on a deserted Baja coast chasing the elusive rooster fish—by foot and fly rod. George and Beth Gage shared this award with “Our Land, Our Life,” the story of two Western Shoshone sisters who fought the U.S. government all the way to the Supreme Court for rights to their land.
“Edge of Eden” won for its story of Charlie Russell, a Canadian grizzly bear expert who is saving orphaned grizzly cubs from unhealthy Russian zoo conditions and training them to survive in the wild on the Southern Kamchatka Peninsula. He is both protecting the grizzlies and the peninsula’s environment.
They were tough choices all around, but the Mountainfilm jury narrowed films down to these top picks.
Best Of Festival...Edge of Eden
People’s Choice Award...Our Land, Our Life & Running Down the Man
Director Of The Festival Award...Loop
Special Jury Award...God Grew Tired of Us & Aerialist
Must-See Films—Category: Indomitable Spirit
- Row Hard No Excuses
- Granny D Goes to Washington
- Crawl Walk Run
- Conviction
Must See—Category: Wake-Up Call
- Sharkwater
- Everything’s Cool
- A Crude Awakening
Best Action Film...Roam
Best Climbing Film...First Ascent
Spirit & Advocacy...Our Land, Our Life
Man & Nature Award...Conflict Tiger
Best Adventure Film...Coast to Coast
Spirit Of Place Award...Light at the Edge of the World: The Science of Mind
Best Environmental Film...Building the Future—Energy
River and Water Conservation Award...Exploring the Mother of Waters: Source to Sea on Meckong
The Charlie Fowler Memorial Award...E11
Mountain Culture Award...Nine Winters Old
Kidz Kino Wrangler Awards
Most Entertaining Nature Film...Ride of the Mergansers
Best Animated Film...Badgered
Best Photography In A Nature Film...Safari
Honorable Mention...Rita
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