Chris Alstrin is an independent filmmaker who has been directing and producing documentary and adventure filmsformorethan10years. Chris works with some of the top climbers in the world and focuses on a wide range of subjects from first ascent alpine climbs in the Himalayas to conservationist groups in the United States. Whether he’s crafting a three- minute web short or a film festival full feature, Chris loves making films.

Skip Armstrong’s eyes will melt your soul, his editing will jump- start your heart, and his voice would draw wayward ships to crash along the rocky shores of Baja California. Did we mention he can dance? What’s more, Skip is an award- winning freelance director and cinematographer who has worked with clients including National Geographic, New Belgium Brewery, Forge Motion Pictures, NRS, Ben Moon, The Associated Press, Patagonia, and more.

Three Aspen, Colorado- based high school students—Ross Pingatore, Wyatt Young, and Arthur Kelso—are pursuing their passion for film by squeezing in as much time as possible to shoot and edit in between the demands of school, homework and the like. Focusing on topics that vary from hockey to depression in teenagers, this trio is already creating some great films.

Professional motocross racer Aaron Baker broke three cervical vertebrae in his neck in a crash in 1999. Aaron remembers becoming instantly aware of the new path his life would take. He would no longer be able to race professionally, skate, surf, snowboard, mountain bike, or fish as he always had. But instead of letting this bring him down, he recognized that he was destined for far greater things; namely, he saw a newfound ability to bring hope and inspiration to people of all kinds through his own experience with adversity.

Fitz Cahall’s thinking is shaped by the years he spent living out of cars and closets. In 2007, he started an online radio show, the Dirtbag Diaries, dedicated to the tales that define our outdoor community. Today, he is the owner and creative director of Duct Tape Then Beer, a digital agency that focuses on meaningful storytelling. Fitz lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife, Becca and son, Teplin.

Two-time World Champion skier Chris Davenport is widely regarded as one of the premiere big mountain skiers in the world today. Among his ski mountaineering achievements, Chris became the first person to ski all of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in less than one year. When not traveling the globe, Chris resides in Aspen with his wife and three boys.

Kyle Dempster began climbing at the age of 12, and has gone through what he labels an “organic revolution” in his climbing. He’s dabbled in all of the various disciplines but is most efficient in the alpine climbing arena. Despite this fact, he still “loves to flail miserably on boulder problems.” Kyle makes his way through life with the belief that being dedicated to a passion— while both accepting and actively pursuing the unknown—are the key ingredients for human expansion and growth.

Anson Fogel’s childhood, spent in the rural mountain west devouring books, music, and movies, led to a lifelong passion for film. Today, he is known as a director with over 20 major film festival awards, including the Grand Prize and three separate awards from Banff 2011, Grand Prize at New Zealand, The Fowler Award at Telluride, The Camera prizes at Tento and Gratz and many more. Anson’s style is known for being emotive and ephemeral while firmly rooted in the natural world.

Alex Honnold started climbing around age 11 and, after climbing primarily indoors until the age of 18, he dropped out of college to pursue climbing outdoors full time. Though he likes climbing of any kind, Alex explains that he really likes the big, tall routes, and that “the more committing it is the better the overall experience.”

Hayden Kennedy was introduced to his first multi-pitch climb (the Kor-Ingalls route on Castleton Tower) at the age of 13. The experience as he remembers it was petrifying the entire time, but rather than deter him, it merely solidified his obsession with climbing. To this day, Hayden still revels in the most challenging climbs; he draws inspiration from the struggle of a hard redpoint or the mental effort a dicey alpine lead requires. Hayden aspires every day to master all aspects of climbing.

Michael Kennedy has spent most of his 60 years drawing inspiration from his time in the mountains and is still an active rock climber, backcountry skier and cyclist. An accomplished photographer and writer, Michael worked as the editor and publisher of Climbing Magazine from 1974 to 1998. He served on the Board of Directors of the Access Fund, a climbers’ advocacy group based in Boulder, Colorado, and the Colorado Rocky Mountain School, a respected private high school in Carbondale, Colorado, and continues to volunteer with various national and local organizations. Michael lives in Carbondale, Colorado with his wife and festival founder, Julie; they are visited occasionally by their 23 year-old son, Hayden, who is also an accomplished climber.

Brendan Leonard is a climber and freelance writer whose work appears in Climbing, Backpacker, Adventure Journal, Mountain Gazette, the Dirtbag Diaries and other publications. Brendan has climbed loose rock in Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, Washington and Nevada. As a Grassroots Athlete for Outdoor Research, he prides himself on being the least- talented sponsored athlete in the outdoor industry.

Soozie Lindbloom is the Artistic Director and founder of Out of the Mud Theatre, a contemporary exploration of puppetry that merges visual arts with theater and pageantry by using puppetry as the voice of the every-being, the expression of gratitude, the outburst of joy and the beauty of remembrance. Through the creative outlets of puppetry and mask community theater, Out of the Mud strives to promote justice, equality, healing, humor, positive evolution, personal transformation and peace.

Wade Newsom is a Carbondale local who set out to live life to the fullest and push his experiences through adventure and passion. As a result, Wade is known today for being a professional cyclist, a coffee shop owner and a wordsmith by way of poetry. When it comes to the latter, Wade thinks deeply about the message, the syllables’ sounds and the rhythm of the delivery. Then he brings it to life by spoken word.

Zach is a former chief photographer of the Aspen Daily News and a professional action sports photographer and multimedia producer. As an avid skier and mountaineer, Zach aims to combine his love of the outdoors with his documentary vision. His work has been featured in The Denver Post, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Powder Magazine, Skiing Magazine, and Chilean Ski Guide.

Renan Ozturk is a climber, artist and filmmaker who tells stories by way of live short videos he publishes online throughout the expeditions he embarks on. Renan began his filmmaking career when he sold most of his possessions and moved to Moab, Utah after college. He believes that creativity and climbing go hand in hand—and continually inspires others through his unique point of view.

Born in Norwich, Vermont, Kevin Pearce honed his snowboarding skills in Vermont before turning pro. He holds numerous snowboarding titles, and was considered a leading contender for the 2010 Winter Olympics before suffering a traumatic brain injury in late 2009 while training for the Olympic Halfpipe trials.

Travis Pitcher founded the Good Line, a creative film collaborative that focuses on telling stories through short documentaries and viral videos. Good Line is composed of writers, cinematographers, musicians and artists who are fueled by a collective love of storytelling. Travis’ tale-chasing takes him around the globe in an effort to track down the best threads, wildest yams and good lines.

Joey Schusler grew up as a professional mountain bike racer and is now a 22-year-old filmmaker. His experience on both sides of the lens enables him to understand the point of view of the filmmaker and the subject like few others. His love for filmmaking spurred his desire to share stories and adventure with others—and continues to motivate his work to this day. Keep an eye for him at the festival—look for the big yellow school bus.

Austin Siadak graduated from college in 2010 and worked a desk job for one subsequent year, after which he decided to pursue a very different future for himself: embarking on an adventure to climb and hike in the mountains, valleys and mesas of the Western United States.

Anton Sponar is an accomplished ski racer and ski mountaineer. He’s raced on the slopes in Europe, as well as climbed and skied peaks throughout the United States, Alaska, Mexico, South America and Asia. Anton spent one summer on the beach in California (to his father’s dismay) but has been by his father’s side in El Arpa ever since. He’s proud to say he hasn’t seen a “real” summer in five years.

Nick Waggoner is the Director/ Producer of Sweetgrass Productions, and he tells stories through a poetic rhythm and soulful narrative. Nick has a BA in Documentary Film from Colorado College, as well as a childhood worthy of a story itself. Born in a back-alley dumpster in New York City, Nick first and foremost learned that shyness and modesty were not rewarded in the big city—and quickly learned how to talk himself out of an arrest and into an opportunity.

James Walsh began his professional career by cutting his teeth as a management consultant. Then he moved on to set up a renewable energy company, but grew frustrated with his lack of involvement in the outdoors. In May 2010, James took off on his own and set up Sinamatella Productions, an independent film production and distribution company based in Cape Town, South Africa. Through film, the company aims to celebrate the outdoors and inspire people to get back outside, whether in their own backyard or on a different continent.

Despite being a co-founder of Felt Soul Media, Travis Rummel never planned on becoming a filmmaker. However, storytelling ran in his faily and soaked in for good. The magic that is Felt Soul began when Travis and Ben Knight worked together as still photographers at the local Telluride newspaper. When the two witnessed the true power of film at the Telluride Mountain Film Festival, they decided to create a partnership centered around creating documentaries that they believed in.