Mark your calendars for the 25th annual MOUNTAINFILM in Telluride festival May 23-26, 2003 in Telluride, Colorado. America's premier festival of mountain, adventure, cultural and environmental film and video will stage its largest festival ever over Memorial Day weekend.

The Festival combines the screening of appoximately 80 films in five venues with a major symposium, book signings, gallery shows, ethnic food, open-air lectures and the biggest birthday party Telluride has seen in a long time. Each year the Festival revolves around a major theme and several minor ones. This year's major theme is "Nepal: Tourism, Terrorism and Tragedy," and it will be anchored by a day-long symposium in the historic Sheridan Opera House, featuring speakers from Nepal and around the world.

The 2003 Festival also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt. Everest, the 40th anniversary of the first ascent of K2, and the 25th anniversary of the first American ascent of K2.

Other symposium themes include photojournalism (especially as it relates to war); peace and conflict resolution; the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; the role of individuals in land conservation; retrospectives of the work of the late Galen Rowell and Robert Fulton; and a look back at 25 years of MOUNTAINFILM and its favorite guests.

This year MOUNTAINFILM will expand to Mountain Village, located 13 minutes away from Telluride by a free passenger gondola. In celebration of its 25th birthday, the Festival also will expand to include free screenings of films for one and all in downtown Telluride during several evenings prior to the official opening on May 23.

Festival passes go on sale March 15. Visit www.mountainfilm.org for updates on films, special guests and programs, and to purchase passes and make lodging reservations.

MOUNTAINFILM is dedicated to educating, entertaining and inspiring local and global audiences with a breadth of ideas about issues that matter, worlds and cultures worth exploring, environments worth preseving and conversations worth sustaining.

MOUNTAINFILM in Telluride is presented with the help of these generous sponsors: Mountain Village Metro Services, The Town of Telluride, Telluride Commission on Arts and Special Events, National Geographic Television and Film, The Telluride Foundation, Colorado Council on The Arts, The Nature Conservancy of Colorado, Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, New Belgium Brewing Co., Just For Kids Foundation, Alpine Lodging, Miranda Productions, Telluride Sports, Telluride Ski and Golf Company, and Nevasca Realty.

Contact: Hal Clifford, Executive Director
970.728.4123 / info@mountainfilm.org

— MountainZone.com Staff