Adventure Film Program 2025 - Boulder International Film Festival

Adventure Film Program

THE 2025 ADVENTURE FILM PROGRAM featured a suite of the world’s greatest new adventure films, with shorts, features, discussions with world-class adventurers and adventure filmmakers, as well as non-profit groups working on the important issues in the adventure community.

Film Schedule

Scroll down to view the 2025 film schedule.

Friday March 14, 2025

MONGOLIA, VALLEY OF THE BEARS

Jal Tumurskukh, a former hunter and poacher in the Taiga of Mongolia, has a delicate mission – in his new role as head ranger of the Red Taiga Park, he must get other hunters and poachers to stop shooting bears and abide by the laws of environmental protection in the relatively new park.

Followed by a TalkBack!

THE LAST OBSERVERS

Since 1987, Karin and Lennart watch and record the weather every third hour, day and night, seven days a week, every day of the year, from their live-in station by the lighthouse in Falsterbo, Sweden. Earning “a lousy salary, and a fantastic life,” they remain committed — not missing a single observation in 36 years. This heartwarming love story shows lasting happiness can exist in profound connection with nature. SUBTITLED

CHASING TIME

If a single photo can inspire change, how influential are a million images? Over the course of the 15-year Extreme Ice Survey project, photographer James Balog and his team brought some of the world’s first and most compelling visual evidence of climate change to the global stage as he depicted the rapid melting of glaciers around the world.

Followed by a TalkBack!

Adventure Shorts 1

A selection of award-winning short films from around the world, including:

– Never too Old
All in or Nothing
– Keep it Burning
– Jamie Logan: All in
– Miles Beyond Remission

76 DAYS ADRIFT

In 1982, Steven Callahan was on a solo trip across the Atlantic when a collision with a whale left his boat sinking in the dead of night. With the ocean surging into his vessel, Steven had only minutes to launch himself into the dark, unforgiving sea in a small, inflatable life raft with only a basic emergency kit.

CHAMPIONS OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY

In the remote mountain villages of Bamyan, Afghanistan, a newfound passion for skiing attracts young athletes from rival ethnic groups to the slopes. With minimal gear, makeshift wooden skis and a rigged tow rope, the determined ski coach, Alishah Farhang, organizes a thrilling ski race that fosters camaraderie, joy, and triumph.

Followed by a TalkBack!

Saturday March 15, 2025

BETWEEN THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SKY

In 2005 after graduating high school, Maggie Doyne embarked on a gap year in Nepal where she met Tope, a now grown Nepalese orphan, caring for orphaned children. United in purpose, Maggie and her friend Tope pooled resources to establish a children’s home.

BIG WATER THEORY

The Indus has nearly continuous Class V rapids numbering 200 throughout the gorge. Nouria is attempting the first descent of the Rondu Gorge by a woman, though few men have accomplished this amazing feat.

MOSES - 13 STEPS

Edwin Moses finds his discipline by chance and teaches himself one of the most difficult track events in athletics — the 400-meter hurdles. A historic winning streak follows: nine years, nine months, and nine days unbeaten. The film illuminates Moses’ journey from his childhood in segregated America and his formative years at Morehouse College to his iconic victories at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. Edwin Moses is a scientist, engineer, and humanitarian, an advocate of equality, fairness and integrity in sport — and one of the greatest athletes of all time.

THE FLIGHT OF BRYAN

The Flight of Bryan is the story of Bryan Allen, an unemployed amateur cyclist; Paul Maccready, a heavily-in-debt father of three; and a ragtag team of neuro-diverse outliers. They set out on a death- defying, madcap quest to solve the mystery of human powered flight and, in doing so, win the most coveted prize in aviation.

Adventure Shorts 2

A selection of award-winning short films from around the world, including:
– 2 Legs is 2 Easy
– Balances
– Dancing Warrior
– To Scale: TIME
– Beyond

Sunday March 16, 2025

TRI ME: THE SIRI LINDLEY STORY

Siri Lindley couldn’t swim, and struggled in biking and running events. She had spent a difficult childhood being raised by her mother, Astrid, and stepfather, football legend Frank Gifford, so she embarked on a desperate mission to prove herself in sports. With years of intense training, she went on to become a two-time Triathlon World Champion, a legendary coach, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world.

Followed by a TalkBack!

Adventure Shorts 3

A selection of award-winning short films from around the world, including:
– Dropping Molly
– Building the Buffalo
– The Forgotten Coast
– 
Undammed: Amy Cordalis Fight to Free the Klamath