Carbondale Hosts 19th Annual 5Point Adventure Film Festival

The sun sets over Carbondale, casting a warm orange glow over the crowded streets. People of all ages, dressed in outdoor gear, mingle and chat, still buzzing from the 19th Annual Flagship 5Point Adventure Film Festival. That's what happens when over 3,000 folks gather to celebrate adventure, strength, and community - the energy is palpable.

This year's festival, which took place last week, showcased around 40 films, each one selected to inspire and motivate the audience. And, as 5Point Executive Director Aisha Weinhold notes, it was a resounding success - "the 5Point community rallied and delivered an experience that the team and I are incredibly proud of." The festival's smooth operation is a credit to the hard work of the internal team, volunteers, and special guests who came together to make it happen. Not exactly a small feat, considering the number of people involved and the complexity of the event.

As the festival came to a close, the jury panel, comprising Eric Dunn, Katie Stejrnholm, and Steve Scott, got to work selecting the winning films. And, on Tuesday, 5Point announced the winners in a news release. "Best Day Ever," directed by Ben Knight and Berne Broudy, took home not one, but two awards - the People's Choice Award and the Best of Festival Award. Here's the thing though: this film is more than just a winner - it's a story about building resilience and grit in community, and that's something that resonates deeply with the 5Point audience.

"We are truly humbled, and the recognition is significant for a microfunded, grassroots project like ours," Director Broudy said, clearly thrilled with the win. And, as Weinhold pointed out, "At its core, Best Day Ever is a story about... making the world a better place for others within and beyond our shared circles." The film tells the tale of the world's first fully adaptive mountain bike trail network, The Driving Range, and adaptive mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi - a truly inspiring story.

Other winners included "Old Man Lightning," which took home the Best Editing award, and "Home," which won Best Cinematography. "Wild Ice" received the Pure Joy award, while "Artic Alchemy" won the Hayden Kennedy Award. And, two films - "Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage" and "The Last First: Winter K2" - received honorable jury mentions. Picture this: a room full of people, all passionate about adventure and the outdoors, coming together to celebrate the best of the best in filmmaking - that's what the 5Point Film Festival is all about.

As Weinhold said, "OLAUG is fun and irreverent, a shining example of how when you turn passion to action, you can accomplish great things and have fun doing it." And, of "The Last First," she noted, "this story captures the entire essence of humanity - which is no small feat." That's what makes the 5Point Film Festival so special - it's not just about the films; it's about the community, the passion, and the inspiration that comes with it.

The festival may be over, but the impact of these films will be felt for a long time to come. As Director Broudy said, "People take notice when films win awards at 5Point... We hope that it will continue to grow the interest in the film and in building and retrofitting trails and infrastructure to be more welcoming to more people." And that matters because, for folks around here, the outdoors is not just a hobby - it's a way of life.

The sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the town of Carbondale. The streets are quiet now, but the energy of the festival still lingers - a reminder of the power of community and the inspiration that comes with celebrating adventure and the outdoors.