JACKSON, Wyo. — Anna Gibson, the Jackson-born mountain runner, will make her Olympic debut next month when ski mountaineering appears for the first time at the Winter Games in Cortina, Italy.
Before she travels to Europe as part of Team USA, though, Gibson will take the stage at AlpinFilm, the Teton Climbers’ Coalition’s annual celebration of mountain cinema, to share her love of public lands—and the role adventure athletes can play in protecting them.
Gibson is one of three Teton-area athletes helping to shape the direction of AlpinFilm 2026. She is joined by fellow Jackson native and acclaimed illustrator Kelly Halpin, and professional kayaker and Arctic explorer Erik Boomer, who lives in Teton Valley, Idaho. Together, the trio helped inform this year’s focus on public lands and stewardship.
Titled “For the love of the Land“, the fourth annual AlpinFilm will take place Jan 16 and 17 in person at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts and virtually online.
The festival will feature its signature mix of award-winning adventure films and community gatherings, unified this year by a central question: how we care for the lands and waters that make our adventures possible.
In addition to film programs on Friday and Saturday nights, more than a dozen partner organizations—including the Wyoming Outdoor Council, the Snake River Fund, and the Teton Backcountry Alliance—will offer attendees simple, tangible ways to support public lands and waters.
The festival will also feature a love-letter initiative that invites community members and attendees to write six-word tributes to their favorite public lands and waters. Select entries will appear on the big screen throughout the weekend. The winning entry will receive a cash prize of $1,000.
Programming begins Friday with a panel discussion at the Black Diamond store on Pearl Street exploring how adventure, access, and stewardship can coexist.
On Saturday, a three-hour workshop presented by the Jackson Hole Writers and led by writer and public-lands advocate Frederick Reimers will equip traditional writers, outdoor journalists, and digital creators with tools to craft concise, compelling stories that inspire stewardship.
Later that afternoon, AlpinFilm will host the world premiere of A Life Outside, a documentary exploring the legacy of mountaineer, educator, and conservationist Paul Petzoldt, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Center for the Arts.
“At a moment when access, climate impacts, and shifting policies are reshaping the landscapes where we recreate, protecting our public lands has never been more important,” said Festival Director Christian Beckwith. “On January 16–17, we want to celebrate the lands we love—and share the ways we can protect them.”
AlpinFilm 2026 is made possible with support from the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures, AJ’s Electric, Desert Mountain Medicine, and Teton Mountaineering.
The 2026 AlpinFilm Festival features an action-packed program that explores stewardship, adventure and the future of our public lands
Friday Jan. 16 program
- Public Lands Panel from 4 to 5 p.m.
Location: Black Diamond
A community conversation on how adventure, access, and stewardship can coexist. - Opening Night Social with Silent Auction & Partner Tables from 6 to 7 p.m.
Location: Center for the Arts
Kick off the festival with a silent auction and tables hosted by public lands and conservation partners. Attendees can learn about local and regional efforts and find real ways to get involved in public lands advocacy. - AlpinFilm Screenings from 7 to 10 p.m.
Location: Center for the Arts
Opening night films, intermission, and a short public lands conversation tied to the Six-Word Love Letters project.
Check out the full list of films here.
Saturday Jan. 17 program
- Storytelling as Stewardship Writers Workshop from 9 to 11 a.m.
Location: Center for the Arts
A hands-on workshop in partnership with the Jackson Hole Writers focused on using story to inspire care and action. - World Premiere: A Life Outside from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Center for the Arts
A special matinee screening of Mat Hames’ never before seen film A Life Outside: American Mountain Guides, followed by a conversation with the filmmakers and community leaders about legacy, mentorship, and the future of outdoor recreation. - Evening Social, Silent Auction & Partner Tables from 6 to 7 p.m.
Location: Center for the Arts
Another chance to connect with partners, bid on auction items, and take action for public lands. - AlpinFilm Screenings from 7 to 10 p.m.
Location: Center for the Arts
Final night of films, discussion, and closing stories.
Check out the full list of films here.
Love letter contest for $1,000
A six-word love letter is exactly what it sounds like: six words that capture how you feel about a place you care about. It can be quiet or bold. Personal or playful. Poetic or plain. What matters is that it’s yours.
How to participate
- Write a six-word love letter to your favorite public lands or waters.
- Post it on Instagram with a photo from that place.
- Use the hashtags #LoveTheLand and #NotForSale.
Posts shared by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, may be featured during AlpinFilm’s opening pre-rolls on Jan 16–17 in Jackson Hole.
