JACKSON, Wyo. — Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited, Coombs Outdoors and local filmmakers Sofía Jaramillo and Jr Rodriguez invite the Jackson Hole community to the first-ever Mountains of Color Film Festival (MOCFF) on Monday, June 5 at the Center for the Arts.

The short film showcase has something for everyone and features a variety of voices and perspectives and an array of outdoor sports. The lineup includes a unique set of award-winning short films centering BIPOC+ (Black, Indigenous, People of Color and LGTBQIA+) voices and stories. 

The festival is a place to share, learn and celebrate stories not typically featured in mainstream mountain town culture and outdoor film festivals. The joy showcased through the stories of BIPOC+ people connecting with the mountains and the outdoors through fly fishing, mountain biking, skiing, surfing and running is meant to inspire our community of Jackson Hole, WY to explore these connections for themselves and create a welcoming and inclusive culture for all. 

MOCFF is the first film festival of its kind and a unique opportunity to learn about different perspectives while supporting non-profits that increase conservation and diversity, equity and inclusion in the outdoors. 

“As filmmakers of color, we know firsthand the barriers to entry for BIPOC+ into the outdoor film industry,” said Sofía Jaramillo, National Geographic Photographer and Filmmaker.

“On about 99% of the shoots I get hired for, I am the only person of color behind the camera. In addition, films directed by people of color or women are more likely to have smaller budgets compared to films directed by white men. According to UCLA’s 2022 Hollywood Diversity Report, while minorities make up 43 percent of the U.S. population, only three out of 10 directors are people of color. We’re putting on this event to not only showcase stories about BIPOC+, but also create more spaces for BIPOC+ filmmakers to shine and see their work highlighted.”

“We want our stories to be told by and for our communities,” said Jr Rodriguez, Filmmaker and Photographer. “Mountains of Color started because we are not going to wait for an established festival to create a space for our joy to radiate. Our stories are on mountain tops, in city parks and streets, on the coastal waves, and everywhere in between…we’re not only highlighting these types of stories but inviting the people behind the camera to speak about their experience with the outdoor film industry.”

Doors open for the event at 5:30 p.m. on June 5. Attendees can enjoy beverages, food by InSeason pizza, water and educational fish activities with Trout Unlimited including a raffle that benefits TU and Coombs Outdoors’ new partnership. The films begin at 6:30 p.m. Each film set will feature a Q&A with panelists from the film lineup who will be traveling to Jackson for the event.

“As a Korean-American fish biologist and conservationist, I haven’t always seen myself or other people of color represented in outdoors or fly fishing media, so it’s incredibly heartening to be part of this sea change and to be able to celebrate all these wonderful stories,” said Leslie Bahn Steen, NW Wyoming program director for Trout Unlimited. “We are excited to be involved in bringing the Mountains of Color Film Festival to the Jackson Hole community and are grateful to everyone for supporting Trout Unlimited’s efforts to collaborate with Coombs Outdoors.”

The films in the lineup showcase directors, producers and leads from BIPOC+ backgrounds:

  • “Wading for Change” (fly fishing) – A Mexican-American angler’s story of learning to love the outdoors in Houston, Texas, and Jackson, Wyoming
  • “The Blackcountry Journal” (skiing) – A poetic expression of art, jazz, skiing and black culture
  • “Black People Don’t Do That” (surfing) – A unique and unfiltered look into one Black man’s perspective on surfing and the water
  • “Practicing Freedom” (mountain biking) – A joyful share on building safe communities for women of color and queer folks through mountain biking
  • “Limitless” (running) – One woman’s desire to share the experiences of Black and brown runners  in a way that’s never been done
  • “Soñadora” (running/skiing) – An immigrant’s perspective on existing, running and skiing in outdoor spaces shared through poetry and motion
  • “Attack and Release” (fly fishing) – A beautiful reminder of the importance of mindfulness and living with an open heart through fly fishing, health and food
  • “Charlie” (fly fishing) -A lighthearted family story about building a business and celebrating fishing in Belize
  • “Anglers Driving Change” (fly fishing/conservation) – How one man seeks to drive change through information, education and shared love of all things wild in conservation.

For more information, please visit the MOCFF event page or the Center for the Arts page. 

MOCFF is sponsored by the Bronco Wild Fund (Title Sponsor), Jackson Trout Unlimited, Coombs Outdoors, Teton County Library, Bank of Jackson Hole, Stio, Flylords, JD High Country Outfitters, Protect Our Winters, Orvis, the Town of Jackson and raffle donations from Deuter and REI. 

Thanks to generous sponsors and a desire to make the event accessible for everyone in the community, the event is free but ticketed with a suggested donation of $15. Visit this link to get tickets.

This event was made possible by: