Outdoor adventure films are returning to Mancos this fall, for the third annual Mancos Valley River Film Festival.
The two-day event is hosted by Mancos Valley Resources, with proceeds going toward MVR and the Mancos Conservation District, which will use the funds for a cleanup of the Mancos River and to build a science station at the Mancos Middle School.
“We showcase both national and local films, and offer a mix of exciting, action-packed stories with conservation-focused films,” said MVR board vice president Lizzy Scully in a statement. “I’m more excited about this year’s roster than I’ve ever been.”
The festival will happen Sept. 27-28. Alpacka Raft, Four Corners Guides, and Osprey Packs are other sponsors.
The event was started in 2017 as a fundraiser to support workers who lost their jobs after the Western Excelsior Corp. mill burned down. The first year highlighted short documentaries about pack rafting and other river sports, and then expanded last year to feature films about “bikes and boats.”
This year, the festival’s main features will revolve around the water.
Friday night, the festival will take over the Mancos Brewing Co. The films showcased will include a short piece on the Mancos River, along with “Glen Canyon Rediscovered” and “The Important Places.” The Glen Canyon film traces a sea kayaking journey to the Utah canyon, while “The Important Places” focuses on a 28-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon that the filmmaker took with his father.
The second night will see a change of venue, as the festival moves to the Mancos Opera House. The Mancos River film will be shown again, along with a short on author and activist Katie Lee and “The Weight of Water,” a documentary detailing the voyage of Erik Weihenmayer, a blind man who solo kayaks through the Grand Canyon.
A live auction will also happen on Saturday night. After the films, attendees are also invited to head over to Fenceline Cidery for live music until 11 p.m.
Scully said she hopes to continue the momentum from previous festivals, which drew about 500 people and raised just under $20,000.
“It’s going to be a fantastic event this year,” she said.
Tickets are $20 for both nights in advance, and are $15 per night at the door. The festival will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and at 7 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, visit the Mancos Valley River Film Festival website.
ealvero@the-journal.com