This year, we were excited to partner with the Trail Running Film Festival (TRFF) to create and lead the film selection process for the 2024 Global Film Tour. Centered on our shared values of inclusivity, creativity, diversity, and adventure, we were honored to establish a Film Selection Committee and review process that represented the diverse trail-running community we desire. Our Film Selection Committee was deeply moved and inspired by the submitted films, and we were thrilled to see the below 8 films be included in this year’s Official Film Festival.
Upcoming Events:
The next two TRFF screenings take place on April 19 at 6pm in San Marcos, CA at Double Peak Brewing Co. and April 24 at 6pm in Ventura, CA at Topa Topa Brewing Co. These events also function as fundraisers for Runners For Public Lands, and so if you’re unable to attend either of the screenings and want to continue supporting our work, you can make a tax-deductible donation here. We thank you for every form of support.
About the Films:
Izta, produced by Rabbitwolf Creative (10 min)
Laura Cortez is a trail runner born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. Despite being born into a Mexican-American family, she was never able to fully discover her Mexican cultural identity as her father, Richard Cortez, steered her towards embracing her American roots. Richard’s passing in 2022 led Laura down a path of self-exploration that included a flurry of trips to Amecameca, the mountain town her father grew up in and home to two of the highest peaks in North America, Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl. In an effort to further discover the land and culture that shaped the generations before her, Laura set out to establish an FKT on a route from the city of Amecameca to the summit of Iztaccíhuatl — 17,129-feet above sea level. Her journey towards the peak led her in a direction she had always wanted to go but never knew which path to follow until she immersed herself within her family’s history.
Know To Run: Yatika, produced by Jordan Marie Whetstone and Devin Whetstone (10min)
Know To Run represents the opportunities for gaining knowledge, carrying that knowledge and implementing what you’ve learned and best, respectful practices into our own lives to be a good relative to ourselves, to each other, and with the lands. This film celebrates all the firsts (first land acknowledgement, first Indigenous made poster, first Indigenous runners panel) and continues this kinship into 2024. The Know to Run discussion will hit on themes of “what are land acknowledgements” and what it means to go beyond, their importance, the inclusion of local Indigenous communities being part of the conversations, making the running and outdoor community a more accessible and equitable place, and what the consultation process looks like.
Red Needle, produced by Dom Bush and Simon Sylvester (6min)
Ultra-runner Sarah Gerrish lost one ovary to cancer at 15 and the second to surgery at 36, plunging her directly into surgical menopause and a bewildering world of HRT, brain fog and loneliness. Red Needle explores the stigma, trauma and lessons learned from Sarah’s life-changing experience.
Brian Reynolds: The Leadville Trail 100, produced by Michael Grasela (16 min)
Brian Reynolds is a double amputee below the knee athlete who grew up overcoming many challenges in his life but never had a role model he could look up to. In this doc, Brian attempts the famous Leadville 100 Ultra Trail Marathon out in Colorado in order to advocate for all para athletes that nothing is impossible.
Run Like a Kid, produced by Guy Tucker (1min)
This short film explores what running means to one child and reveals lessons all runners can take to the trail.
Girls Run Ultras, produced by Ellie Windham, Christine Rivera (15min)
A journey that follows the all women’s running collective, Girls Run NYC as they push themselves individually and unitedly collectively through The Black Canyon Ultra Marathon in 2022.
Well Worn Life with Dani Reyes-Acosta, produced Daniel Mitchell and Trent Sugg (6min)
Meet Dani Reyes-Acosta: a mountain athlete, land cultivator, and storyteller whose path consistently seeks the limits of her possibility. Dani is a visceral example of how self-care and self-determination can harmonize via the outdoors.
Now, produced bySteven Mortinson (20 min)
Long-time ultrarunner Yassine Diboun confronts the shadows and turmoil of his past while preparing to take on the Hardrock 100.
More information about the 2024 Film Selection Committee:
The 2024 TRFF Film Selection Committee will be co-lead by RPL’s Founder and Co-President of the Board of Directors, Vic Thasiah, and RPL’s Managing Director, Kathleen Baker. Film Selection Committee members include:
- Verna Volker: Native Women Running
- Nicole Amyx: Documentary Filmmaker and Editor
- Zachary Friedley: Athlete and Executive Director, Mendocino Movement
- Alison Marie Désir: Athlete, Activist, and Author of Running While Black
- Wookie Kim: Legal Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi
- Nick Danielson: Filmmaker and Outdoor Arts and Recreation Board of Directors
- Laura Cortez: Athlete and Co-Leader of Trailtinos
- John Meadows: US Business Sales Director, Salomon
- Stephen Efner: Executive Committee, RPL Board of Directors
- Trent Banks – Aspire Adventure Running and Outdoor Arts and Recreation Board of Directors