Photos from “Denizens of the Steep” in the 2021-22 BCFF program.
Wild stories are told to connect individuals, communities, organizations, businesses, and more.
Too often those connections don’t reflect all of the human-powered voices in our lives and outdoor spaces.
Connection is built through representation.
Presented by Winter Wildlands Alliance and Sierra Nevada, the Backcountry Film Festival Human-Powered Film Grant provides financial support for these kinds of connecting stories.
Let’s bring all voices into and out of the backcountry for all snow seasons to come.
Submission Requirements
- Human-powered stories of adventure, advocacy, adversity, and/or environment in the winter backcountry in the United States;
- Films that emphasize our collective vision for recreating outdoors;
- Stories told by voices not typically seen on-screen or shared widely;
- In any stage of production where the grant would get the film to screening-status by Oct 1, 2022.
The Nitty Gritty
- Open to any and all types of filmmakers and films based in the United States under 20 minutes.
- Submissions will be open from February 1 – March 15, 2022, with notifications in April 2022.
- Submissions are required to include a film treatment, budget, current partners + athletes involved, and production timeline. Video sample or trailer are also appreciated depending on the current status of your project. We prefer password-protected Vimeo links for our jury as opposed to direct download links.
- Submissions should have a direct connection to the BCFF and Winter Wildlands’ missions.
- Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.
- If you do not meet grant deadlines, the grant cash of up to $7,500 will be refunded in full to Backcountry Film Festival, Winter Wildlands Alliance, and Sierra Nevada.
- We do not fund completed projects or impact campaigns.
If you are the recipient of our Human-Powered Film Grant, we expect the following:
- Regular updates on progress, at least once monthly.
- Backcountry Film Festival, Sierra Nevada, and Winter Wildlands Alliance logos and/or name recognition in the opening of the film and project credits.
- Rights to screen and world premiere status at the 2022 Backcountry Film Festival premiere screening in Boise, ID.
- Rights to submit film to other outdoor Festivals together.
How to Submit
Please email info@backcountryfilmfestival.org with the following:
- Film treatment
- Budget
- Current partners + athletes involved
- Production timeline
- Video sample or trailer are also appreciated depending on the current status of your project. We prefer password-protected Vimeo links for our jury as opposed to direct download links.
Questions? Email Backcountry Film Festival, Director Melinda Quick: mquick@winterwildlands.org.