Photo by Joey Schusler (@joeyschusler)

Do you have a film that embodies the joy of being in the backcountry? Does it take place in winter?  Are you using human power in your adventure? Submit your film today for FREE with code HUMANPOWER to be considered for the 2026-27 in-person and virtual tour.

What is the Backcountry Film Festival?

Presented by Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Backcountry Film Festival celebrates the spirit of human-powered adventure — through stories that connect us to wild places, to each other, and to the movement to keep winter wild.

A collage of human-powered stories and backcountry-inspired experiences, Backcountry Film Festival ignites wild conversations and inspires action to communities that celebrate the present while looking towards the future of wild winters.

Every winter, the Backcountry Film Festival tours 100+ cities to raise funds for local hosts and bring backcountry communities together. Both in-person events and virtual screenings will be hosted.

What kind of stories are we looking for?

We aim to celebrate the power and spirit of humans in winter. We screen cinematic stories of outdoor stewardship, grassroots policy and advocacy work, backcountry adventure, and snow cinema by human-powered advocates, athletes, brands, activists, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts.

We like pow shots and epic skiing, but we also want to be inspired and share a good story. Tell us who you are and why you are out in the backcountry. We also love stories of conservation and environmental issues that impact winter recreation.

Here’s last season’s line-up for inspiration and alignment.

Submission Specs

Films must be between 1 to 20 minutes and tell an authentic story of backcountry, human-powered recreation in winter or environmental protection of wild snowscapes. We prefer 16:9 aspect ratio at HDTV 1920×1080 square pixels. Submitted films should either be in English or include English subtitles.

Read more and submit on FilmFreeway by September 10, 2026.

How does the tour work?

Our Festival is hosted by local retailers, Winter Wildlands Alliance grassroots group, Winter Wildlands Alliance SnowSchool sites, outdoor affinity groups, local clubs, and many more local community organizations.

Funds raised at locally hosted screenings stay in the local community to support human-powered recreation and conservation efforts, winter education and avalanche/safety programs and to raise awareness of winter management issues.