MEDIA RELEASE  

11/7/2024  

–For Immediate Release—  

Contact:

• Michelle Kelly, Education and Events Manager, Sierra Forever (formerly Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association); [email protected]; Cell 714.595.8633
• Louis Medina, Outreach Director, Sierra Forever; [email protected];
  Cell 323.788.7447

Mountainfilm on Tour Set to Bring Adventure and Inspiration to Bishop and Mammoth Lakes this Month while Helping to Fundraise for Sierra Forever’s Education Programs

Bishop, CA — Sierra Forever, formerly Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA), invites the public to two unforgettable evening screenings of award-winning short documentary films that aim to inspire viewers to create a better world, as the annual Mountainfilm on Tour returns to Bishop and Mammoth Lakes this month. This year’s films showcase a powerful mix of outdoor exploration, environmental issues, and social justice stories.

In Bishop, the screening will take place Thursday, Nov. 14, at Bishop Twin Theatre, 237 N. Main St.; in Mammoth, the docufilms will grace the screen at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center auditorium, 2510 Main Street, on Friday, Nov. 22. For both venues, doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and showtime will be at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18 for Sierra Forever Members, $20 for non-members, if purchased online at sierraforever.org/mountainfilm-on-tour. If purchased at the door, tickets are $20 and $25 per person, respectively.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Mountainfilm on Tour back to the Eastside for another year,” Sierra Forever’s Education and Events Manager, Michelle Kelly, said. “The films in this year’s selection are all about inspiring action—whether it’s pushing our own limits or standing up for the planet and each other.  I believe the outdoors can connect us all and am excited to share this evening of connection and inspiration with the community.”

The films selected depict a diversity of lived experiences in humanity and nature: from Ghanaian women who find joy and liberation through surfing, to the challenges faced by a blind skier/rock climber/ice climber, to the recollections of an environmentalist who stopped speaking and using motorized transport for 17 years during which he traveled the world to listen to others, convinced  that listening was the way forward. A total of eight docufilms will be shown.

Proceeds from both screenings will benefit Sierra Forever’s Education Programs, through which Sierra Forever aims to educate and inspire locals and visitors of all ages to explore the Eastern Sierra and Great Basin with a view toward becoming better stewards and protectors of our region.

Attendees will also be able to enjoy local beer and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase during each event. Filmgoers can also win door prizes and participate in a raffle for a variety of items donated by local businesses that include Ridge Merino Outdoor Apparel, Footloose Sports Gear Shop, Looney Bean Coffeehouse, Valhalla Mountain Guides and more.  All proceeds from drink and raffle ticket sales will likewise benefit Sierra Forever’s Education Programs.

Questions? Please write to [email protected].

About Mountainfilm on Tour

Mountainfilm Festival is held every year in Telluride, Colorado, and has been at the forefront of impactful storytelling for over 40 years. The tour selects a diverse collection of films that range from adrenaline-fueled pursuits in remote landscapes, to heartwarming stories of resilience and activism. The films on the tour this year invite viewers to witness global challenges and triumphs, sparking conversations and inspiring change.

About Sierra Forever

Founded in 1970 as Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association, Sierra Forever is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that partners with local, tribal, and federal governments and fellow nonprofits to provide interpretive education about the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin landscapes, in the hope of inspiring members of the public to develop a deeper appreciation for public lands, and thereby become better stewards. Sierra Forever operates bookstores in visitor centers in collaboration with agency partners that include the Inyo, Humboldt-Toiyabe, Tahoe, and Klamath National Forests, Death Valley National Park, Devils Postpile National Monument, Manzanar National Historic Site, and the Bureau of Land Management’s Bishop Field Office.  For more information, please visit ESIA’s website, sierraforever.org.