Gripped Magazine
Yosemite Film Festival Debuts, Celebrating Climbing’s Past, Present and Future
Just as much as it has been a mecca for rock climbers, Yosemite Valley has captured the imagination of generations of artists, storytellers, videographers and photographers alike. As climbing developed as a sport, a variety of talented individuals were present during many of the sport’s most critical moments along the way.
From early ascents of the Salathé Wall when bongs were still being hammered into the cracks, to the first free solo of Heaven, there have been a unique group of people who not only had the climbing abilities to access the same difficult to reach areas as the climbers themselves, but also had the artistic sensibilities to capture the moment as it unfolded. The products of these exceptional characters’ efforts are a rich history of films and photos that serve as talismans of their respective eras of Yosemite rock climbing.
Filmmakers who have captured the spirit of Yosemite rock climbing hold an appreciation for the magic of the place and recognize its fragility as a resource. To create art about a place is to love it, and to love a place is to continue to give back to it in every way possible to ensure it continues to be there for those that come after we are long gone.
The Yosemite Climbing Association (YCA) has organized a film festival that intends to showcase a selection of films from different phases of Yosemite climbing. By sharing the stories of rock climbing in Yosemite, we allow people to look through the lens of this love of place and carry that passion forward into the new era.
It is the YCA’s intention that the common threads tying together the past, present and future of Yosemite climbing become apparent through storytelling and stewardship, continuing to work together to inspire one another through the new generations of climbers that come to Yosemite and test themselves against its sweeping walls.
The film festival will occur from June 25 to June 28 this year. Because the park is so busy in summer, there will be practically no lodging or camping opportunities for people intending to attend the film festival. The YCA hopes to move the festival to earlier in the spring next year, so that there will be more availability for festival goers in the years to come. Nonetheless, climbers should be getting excited to attend the festival in whatever capacity they are able to as there will be a wonderful selection of films and panel speakers here this year to share the infectious love for climbing in the Valley.
With climbing and with videography and photography, mentorship is everything. Skills and experience are passed on through relationships. The Yosemite Film Festival will also be a space to foster such passage of knowledge and will host a number of workshops and clinics in the mornings.
A number of prominent filmmakers and photographers who have produced work related to Yosemite climbing will be joining for the festival in various capacities, from book signings to a panel discussion of how techniques have evolved over time. A few notable such persons include Corey Rich, Fred Padula, Miya Tsudome. The producers Tom Seawell and Jeff Waint who will be showing their documentary of Tom Frost.
Miya Tsudome, who hopes to attend the film festival, said: “Yosemite is the proving ground for athletic achievement in the sport of climbing, and arguably adventure filmmaking as well. It only makes sense that the YCA should host a festival celebrating the incredible creativity in our industry.”
The festival will run matinee screenings and evening screenings of a variety of films. Showings will be held in the Auditorium and Theater behind the Exploration Center in the Valley. Beginning on Thursday June 25, there will be matinee screenings of family friendly films from 3 to 4:15pm in the Auditorium and then evening screenings from 6 – 10pm in the Auditorium and The Dark Wizard episodes 1 and 2 will be showing from 6 – 9pm in the Theater. Thursday’s theme is Yosemite: Then and Now and there will be a number of classic and more obscure historical films shown, including a panel discussion of the advancements in technology and techniques that have shaped how films are made in Yosemite today versus in the past. There will also be a book signing with Corey Rich.
Friday’s theme will be Women Who Shape the Narrative and will include films that highlight the integral role women have held in shaping climbing history, both in Yosemite Valley and outside its walls. There will be showings from 1-4:30pm in the Auditorium and another round of films from 6-10pm. The Dark Wizard episodes 3 and 4 will be showing in the Theater from 6-9. There will also be a panel discussion including Michelle Johnson, Sarah Steele and Miya Tsudome.
Saturday’s theme is Beyond The Valley and will include films that extend outside of Yosemite. There will be a number of short films shown in the Auditorium from 12-2pm and 6:30-10pm, as well as the Tom Frost documentary which will be shown in the Theater from 6-10pm.
Sunday’s theme is Advocacy / Responsibility / Stewardship and will include films pertaining to the care of this place and giving back. Films will be shown in the Auditorium from 1-2:30pm and 5:30-10pm and the Tom Frost documentary will be playing again in the Theater from 6-9pm.
In sum, the Yosemite Film Festival offers a unique opportunity for filmmakers, climbers, and other enthusiasts alike to come together and share their passion for climbing in Yosemite. It is the YCA’s hope that moving forward the festival will continue to grow and be an opportunity to showcase the stories that define our sport and how we take care of the places we love to recreate in.
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