Colorado Review

Every Memorial Day Weekend, thousands of outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists and filmmakers descend upon Telluride to enjoy four days of thought-provoking movies that revolve around a certain theme; in 2008 the focus will be on water and the growing global fresh-water crisis. The mission of Mountainfilm in Telluride is “ to educate and inspire audiences about issues that matter, cultures worth exploring, environments worth preserving and conversations worth sustaining.�

But you don’t have to wait until May to view some amazing Mountainfilm in Telluride films. The Mountainfilm on Tour program brings a combination of classics and 2007 films to locations across the United States, including the ski resort town of Breckenridge

Mountainfilm on Tour will show at Breckenridge’s Speakeasy Movie Theatre on the first Monday of the month through March; January 7, February 4 and March 3 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for kids under 12. Tickets are on sale the first night of the show, starting at 5 p.m. Each evening will feature a unique playlist of award-winning films, so you can attend all three events without any repeats.

What’s super cool is that 80 percent of all show proceeds will benefit Mountain to Mountain (a Breckenridge-based nonprofit), in support of the dZi Foundation’s “Revitalize a Villageâ€? project in Nepal. In 2008, Mountain to Mountain is raising funds and awareness for the village of Gudel, one of the poorest villages in the world, located in eastern Nepal. Funds will support the village in community-driven projects such as building schools, teacher training and providing sanitary drinking water for the entire community.

My friend Lisa Raleigh of Redstone, went on one of the dZi Foundation’s volunteer trips to India and Nepal last year. She helped out with some kids’ vision and dental clinics, and she says the experience was life changing in so many ways. In fact, she’s leaving her corporate job to join the dZi Foundation staff and she’s leading a volunteer trip to India this spring! Read about her amazing philanthropic trip here.