Local Picks: Sam Pope’s Must-See Films at the Jackson Hole Film Festival
The Jackson Hole Film Festival is back for a second year, bringing an incredible lineup of films that are sure to captivate audiences. As a local filmmaker and skier, here are a few that I’m particularly excited about.
Space Cowboy
This documentary delves into the life of Joe Jennings, a pioneering skydiving cinematographer..
As someone that has had the opportunity to follow some incredible athletes into the mountains, I can relate to a scene where framing the shot is only half the job – you also
must be able to get there ... and get down!
Marah Strauch, the co-director, is also responsible for some of my favorite films in the action sports-genre, including Sunshine Superman, about Carl Boenish, who invented
BASE jumping. Don’t miss this one!
September 5th
This docudrama takes us back to the 1972 Munich Olympics. When Israeli athletes are taken hostage, a sports broadcasting team must pivot to breaking news coverage. As the crisis unfolds, a young producer faces tough decisions that test his moral compass.
Here’s the thing – shooting sports is pretty straightforward and almost never involves the use of one’s “moral compass.” Keep the volleyball player in the center of the frame ... cut to a wide shot that shows the audience cheering. That’s basically it. So the idea of being thrust into a situation where the decisions you make about what images to show and when, could result in the loss of lives ... well, that’s the groundwork for an amazing film.
Champions of the Golden Valley
A group of young Afghan athletes from rival villages unite through their shared passion for skiing. They build makeshift skis and compete in a high-altitude race, offering a moment of hope amidst their country's turmoil. "Champions of the Golden Valley" is a heartwarming tale of sportsmanship and resilience.
If you love to ski, you’ll love this move. Full stop. But for me, there’s more to it than that. In a word where our sport has gotten increasingly expensive and exclusive, with private mountains and equipment whose price tag excludes a lot of people, these guys hike to the top of the mountain and descend on skis that they made themselves. For me, it re-enforces the idea that it’s all comes back to the simple joy the lies at the intersection of gravity and snow.
Also, anyone who love ski movies should be familiar with the director of this film, Ben Sturgulewski, who is one of the filmmakers responsible for Valhalla, which was recently elevated to the position of “Greatest Ski Film of All Time,” by outside magazine. Let me repeat that – this guy made the best ski film. Ever. If that doesn’t get you out to see this one, I don’t know what will.