The MCA Denver Holiday Theater is hosting the No Man's Land Film Festival, which celebrates the full scope of women and gender non-conforming athletes and adventurers, on International Women's Day weekend.
Running March 8 and 9, the ninth annual flagship festival will feature 30 films from around the world, 15 speakers and a Saturday evening drag show performance in support of the LGBTQ community.
Festival passes are $30 for Friday, March 8, and $50 for Saturday, March 9.
"Our work is oriented by the diverse experiences that the mainstream media has historically failed to recognize," executive director Kathy Karlo said. "Through art, advocacy, and activism, we seek to challenge mainstream representation and destabilize the gender binary. Starting dialogue is one of the best places to begin when it comes to addressing gender inequality. Showcasing films is the second best place."
The all-women and gender non-conforming film festival is a program organized by No Man's Land, an arts and advocacy non-profit organization with strong roots in feminism. Founded in 2015, the festival champions women and gender non-conforming athletes and filmmakers in the larger outdoor media.
All genders are welcome and encouraged to attend the two-day festival including closed captions and accompanied ASL interpreters.
For those unable to attend the in-person festival, a virtual program will be made available March 8 through April 1.
Here are some of the flagship films on this year's lineup:
'Carlisle 200' - Denver premiere & 2022 Indigenous Filmmaker Grant recipient
"Carlisle 200" follows Native bikers Guarina Lopez (Pascua Yaqui) and Tsinnijinnie Russell (Diné) on a 200-mile prayer ride from Washington, D.C. to the cemetery at Carlisle Indian Boarding School in Carlisle, PA. Through rain and shine on the long gravel trail, Guarina, Tsinnijinnie, and fellow activist-bikers honor the 190+ children buried at Carlisle and raise awareness of the history and ongoing impact of the residential boarding school system on Indigenous communities.
'Coming Home' - World premiere
"Coming Home" is a short film centered on Alex Showerman, a lifelong Vermonter and professional mountain biker who came out as a queer trans woman in 2020. The film explores Showerman's journey of finding a sense of belonging in the unexpected world of women's freeride and her complex relationship with the sport of mountain biking, viewed through the lens of current events surrounding the LGBTQ community and the fight for equality in women's sports.
'CYCLES' - US premiere
Produced by an all-female crew, "Cycles" showcases a group of freeriders exploring the mountains of Tyrol. The project delves into the menstrual cycle and the transformative power of living in tune with it. Through an experimental and action-packed short film, Cycles portrays the four phases of the menstrual or lunar cycle.
'Unseen Peaks' - US premiere
After enduring discrimination and trauma due to her blindness, Addie seeks freedom through skiing, ice climbing, and rock climbing, facing both the challenges of these activities and the need for acceptance within the outdoor community as a disabled person.
'Las Locas' - US premiere
Aleksandra "Ola" Taistra is a Sardinia expert, having ticked off impressive lines including five 8b multi-pitches on the island already. After being inspired by up-and-coming trad climber Anna Hazlett, Ola spontaneously invites Anna to come try a new project with her.
Click here for a full schedule of events throughout the weekend.
