The Magic of 5Point
The Five Point Film Festival is one of the best events of the year. Don't know about it? Here's what you need to know.
5Point Film Festival is all about adventure films. Whether it's climbing the world's most dangerous mountains, skiing across Greenland, or simply an ode to a beloved dog, adventure films are about capturing the spirit or essence of adventure and the people behind them. The films go beyond simply documenting absurd physical challenges.
Every year people flock to the tiny town of Carbondale to participate. And the festival is much more than just an opportunity to watch films. Over the course of four days, people gather to play outside during the day on the many trails and adventure opportunities surrounding Carbondale. In the evenings everyone bonds over watching the same films together (larger festivals split up audiences with multiple venues and simultaneous film options). And afterwards, people gather in the breweries, distilleries, pubs, and dancefloors to party down.
5Point seeks to gather, inspire, and send forth people from all over the world. Every year, 5Point nails it.
Three out of the last four years, I’ve carved out a weekendto head to Carbondale, Colorado to participate in the best damn film festaround. Many of you will likely have never heard of 5Point, let alone thinkingof traveling to another city to go watch films.
Yes, we watch a lot of films. That’s certainly a part of theexperience. But only in the same way that Coachella is just about listening togood music. The whole weekend is an experience. And you are having this experiencealongside a bunch of amazing, inspiring, passionate, and talented people.
You might not have much context for what a good film festival experience is. Well, it’s simple. 5Point is a four-day party where everyone plays outside during the day, laughs, cries, and feels the feels of powerful art in the evenings, and dances long into the night.
5Point is a well-respected film festival. Getting a filmincluded is an accomplishment. But the festival is small enough that you don’tget lost in the crowd. You can show up, not knowing another soul, and findyourself having coffee with a National Geographic filmmaker, getting out for a hikewith a world-class runner/climber/skier/mountain biker, or dancing in a wig andspandex with award-winning producers and directors from all over the world.
The thing that makes 5Point different from larger, morenotorious film festivals, is that you feel like you are part of a community, afamily.
That’s why I keep coming back. 5Point feels like somethingmuch bigger than a fun networking event where I watch fun films (although it’sbeen very good for that too). 5Point feels like you just found several hundrednew best friends, who are all experiencing the magic of inspirational adventurefilms together.
Rewind three years ago, I attended my first 5Point. I wasnew as a photographer/filmmaker/journalist and didn’t really know anyone inattendance. But by the end of the weekend, I gained new friendships who I stillgo play outside with and work with. Each year I return, I come to celebrate thegrowth and talents and creativity of my friends, and am inspired in my own workand life.
Every New Year’s people make resolutions and set goals forthe coming year. For me, 5Point has taken on that marker in the calendar. I setaside the time each year to head to Carbondale, a charming town in the heart ofthe Rockies, to reflect on the year I had, and fresh with inspiration, to setnew personal and professional goals.
I see how much I’ve grown as a person and as someone workingin the creative world since I first started attending. I am continuouslygrateful to 5Point for its role in helping me grow in every aspect of my life.