Backcountry Film Festival

As a Winter Wildlands Alliance SnowSchool, SOLE hosts the Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival in Sandpoint and other locales to raise critical funding for our place-based experiential education programs in local schools, including our award-winning and nationally-recognized SnowSchool Experience ^SM program.  During these annual fundraising events attendees are treated to a series of award winning films, a ‘Rockin’ Raffle’ and other special surprises! Each year is different, so come down and support our organization — so we can get local area youth out on the snow to explore > achieve > lead!

The Skinny

The Winter Wildlands Alliance Backcountry Film Festival celebrates its 14th Anniversary aimed to inspire winter adventurers to seek the snow less traveled. Produced by the Boise-based nonprofit, Winter Wildlands Alliance,  the Backcountry Film Festival makes its world premiere in Boise, Idaho and will then tour to more than 100 showings around the world.  This annual event includes a series of films, includes those winning awards all which celebrate the human-powered experience, a great silent auction and raffle with great holiday gifts from local vendors and gear vendors, and great refreshments. Location: The Collective Den | 418 E Lakeside Ave | Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Date: December 6th, 2019 Times: Doors: 6 PM | Show: 7 PM | VIP Pre-Event: 5 – 6 PM

The Backcountry Film Festival is renowned for its mix of professional and grassroots films – from well-known filmmakers who search backcountry corners across the globe to submit their best work to first-timers who take a video camera out on their weekend excursions.  The festival was created in 2004 to highlight Winter Wildlands Alliance’s efforts to preserve and promote winter landscapes for human-powered users. From a single showing in Boise that first year, the festival has grown to include showings in locations throughout the United States and Canada and now in Antarctica, Europe, Australia and Asia. Funds raised stay in local communities to support like-minded, human-powered recreation and conservation efforts and to raise awareness of winter management issues, avalanche training/safety and winter education programs.  Come take the ride and support a great cause while doing so! Event proceeds will ensure youth will have access to novel and purposeful outdoor education opportunities during the winter months, including essential gear and teaching supplies.  To actualize this vision, besides proceeds collected from ticket sales, this showing will continue to serve up an excellent outdoor gear and local business silent auction from event sponsors  for those in search for some unique holiday gift ideas; a fun raffle; local wine and beer for patrons; and special presentations on this program – all of which make this yearly event definitely worth attending!

Tickets & Additional Information

Advance ticket purchase is recommended.  SOLE offers 2 ticket levels for this event:

• $12 Advance General Admission Ticket (includes 1 raffle ticket); $15 DOS
• $20 VIP Donation Ticket (includes 3 raffle tickets + invitation to VIP Pre-Event + puts a local underserved youth on the snow for a day!)

Tickets will be available at the following local businesses:  Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters, Alpine Shop, Eichardt’s, and The Hive and online!

1. Click on “Buy Tickets Now!”
2. Choose “Price Level”.
3. Choose “Quantity”.
4. Choose “Delivery Method”.
5. Click on “Add to Cart”.
6. Check out.
7. Get ready to have some serious fun!

Even if you can’t go to the event, you can assist us in providing transformational experiences outdoors for our youth.  Simply make a donation today and earmark your contribution by clicking on the button below!

Become An Event or Program Sponsor! 

Finanical Sponsorship

Looking for a novel way to advertise your business?  You can become a financial sponsor for our Backcountry Film Festival and/or specific SnowSchool Experience ^SM Field Campus.  We have several sponsorship pricing levels to ensure that you stay within your budget while seeing your dollars at work for good, and get some good ‘ole brand recognition. Financial Sponsorship includes, but is certainly not limited to the following options:

• Sponsoring the Backcountry Film Festival
• Sponsoring a specific group, class, or school so they can attend
• Sponsoring a specific SnowSchool Experience ^SM Field Campus

In-Kind Sponsorship

Each year SOLE also solicits in-kind donations for our incredible silent auction and raffle which occur during the Backcountry Film Festival, as well as, our SnowSchool Experience ^SM Program at large. Needless to say, this is another great way to showcase your business! In-kind donations include, but are certainly not limited too:

• Donating outdoor gear, equipment, special local services or other novel items for our event silent auction, raffle, or specific SnowSchool Experience ^SM Field Campus
• Donating marketing materials or radio spots for the event and/or program at large
• Donating other services utilized by our SnowSchoolExperience ^SM Field Campuses

Benefits of Sponsorship

We realize that your investment is valuable! Besides doing some serious good, we offer several benefits to becoming an event sponsor, including but not limited to:

• Tickets to the Backcountry Film Festival
• Recognition in event press releases, social media outlets, blog postings, newsletters, and radio spots
• Recognition in program marketing materials
• Recognition during event announcements
• Recognition during event slide shows
• Recognition on SOLE website
• Recognition at specific SOLE Field Campus

Specific benefits depend on Sponsorship Level.   

2017 – 2018 Backcountry Film Festival Sponsors

We are sincerely grateful to the following individuals, organizations, and/or business have committed to partial or full sponsorship of our annual Backcountry Film Festival event.

Lead Level ($500 +)

Schweitzer Mountain Resort  knows what it means to give!  Besides being a phenomenal mountain with epic powder and over 2,900 acres of skiable terrain, Schweitzer continues to deliver when it comes to supporting local organizations like SOLE.  For the past 4 years, the Schweitzer family has provided the opportunity for SOLE to host our transformational SnowSchool Experience programs on site, as well as, donating to our Backcountry Film Festival year in, and year out.  This year come again and bid on a full season pass!Swhift Stainless Fabrication Swhift has been a leader in the industry of manufacturing stainless steel products in our state of the art facility since 1980. We produce the highest quality product available at a very low price. Our products are proudly made in the USA!Big Agnes is one of the leaders in outdoor gear and they know how to give back! For the past 15 years, they have been innovating the outdoor industry and believe that “life is too short to use bad gear”, which explains why their gear has a huge following and have won countless awards!The Alpine Shop as founded in 1966. What started as a small ski rental shop to service the newly opened Schweitzer Ski Resort has grown into a year-round business of outfitting fun. Through the years, a highly knowledgeable staff and absolute commitment to the customer has never wavered.

Achieve ($250 +)

Achieve Local Sponsors Include:Achieve Outdoor Industry Sponsors Include:

Explore ($100 +)

Explore Local Sponsors Include:Explore Outdoor Industry Sponsors Include:

Other Sponsors

In-Kind Sponsors Include:

• Eichardt’s
• Thunder’s Catch
• Fresh Sunshine Flowers
• Finan McDonald
• Mattox Farm Productions
• Greasy Fingers
• 7B Boardshop
• The Hive
• Living Earth Naturals
• Sandpoint West Athletic Club
• Trinity at City Beach
• La Chic Boutique
• Wildwood Grilling
• Idaho Pour Authority
• Baxter’s on Cedar
• Karen Robinson
• Keokee
• Pend d’Oreille Winery

Outdoor Industry Sponsors Include:

• GSI Outdoors