Staff Pick
For nearly everyone, losing your engine is a life-threatening event. Airshow pilot Eric Tucker is one of the few in the world who dares to make it an art form.
88 Films played in 2024
Adventure. Conservation. Inspiration.
26,000 Days
A Bird in the Hand
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Making Waves Recipient, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
With the goal of banding 100,000 birds, this film follows Tom and Paula Bartlett on their quest throughout northwest Ohio, and the impact they have not only on bird research, but those they meet along the way.
A Clean Slate
Family Friendly
As Wisconsin reforms its expungement process, the opportunity for a second chance for the formerly incarcerated hinges on a local activist named Shanyeill McCloud.
A Line in the Snow
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Filmmaker in Attendance
A mother-daughter group learns valuable life and wilderness skills in one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the world, powered only by their own two feet and a team of four legged friends. With multiple trips to the North Pole, South Pole, Greenland, and Svalbard on her resume, she is embarking on one of her greatest adventures yet: motherhood.
A Sea Change for Superior: The Warming of the World's Largest Lake
Family Friendly
The world’s largest lake is now among the fastest warming lakes on the planet. A Sea Change for Lake Superior takes a fresh look at Lake Superior’s natural and cultural legacy, how the lake is fairing in a time of unprecedented change, and how citizens can help mitigate today’s problems and those that the future portends.
Aldo's Bug Extravaganza
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
Join 5-year-old Aldo and his dad on a backyard safari filled with tiny wonders and big laughs. Armed with a camera and boundless curiosity, Aldo embarks on a bug-hunting escapade, narrating his discoveries with adorable wit and charm. As the week unfolds, Aldo’s wide-eyed explorations not only capture the audience’s imagination, but also subtly echo the timeless wisdom of Aldo Leopold, making for a delightful and endearing ode to the joy of nature’s smallest marvels.
All That is Sacred
Adult Language, Staff Pick
In the late 60’s a group of poets, writers and musicians descended upon the southernmost point of the United States to pursue their love of literature and fishing. Initiated by Tom McGuane - the prodigal son of American Literature in the 1970’s - his friends Jim Harrison, Richard Brautigan, Russell Chatham and Jimmy Buffett soon joined him. This crew and that era were captured on film by Guy De La Valdene and Christian Odasso in an obscure documentary called “Tarpon” in 1974. They went on to create some of the best art, poetry, novels, and music of their generation - but there will never be anything like Key West in the early 70’s. If you were lucky to survive it.
All Too Clear--Behind the Scenes
Fresh Coast is proud to be the Michigan Premiere of this cutting edge Great Lakes film from Inspired Planet Productions. ‘All Too Clear’ uses new technologies to show never before seen underwater wonders of the Great Lakes. This short behind the scenes video gives a glimpse of what it took to create the film–but you don’t want to miss the premiere over the weekend and meet the filmmakers and their tools to see the future of Great Lakes filmmaking.
All Too Clear: Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
Cutting-edge underwater drones explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive quagga mussels are re-engineering the ecosystem of the Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. Part scientific exploration, part natural history adventure – the film shines a spotlight on freshwater wildlife and environments like never before.
Anton
Adult Language, Michigan Premiere
Anton Krupicka is an icon of mountain running in the USA. At 23-years-old he won Leadville 100 in Colorado and more recently has blazed a high altitude trail on extensive bikepacking tours.
We wanted to know what drove Anton to chase these experiences. A need for self reliance and a desire for discovery have fueled years of awe-inspiring achievements that have motivated runners, cyclists and climbers around the world. In this film, Anton dives into the purpose behind his pursuits.
Belonging: A Journey of Inclusion and Nature
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
In ‘Belonging,’ follow Dalorian, a student in the college course GCST 1970, as he embarks on a journey through nature-based education and environmental justice. Exploring serene Minnesota lakes and the Bois Forte Museum, he and his classmates confront a profound question: What does it mean to belong in nature? This film weaves raw, poetic visuals with deep reflections on identity and community, highlighting their transformative experience in understanding their connection to the natural world.
Born in the Barn: Part 6 "Last Game in the Barn"
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly
Born in the Barn: Part 6 “Last Game in the Barn” - The 1990’s bring another generation of Ewen-Trout Creek Panther girls and boys ballers on the court for many records, hard losses, and a lifetime of memories. The Last Game in the Barn is played in 1998. The 2022 team continues to dominate the tournaments with a quarterfinal win, sending the E-TC boys downstate for the first time in 40 years. “Born in the Barn” is an 8-part docu-series completed in 2024.
Broken Flight
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Has Subtitles
Migration season is when the Chicago Collision Bird Monitors are the busiest, looking for birds that have flown into windows, as Mother Nature literally slams into the urban environment. Broken Flight introduces us to the volunteers, scientists and veterinarians who rescue, study and catalog these amazing avian species.
Can't
Michigan Premiere
In 2021, a tragic car accident left Veranique (or V, as she’s known at Rox) paralyzed from the waist down. After a long stint in the hospital and multiple surgeries, doctors told Varanique she would never walk again. While this news would reshape her life, it wouldn’t alter her vibrant spirit. Veranique knew the key to living a full life rested in her mindset. In 2022, V set out to find a job, landing at Memphis Rox, a climbing gym in South Memphis. Witnessing climbing for the first time, she thought the gym would keep her behind the front desk — that she couldn’t participate in the sport. Until she did. Surrounded by community, Veranique is now a regular climber with a philosophy on and off the wall that the sky’s the limit.
Canyon Chorus
Subject in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
Set against the backdrop of Desolation Canyon, UT, Mikah Meyer, a world-record traveler and LGBTQ+ advocate, reflects with three close friends and his mentor, Larry Edwards, on their stories and the power of mentorship within the queer community. As a child, Mikah believed he could never have a successful life AND be publicly out and gay. When he moved to college and met Larry, his openly gay choir professor, a lifelong mentorship was born. Amidst conversations and joy along the river, we understand the power and importance of their friendship. As Larry enters what he calls the ‘final chapter’ of his life, he reflects on the lifelong fight for openness and vulnerability within the queer community, and through the desolation of nature, finds contentment in a job well done.
Champions of the Golden Valley
Representative in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Family Friendly, Has Subtitles, Staff Pick
In the remote mountain villages of Bamyan, Afghanistan, a newfound passion for skiing attracts young athletes from rival ethnic groups to the slopes. With minimal gear and makeshift wooden skis, the determined ski coach Alishah Farhang organizes a thrilling ski race that fosters camaraderie, joy, and triumph. However, after the shocking collapse of their country, many of the skiers are displaced across the globe as refugees, and must call upon the lessons learned in the mountains of their homeland to find a way to rebuild.
Champions of the Golden Valley-Trailer
Representative in Attendance
Fresh Coast is proud to be the Michigan Premiere of this feature length film exploring ski culture in Afghanistan. This is trailer for the full film that will be shown during the festival and represented by friend-of-the-festival and driving force behind the project, Stacy Bare of Grand Rapids, Mich. This is one of those films where the backstory is as epic as the final film, don’t miss this conversation.
Cycling Without Age
Has Subtitles, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
This is a story about the power of feeling wind in your hair, no matter where you are on life’s journey. John is a retired school teacher who uses his pedal-powered rickshaw to give adventures to people who have lost the ability to get outside themselves. Through the intimate moments of these rides, _Cycling Without Age _explores the importance of the outdoors for those who are all too often trapped inside.
Dad Bod
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere
In his junior year of high school, Travis Sterner attempted to end his life. DAD BOD is the story of that day and Travis’s lifelong mission to break the cycle of depression and despair through fitness, empathy, and encouragement.
Dirt Relations
Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
The Story of the Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program is an inspiring and thought-provoking documentary that delves into the powerful connection between mountain biking, reconciliation, and healing intergenerational trauma. Through captivating storytelling and breathtaking visuals, the film follows the journey of three individuals: Patrick, Thomas, and Tom, as they collaborate with Indigenous communities across British Columbia to build trails and empower Indigenous youth.
Elladj
Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker, Staff Pick
“Elladj" follows the remarkable journey of Elladj Balde, a Canadian figure skater whom found his voice and fan base through wild ice skating. The film centers on the transformative power of embracing one’s passion over measurable results.
Fake It Til You Kinda Make It: Featuring Katie Burrell
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Adult Language
Special Program: Saturday Night with Katie Burrell! Katie is a comedian, actor, director, screenwriter, influencer, and “professional leisure athlete.” With a background in stand-up comedy and improv, her character driven creative skills have ranged from award-winning films ‘Dream Job’ and ‘Coach’ to viral brand content on social media. This past year, Katie wrote, directed and starred in her first feature film, WEAK LAYERS, which was in theatres in January 2024 and is now streaming.
Far West
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Adult Language, Staff Pick
The city lifestyle left New York City artist Lala feeling hollow, forcing her to make the bold decision of uprooting herself and seeking solace in the untamed landscapes somewhere far west. Stripped of the familiar comforts of running water, electricity, and constant connectivity, she faces the daunting challenge of building a bountiful life from scratch.
Forward
Michigan Premiere, Filmmaker in Attendance
While navigating a myriad of life challenges, Anjelica Avella turned to the outdoors to improve her mental health only to discover a noticeable lack of other plus-size women of color on trail. By posting a simple flyer looking for more women to hike with, Anjelica created a community she never could have imagined.
From The Heartland
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
From the Heartland is a candid depiction of American Agriculture and the rural towns reliant on its success. But when an industry’s ability to thrive is dependent on progress, how does a family farm discard their traditional practices to try something new and save the land?
Goodbye, Hunter
Filmmaker in Attendance, Has Subtitles, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
For the Frigon, hunting is a family tradition that forges and strengthens the bonds between the generations. For several autumns already, Louis-Henri has been tracking moose with his grandson, Sasha. However, at the dawn of his 81st birthday, old age reminds him that his career as a hunter is now behind him. For the first time this year, Louis-Henri will not go for the hunt and Sasha will leave without him. Goodbye, Hunter offers an intimate look at the transmission of a long family tradition.
Gordon
First Time Filmmaker, Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
In Gordon, viewers follow the story of a blacksmith based in Marquette, Michigan, during which Gordon Gearhart explains the importance of following one’s own interests.
Hooked: A Salmon Fishing Documentary
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
Department of Natural Resources officer, Jay Wesley, and two avid outdoorsmen dive into the importance of salmon preservation in one of the top fisheries in the country because of the effect salmon has on the freshwater ecosystem of Michigan.
I'm With The Band: The Know Obstacles Story
Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker
The story of Know Obstacles, a band made up of disabled kids in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and their founder, Steve Osburn.
I've Decided These Sticks Have Value
World Premiere, Staff Pick
An examination of how two small sticks, randomly acquired in Minnesota’s north woods, have slowly transformed into treasured possessions.
In Waves: 20 years of Sleeping Bear Surf
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick
‘In Waves’ gives us a glimpse into the joy that has cultivated a culture of Great Lakes connection. In 2004, visionary Beryl Skrocki founded Sleeping Bear Surf with a dream of sharing the potential for freshwater play. Now, 20 years later, her legacy lives on.
Into the Sugarbush
Family Friendly
Step into the US’s largest urban sugarbush in Detroit’s sprawling Rouge Park with the Detroit Sugarbush Project.
Island Zero
First Time Filmmaker, Michigan Premiere
The mayor of an island off the coast of Virginia hopes to have his town saved from rising tides.
It's Time
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Staff Pick
“It’s Time” is a poetic 3-minute film set in early spring Illinois. Through stunning visuals and lyrical narration, it gives voice to nature. The tree’s awakening becomes a metaphor for environmental awareness. This cinematic ode aspires to plant seeds of change, encouraging viewers to listen to nature’s whispered warnings and become stewards of our shared environment.
Jonathan Thunder: Good Mythology
Michigan Premiere, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick
Ojibwe artist Jonathan Thunder explores the mythic inspirations of his surrealist work.
Kiko
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Adult Language
Kiko is the Keweenaw’s favorite Brazilian Yooper. He rides bikes, plays accordion, makes a little trouble and tells truths we all probably need to hear. A collaboration of Aaron Peterson Studios and Points North Podcast.
KINGS OF THE KENAI
Family Friendly, Representative in Attendance, Michigan Premiere
The Kenai River Sportfishing Association (KRSA) was founded 30 years ago by Bob Penney with a strong and clear mission: sustain the local King salmon population in order to preserve the Kenai’s status as the greatest sportfishing river in the world. Over the years the organization has grown, developing numerous conservation and sustainability projects to support the health of this one-of-a-kind waterway – several of which are explored in the film.
Lasting Water Quality
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
The Leelanau Conservancy’s long-running, highly trusted water quality program. This video profiles Chase Heise of the Leelanau Conservancy as we venture out onto Lake Leelanau to learn more about their water quality program that has been operating continuously for over 30 years, and the overall health of our freshwater lakes in northern Michigan.
Made out Here
Michigan Premiere
Dan Craven, or Dan from Nam, as he was known during his professional road racing career, had for years dreamt of starting his own handmade bike brand at home in Namibia. He had travelled the world for riding and racing bikes, but he knew that to find the best builders, returning home to Namibia would make the most sense. When it comes to using their hands, Namibian skill sets are highly developed so that, whether it’s in the arts like sculpture or pottery or in the trades like mechanics and builders, their dexterity, precision and attention to detail are invaluable.
Mama's Sundry
Family Friendly
In South Memphis, married artists Bertram Williams and Talibah Safiya transform their creative practices into vehicles for a higher purpose. Enter Mama’s Sundry, a collaborative movement fostering wellness and sustainability through education, service initiatives and a neighborhood garden that produces fresh fruit and vegetables within a community that’s long been designated a food desert.
Manoomin Camp
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Subject in Attendance
Interviews with tribal knowledge holders about Manoomin (wild rice) during a 6 day workshop/ gathering in Baraga, Michigan
Michigan's Skiing Legacy
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, Staff Pick, Making Waves Recipient
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the birthplace of organized skiing in America.It is also home to the National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and one of the oldest ski clubs in the country. This documentary film explores the skiing culture that continues to shape the lives of those who consider themselves Yoopers.
Michigan's Skiing Legacy Trailer
Filmmaker in Attendance
NMU grad Ryan Busch has completed his multi-year epic quest to craft a comprehensive, fun, and action packed feature film on the skiing culture of the Upper Peninsula. This is a trailer for that project which has been supported by the Fresh Coast Making Waves grant and will be showing over the weekend.
Money Tree
Filmmaker in Attendance, World Premiere
What’s a tree worth? From the point of view of a city forester, an ecologist, a firewood harvesting hobbyist, a professor and a philanthropist, we learn about the different relationships people have with their urban forest. Money Tree explores the tangible and intangible values and the importance of this urban biodiversity that often goes unnoticed.
Montenegro, MMXXIII
Family Friendly, Filmmaker in Attendance
A look back at one month spent in the beautiful country of Montenegro, recorded with a combination of Super 8 Film, Drone hyperlapses, digital timelapses and handheld sound recording.
Mussel Matters
Family Friendly
In the rivers that flow through our neighborhoods lives an unseen but important creature: the freshwater mussel. These mussels perform key ecosystem services, including a remarkable capacity to filter and clean water. Once almost extinct and now struggling to make a comeback in DuPage County’s urban waterways, freshwater mussels need help.
Oaks Do Not Come From Acorns
Subject in Attendance, Has Subtitles, Michigan Premiere
Artist carves poetry into a 150-year fallen oak tree
Pete's Castle
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
PETE’S CASTLE tells the story of Pete Kelley, creator of Kelley Castle in Tomahawk, Wisconsin. The film follows Pete and his brother Pat as they tour around the castle and recount the process of putting the castle together, piece by piece. Enjoy this amusing synthesis of old-world classical sensibilities and folksy American pragmatism and humor.
Planetwalker
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
In 1971 John Francis, known the world over as ‘Planetwalker,’ witnessed an oil tanker collision in the San Francisco Bay. The sight of oiled birds on the shoreline caused him to give up motorized transport and rely solely on his own two feet. Months after that he took a vow of silence convinced that listening rather than adding fuel to any fire was the way ahead.
He didn’t talk, but he kept on walking clear across the country and back again. During the next seventeen silent years he listened and studied the world around him.
Racing for the Next 7
Michigan Premiere
“The Seventh Generation Principle is an indigenous concept originating from the Haudenosaunee (also known as the Iroquois Confederacy), in which you think about the next seven generations coming after you in your words, work, and actions; and to remember the seven generations who came before you.
Return to Spur Lake: Bringing back the food that grows on water
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere
There’s always been only a few special places in the world where wild rice (known as manoomin to the Ojibwe people), grows. Which made it troubling when manoomin stopped growing in the early 2000’s at Spur Lake, a 113 acre lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. A group of conservation partners who have come together to bring wild rice back to Spur Lake because of its environmental and cultural importance.
Ripple: Casting For Change
Filmmaker in Attendance, Representative in Attendance
Six elementary school girls fly to an island in the middle of Lake Michigan to test their fly fishing skill. The girls are members of a school sponsored Adventure Club that focuses on building community, belonging, and leadership skills to change the narrative of what girls can and can not do. During the two day trip the girls discuss the pressures of growing up in a digital world and the need for nature based connections like fly fishing.
Ripples of Plastic
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
Embark on an eye-opening journey through the unseen impacts of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes region. Guided by Dr. Sherri Mason and other regional voices, witness the vast extent of contamination pathways, effects of microplastics, and the unexpected toll on human health. Beyond individual action, the film inspires a collective movement for transformative progress toward a plastic-free future.
Sacred Waters: Anishinaabeg Naagdawenmaanaanig Giigoonhkewin (The First People Taking Care of the Fishery)
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, World Premiere
The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians is the largest indigenous tribe east of the Mississippi and has been stewarding the fisheries of their Great Lakes territory for generations. This project explores the importance of the fishery to the tribe and how they’re working to ensure a healthy fishery for the next seven generations.
Seeing Double
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Staff Pick, First Time Filmmaker
Original Bluegrass music plus mountain biking with a twist. All self filmed clips plus editing lead to an illusion of the biker being filmed by himself.
Serving as an Example: Small Sustainability Steps to Make a Big Difference
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly
The NMU Volleyball team is known for big action when they serve, bump, set, and spike on the court. Off the court, they serve as an example for how we can make changes to take better care of our environment.
Stone Dead
Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Family Friendly
Rex, a gifted marble sculptor, lives in a small mountain town in Colorado on a property littered with half-finished headstones, beer cans, a faithful dog, and a family of scrap metal minions. Stone Dead invites viewers to delve deep into a sequestered artist’s unconventional existence and explore the intriguing intersection of life and death.
Strong Grandma
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
95 year old Catherine Kuehn is a world record winning deadlifter. As she prepares for her last competition she reflects on the love, and the loss, that brought her to this moment.
Tahnaanooku'
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
An artistic celebration of the environmental activism of Darline Deegan and her efforts to protect the land of her Indigenous community.
Taras
Michigan Premiere
A Ukrainian snowboarder turned soldier grapples with the trauma of war and the uncertainty of being called back, seeking solace in nature as he tries to reintegrate into society.
The Art of Emily Lanctot: Cultivating Creativity and Community
Family Friendly, Subject in Attendance, Filmmaker in Attendance
This film tells Emily Lanctot’s story and personal relationship with art and how the beauty of the lakeshore intertwines with her world in art. Emily wears many hats, she’s a working artist, organizer of a local art group, professor in NMU’s art and design program, and the Curator and Director of the Art Museum on campus.
The Bike Listening Tour
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere, First Time Filmmaker, Subject in Attendance
The Bike Listening Tour follows Andrew Mohama on his solo cycling tour across America as he investigates loneliness. Inspired by his passion for community, Mohama sets out to learn more about the Loneliness Epidemic in America, biking along less-traveled rural roads and, at one point, biking across “America’s Loneliest Highway.”
The Careist
Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
Between the Ohio and Mississippi riverbanks sit the United States’ 15th International Wetland of Importance. Yet, the wetlands today are mere remnants of their original borders. Max Hutchison is a naturalist, ecologist, zoologist, and lifelong voice for preserving the wetlands he also calls home. The Careist is an ode to Max, a way of life, and a natural area long overlooked and daring to disappear forever.
THE FISH THIEF: A Great Lakes Mystery
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick
THE FISH THIEF: A Great Lakes Mystery, formerly known as RELENTLESS, is a captivating mystery that engages the audience in a battle for the survival of the largest freshwater ecosystem on Earth, the Great Lakes. This fascinating true story, narrated by Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, follows remarkable people tackling the mystery of why the most prized fish nearly vanished. The crash destroyed jobs and businesses, and devastated towns, tribal communities, and First Nations across the region.
The Last Barf Bag
Family Friendly
“The Last Barf Bag” is a documentary that explores the cultural impact of a humble but crucially useful invention. In it, we meet the barf bag collectors whose passion drives them to try to save it from extinction, and their unlikely ally: the makers of the anti-nausea medication that threatens its existence.
The Migration of the Blue Spotted Salamander
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly
Nick is at Presque Isle Park on a rainy night in Marquette Michigan to witness the migration of the Blue Spotted Salamander. Tyler Penrod from the Superior Watershed Partnership shares his knowledge about these blue spotted friends.
The Moosers
Family Friendly
Meet The Moosers. Filmed at the 55th Annual North American Moose Conference, held in Grand Portage, Minnesota in May 2023.
The River Cowboy
Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
Since 1996, a quiet man in the backwoods of Eastern Kentucky has taken it upon himself to clean tires out of the Wild and Scenic Red River. Now 28 years later, friends, environmental groups, and community members are rallying to support annual cleanups in an effort to keep the river beautiful and to try and stop the trash and tires from making it there in the first place.
The Search
Filmmaker in Attendance, First Time Filmmaker
“The Search” follows Great Lakes Surfer Hunter Lohman on his journey to chase waves and his idea of true happiness. With the mystery and inconsistency that comes with lake surfing, Hunter will persevere through unpredictability to find solidarity and serenity in the places he goes and in the life he has chosen for himself.
The Shitthropocene
Adult Language, Michigan Premiere, Staff Pick
The Shit-thropocene (a play on the word, Anthropocene) is a mock-anthropological investigation into consumerism. Join us on a journey that spans billions of years to piece together how and why it seems that everything has gone to shit.
The Spirits of the Nahma Inn
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, World Premiere
Ghosts towns in the Upper Peninsula aren’t abandoned communities. Some of them are still very much alive. Told from the perspective of the Nahma Inn employees, they recount the spooky and unexplainable happenings that occur on a regular basis.
The Ultra Pickle Project
Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
Can 100 miles change you? Superior 100 is one of the most challenging trail races in the Midwest. See the stories behind 6 unique people who choose to push themselves beyond their limits to test their resilience and grit.
The Wintering Grounds
Representative in Attendance, Michigan Premiere
For most of the year, bands of world class freestyle kayakers roam the land in search of waves. But when the rivers freeze, everyone finds their way to a special spot on the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama-Georgia border. Squatting in an abandoned parking lot, they spend the winter training for the next world championships on North America’s best winter whitewater. Although called “certifiable lunatics” by the locals, this tight knit group is proof of the power of family and that indeed everything is more fun with friends.
The World Is Ours
Michigan Premiere, Family Friendly, Has Subtitles
Currently, post pandemic, one in two young people show symptoms of anxiety and depression. The World is ours is a film that gives the opportunity to six Montreal teenage girls to leave their urban environment for the first time to take part in a nature canoe-camping expedition.
This is Jackson Marvell
Adult Language
This is Jackson Marvell. He’s totaled 5 trucks, hauled kegs up rock towers, and rarely (if ever) brushed his hair.
Introducing episode 1 of our multi-part film series profiling inspiring personalities who have dedicated their lives to ‘getting after it.’
This is Katie Burrell!
Humorist, filmmaker and a known Canadian–Katie Burrell is at the center of Fresh Coast this year. This is a short compilation of her work to give you a taste of what’s in store! Her film Weak Layers plays twice at the festival and she’s the main event Saturday night don’t miss it!
Through The Storm
Michigan Premiere, Adult Language
“Through The Storm” follows the 2023 season of the Red Lake Nation (Ojibwe) high school football team. Despite dwindling interest and a two-decade-long losing record, a determined coach and group of young athletes fight to keep their football program alive. An exploration in overcoming loss, the film follows the personal triumphs and hardships of the players and their families, and how football serves as a symbol of hope, unity, and resilience for the people of Red Lake.
To Be a Good Home
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere, First Time Filmmaker
To Be A Good Home follows three women who farm and steward land in northern Minnesota. Kaitlyn is a descendant of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, tending her plot at the place of the gardens, Gitigaaning. Starr is an urban farmer, feeding her community near the shores of Gichigami. Hannah is a regenerative farmer, building soil and caring for her herd along Medicine Creek.
Toxic Art
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, Representative in Attendance, Staff Pick
On a mission to clean up Ohio’s leaking, abandoned coal mines, Ohio University Art Professor John Sabraw teams up with an environmental engineer to develop a process that turns the toxic runoff pollution into paint. John’s artwork has been shown all over the world and proceeds have helped numerous environmental organizations and projects, including a new water treatment plant on the Sunday Creek Watershed in southeastern Ohio.
Traditional Spearfishing Workshops
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
Spearfishing workshops for all ages facilitated by the Keweenaw Bay Indian community Natural Resource Department.
Troubled Water
Filmmaker in Attendance, Family Friendly, First Time Filmmaker, Representative in Attendance, Staff Pick
Troubled Water is an exhilarating adventure, conservation film that beckons viewers to follow along on a transformative journey down the stunning coast of Lake Michigan. As the journey unfolds, the film unveils the significance of the Line 5 pipeline issue, the dire need for collective action and the historic precedent that this movement would establish. If successfully shutdown, it would become the first active pipeline in US history to be terminated before it ruptures.
UNDER [SI:]
Has Subtitles, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
Six monumental statues are immersed between the Lérins Islands under the gaze of their creator, the sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. Molded from the faces of six inhabitants of Cannes, these stone giants were made from an ecological marine material. If today, these statues constitute the first underwater eco-museum inFrance and the Mediterranean created by the artist, tomorrow they will serve as a habitat and refuge for local marine biodiversity.
Usugilix Awakun
Filmmaker in Attendance, Michigan Premiere, Family Friendly
An Unangax scientist, delves into her vital research concerning toxic algal blooms affecting filter feeding shellfish—a staple Indigenous food for her people, illuminates the profound connection between the Unangax people and their environment, showcasing the resilience and resourcefulness of a culture in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Watermarks
Filmmaker in Attendance, Subject in Attendance, Family Friendly, Michigan Premiere
Watermarks shows how one person’s dedication and passion for paddling, river surfing, filmmaking, and conservation can have a ripple effect, inspiring others to take action and make a difference in their communities. The story is centered on a program called First Waves, which provides under-resourced youth with the chance to enjoy and protect their local waterways.
Weak Layers
Adult Language, Filmmaker in Attendance, Staff Pick
After getting evicted, three party-loving best friends set out to win a ski-movie competition. The prize money covers their rent, but they’ll have to beat out professional skiers and filmmakers. An uproarious comedy that celebrates mountain towns and takes on the male-dominated ski industry.
Weweni Bimibatoo - Running Gently
Family Friendly
Melissa Arnott from Indigenous Women Outdoors, in Squamish, British Columbia, recites how spending more time on the land and starting a trail running program helped her reconnect with mother earth (niimaamaa aki) and her Anishinaabe culture.
Why My Dad Loves
Filmmaker in Attendance, Has Subtitles, Subject in Attendance, Staff Pick
At the age of 13, my father left his homeland, Laos, to seek a brighter future in the United States. Throughout the years, he devoted himself to supporting his family, seldom sharing the details of his past. This film intimately explores the experiences that shaped my father’s understanding of love.
You Can't Shrink Love
Staff Pick
An artist gives life to the memories of our most beloved companions.