Mountain films come to Whitefish April 16

The Daily Inter Lake

Whether you like adrenaline, art or environment, this year's MountainFilm tour has something for everyone.

Eight films that run the gamut from endangered Asian elephants to the disappearing charm of a small town barbershop will be shown April 16 at the O'Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation sponsors the event as one of its main fundraisers for trail work in the more than 1.5 million acres of wilderness that make up the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.

This year's headlining film, "Losing the Elephants," takes a peek into the elephant's role in people's collective unconscious and juxtaposes the real lives of elephants, many of whom are rehabilitating from careers as circus performers.

On the adrenaline side, "Presence: 40 Days in Greenland" takes an unusual look at the world of extreme skiing. Instead of distant shots taken after a helicopter drops skiers onto their chosen mountain, this film follows a pair of extreme skiers who take a quieter approach.

The doors of the O'Shaughnessy Center will open at 6 p.m. April 16 with the first film beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the White Room Mountain Shop in Whitefish (863-7666) and Rocky Mountain Outfitter in Kalispell (752-2446) for $12. Tickets at the door cost $15, but this festival has sold out in the past.

Door prizes will be given away throughout the evening and raffle tickets will be for sale and will be drawn at intermission. Raffle prizes include an Orvis fly rod donated by Spotted Bear Ranch, lodging at Izaak Walton Inn, day ride with Snowy Springs Outfitters, gear from Patagonia and Osprey packs.

For more information on MountainFilm, visit the Web site www.mountainfilm.org. People with questions about the Whitefish event can contact the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation at 406.387.3808 or go to the Web site www.bmwf.org.