Sense of Adventure
“No Man’s Land” Film Festival
Monday, March 16
6–7 p.m.: Sitwell's, 324 Ludlow Ave., social hour
7 p.m.: Film screenings at The Esquire Theatre, 320 Ludlow Ave,
Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door. A cash bar and food will be available for purchase on site. Purchase tickets
Kayaking the length of the Mississippi. Adapting to mountain biking after a life-altering injury. Breaking down barriers to climbing.
Those are just three of the fantastic stories in this year's installment of the "No Man's Land" Film Festival. Adventure Crew brings the premier all-women and genderqueer film festival back to Cincinnati on Monday, March 16. New this year, the event is moving to the Esquire Theatre in Clifton for a full-blown movie experience.
“We’ve gotten such great feedback about this event the last few years, and we’re excited to make it even better with the move to a theater,” said Miriam Wise, Adventure Crew’s director of support and engagement. “Our lineup of films promises moments of awe, laughter and maybe even a few tears as viewers experience inspiring stories of overcoming challenges in the outdoors, whether those challenges are physical, mental or societal.”
Film line-up at the Esquire:
“Still Rider” – After a mountain bike crash resulted in a life-altering injury, Chantelle Grafton and her husband Warren have gone to great lengths to get Chantelle back out on the trails. “Still Rider” explores this journey, highlighting the unanticipated complexities that come with a major spinal cord injury and, more importantly, the benefits of prioritizing adaptive design for those with and without accessibility issues.
“Fifty-Fifty” – Tying in with a climbing partner means more than just sending the crux together. For renowned alpinists Ines Papert and Sarah Huenekin, the peak of their aspirations comes as they both climb past the age of 50 - pushing themselves harder while learning more about each other, as well as themselves.
“Internal Peaks” – Jr and Vanessa are professional athletes on a mission to bring to light the intersectional relationships between their outdoor pursuits, climate change, and who belongs in these spaces. As children of immigrants, they know what it feels like to be the bridge between different worlds. They recognize that shining a light on disappearing glaciers far away starts at home in Jackson Hole.
“Iikaiksimatsa’pao’p: Grateful to Be On the Land” – The film follows Cassie Ayoungman, founder of Soul of Miistaki and member of the Siksika nation, on her journey to bring the healing power of the mountains to those within her community. Breaking down barriers to climbing, and integrating Indigenous teachings and land-based learning, she raises questions about representation, builds community, and redefines what it means to be on the land.
“The Bride of Mont Blanc” – In a profound act of historical resurrection, modern-day adventurer Elise Wortley straps on her 19th-century hobnail boots and bonnet to celebrate history’s forgotten female explorers, whose absence from history continues to have knock on effects today.
Armed only with the gear available to Henriette d’Angeville in 1838, Elise attempts to recreate the first female ascent of Mont Blanc — Europe’s most iconic peak to understand the lack of female representation in the the mountains. In doing so she also explores her own relationship with the outdoors and how its impacted a long battle with debilitating anxiety.
This film was made by an entire female crew from the director, mountain guides through to all post-production. (U.S. premiere)
(Intermission)
“Mother River” – A look into Devin Brown's journey as she seeks to be the First black female on record to kayak the entire Mississippi River.
“Trails Still Blazing” – Megan McJames carved her own path in her alpine ski racing career, culminating in three Olympic performances. Her newest path into motherhood takes the values she found in her athletic career and applies them to that of being a parent — notably, doing things her own way. Trails Still Blazing explores the balance between women as caregivers and women as adventurers and, in doing so, hopes to inspire more women to feel confident following their passions, wherever they may lead.
“Life of Pie” – It wasn’t long ago that the small Colorado town of Fruita was solely a hub of agriculture and oil and gas development. But singletrack shredders and pizza chefs Jen Zeuner and her partner, Anne Keller, have helped transform the high-desert town into a mountain biking hotspot with their Hot Tomato Café. It wasn’t always easy — some residents of conservative Fruita weren’t quite ready for their “lifestyle” at first. But the women’s delicious East Coast-style pizza — and the love they put into making it — have made them indispensable members of the community and turned the Hot Tomato into the living room of the Grand Valley’s outdoor recreation industry.
Based in Denver, the film festival has reached audiences in nearly every U.S. state and abroad. “No Man’s Land” celebrates the full breadth of women and gender-nonconforming athletes, creatives, storytellers and adventurers. Its mission is to un-define feminine in adventure, sport and film. Through human collaboration and action-oriented solutions, “No Man’s Land” continues to implement and inspire change in the outdoor, sport, and film industries.
All proceeds from the Cincinnati event will support Adventure Crew, a nonprofit that connects city teens to nature and each other through engaging outdoor adventures.
Adventure Crew connects city teens in Greater Cincinnati with nature and each other through outdoor adventures. Founded in 2013, the nonprofit now serves all Cincinnati Public Schools junior high and high schools, plus six schools in Northern Kentucky – a total of 33 schools and nearly 1,000 students per year. Through challenging monthly adventures, city teens develop the courageous spirit to step out of their comfort zone and discover new worlds – outside in nature and inside themselves. This deep connection to nature will set a positive course for their lives – and help create the next generation of environmental stewards.