By Tyler Allen Explore Big Sky Associate Editor
BIG SKY – The Cold Smoke Awards winter film tour lands at Lone Peak Cinema Dec. 7
at 6 p.m., featuring nine short films, giveaways, and beats by a live DJ after the
movies end and the house lights go up.
“It’s a great venue,” said Brad Van Wert, co-founder of Cold Smoke Awards. “It’s the
last day of frequent skier week and maybe [it’ll] bring up some Bozeman people
too.” Van Wert said he’s excited to be working with Big Sky Resort – which will be
giving away two-for-one lift tickets at each tour stop this season – and is
encouraging Bozeman filmgoers to make a weekend of skiing at Big Sky out of it.
All of the raffle ticket proceeds from this show and the Nov. 21 Cat’s Paw stop in
Bozeman will be donated to David Poole, a paraplegic athlete hoping to compete in
the Sochi Winter Olympics.
“This is a great way to come together and celebrate the amazing community that is
the winter culture,” Van Wert said.
Cold Smoke is also engaging winter enthusiasts on its website, offering them
opportunity to cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award announced at the Cold
Smoke Awards on Jan. 18 at the Emerson Center for the Arts and Culture in
Bozeman. Every vote cast enters the participant in a contest to win a two-day
Canadian cat skiing trip at Powder Mountain, B.C. and a $1,000 cash prize for travel
there.
This year marks the 10th season of the Cold Smoke Awards, fourth year of the
mountain film tour and second year for online voting. The Lone Peak Cinema event
will feature films from all over the world including Shades of Winter – Austrian
filmmaker Sandra Lahnsteiner’s look at the best female skiers in the world – as well
as local flavor such as Bridger Brigade’s Progression in Regression. In addition, two
previously unreleased episodes of Salomon Freeski TV will light up Big Sky’s big
screen, Van Wert said.
“This crop [of films] is looking like the most unique, inspiring yet.”
This year the tour also makes appearances at the Pink Garter Theater in Jackson,
Wyo.; the Alta Arts Center in Alta, Utah; and The Millenium Place in Whistler, B.C.
Find more information at coldsmokeawards.com.
