Jackson, WY – The Center for the Arts announced the full lineup for the inaugural Color Vérité Film Festival, an evening of feature‑length and short films that highlight under‑represented stories tied to nature and outdoor stewardship.
Free opening film celebrates diverse youth
At 5 p.m. the festival opens with a free community showing of “Across Together: The Return Expedition.” The documentary follows DACA recipients, Indigenous youth, Latinx families and children of illegal immigrants as they attempt to summit Citlaltépetl, the highest volcano in North America.
Ticketed short‑film program begins at 7 p.m.
After a brief intermission, the theater will screen a curated selection of short films. Highlights include the Sundance‑winning “The Boy and the Bees,” the Emmy‑nominated “Buckskin” by producer Mars Verrone, and the Snowlands Environmental Storytelling winner “Let My People Go Skiing.” The program spans Indigenous community narratives, immigrant experiences, environmental stewardship, skiing, paddling, climbing and personal connections to wild places. Tickets for the short‑film segment start at $20.
Featured shorts
- Sharp Edges – Assyrian diaspora writer and climber Shara Zaia explores identity, belonging and mental health in an eight‑minute portrait.
- Jaunt – A four‑minute look at a stressed office worker who finds freedom on mountain‑bike rides in his Porsche 944 Safari.
- Let My People Go Skiing – Tlingit skier‑scientist Ellen Bradley uses skiing to reconnect her Alaska Native community with traditional lands and to break barriers for youth.
- Footprints That Inspire – Mexican hiker Zelzin Aketzalli shares her journey completing the Triple Crown of Hiking and circling the Iztaccíhuatl volcano.
- Home – A ten‑minute drama about a father who shelters his young daughter from homelessness with camping, imagination and jazz, until reality intrudes.
- Buckskin – An experimental portrait of forester Carroll B. Williams, an African‑American and Indigenous pioneer.
- Talliyah – A four‑minute glimpse of Indian Relay Racing, featuring rider Talliyah Timentwa, one of the sport’s top women.
- Ofrenda – A 26‑minute story of a Georgia family tending bees and teaching their sons to care for the land.
- The Boy and the Bees – A family‑focused narrative about beekeeping and stewardship.
- Mystic Rider – Adaptive mountain‑biker Annijke rides red‑wood trails, emphasizing joy over tragedy.
- Rock Faced It All – Salvadoran‑American Teresa Bennett, diagnosed with Parkinson’s, climbs rocks at age 65 to build strength and resilience.
Evening celebration with DJ Jambalaya
The night concludes at 10 p.m. with a dance party in the Center Theater featuring world‑renowned DJ Jambalaya, whose New Orleans‑rooted grooves promise an infectious atmosphere. Tickets for the dance portion are $10.
Festival founder Jr Rodriguez said the collection of films “showcases the healing power of nature and the outdoors,” adding that each story uses the natural world as a catalyst for personal change and community connection.
Tickets are available through the Center for the Arts box office and online. The event is expected to draw families, outdoor enthusiasts and supporters of diverse cultural narratives from across Jackson and the surrounding region.
Original reporting: Buckrail (Jackson WY) — read the source article.
