The Whitefish Festival highlights solutions to climate change

Climate speakers, filmmakers, fashion designers, podcasters, music artists and community supporters gathered last weekend for Project Winterland's Impact Festival for the greater good.

The purpose of the SXSW-style “conglomeration” conference was to tell stories and share solutions on climate resilience.

“The hope is that people will learn something from these documentaries and engage with the speakers and sessions to learn that even small changes matter together,” said Anderson Rosenthal, founder of Project Winterland, a nonprofit with Based in Whitefish, advocating for climate solutions and justice.

The four-day festival featured 44 films, 29 keynote speakers, five immersive experiences, seven venues and six bands.

Chance Thomas, a sustainable events planner who currently lives in Lakeside and helped organize the event, said it was a “new kind of festival that is a response to the most pressing issues of our time.”

On Thursday evening, screenings of Indigenous films Bring Them Home and Rebirth of the Range, as well as an opening ceremony by Calgary native Dustin Walter, whose Blackfoot name is Mistukii Ksistukii (Mountain Beaver), kicked off the Changemaker on the Festival. stage,” Thomas said.

Models walked the runway Saturday night after the screening of Jeff Garner's documentary “Let Them Be Naked” to demonstrate sustainable clothing and consumer transparency.

A personal highlight for Thomas was the last day of the festival, where many were able to take a deep breath and appreciate everyone's hard work, especially Rosenthal.

Thomas praised Rosenthal for connecting and curating the large number of diverse artists and voices.

“It is an honor to be part of this group. I said to Anderson, 'You did this…we just surrounded you.' Change starts with the individual,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the goal of next year's Impact Festival is to take it all and do it all again, with a “bigger call to be part of the movement.” “

Thomas said volunteers, including Whitefish High School students from the FREEFLOW Environmental Science Club, and venues such as the Whitefish Performing Arts Center and the O'Shaughnessy Center were critical to the event's success.

In the future, they hope to include more voices and invite more people from the community to participate.

Sustainable clothing is adapted for a runway walk on the backstage of the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. On stage, Wild Wind prepares to play music. (Photo provided by Hope Kaufman/hkcameraface) .