The Winterstoke Film Festival brings the winning ski films from a contest for local amateur filmmakers to Carbondale this weekend for an annual winter kickoff.
Marcus Kates is a 27-year-old from Glenwood Springs and a multiple "Golden Boot" winner. That's the top prize at Winterstoke; the audience votes on their favorite short film at the event. Kates uses a GoPro and his phone to shoot footage of his friends skiing and riding.
He says he’s always nervous to have his films shown in front of an audience, but it’s worth it when the stars of his films see the final product.
“To see some of my friends -- who haven’t necessarily seen what I’ve put together -- to see the stoke on their faces is pretty neat," he said.
The annual festival is sponsored by the True Media Foundation and Sunlight Resort in Glenwood Springs. Troy Hawks is Sunlight’s marketing director. He says the festival is meant to build community.
"Just recognizing that we’re all out there skiing and what we have in common is the excitement for winter," he said.
The professionally-produced feature-length “Return To Sender” from Matchstick Productions will also be screened at the festival, which takes place at the Third Street Center Saturday night.
