As unprecedented threats to America’s public lands dominate the national conversation, AlpinFilm 2026 will open with a community-centered panel discussion focused on a simple but urgent question: How do we align our love for public lands and waters with strategies to protect them?
The panel will take place Friday, January 16, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Black Diamond store (160 W. Pearl Ave.) and serves as the public kickoff to AlpinFilm’s 2026 theme, For the Love of the Land.
Moderated by Chris Perkins, Vice President of Programs at the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, the discussion brings together athletes, scientists, business owners, and guides whose lives and livelihoods are deeply tied to public lands:
- Anna Gibson, professional endurance athlete and 2026 Winter Olympian
- Sheila Walsh Reddy, Global Director and Lead Scientist, Conservation Impact, The Nature Conservancy; Board Chair, Teton Climbers’ Coalition
- Kim Havell, Founding Board Member, Teton Backcountry Alliance; professional ski athlete and guide
- Aaron Pruzan, whitewater pioneer and business owner, Rendezvous River Sports
The panel is part of an expanded focus for both AlpinFilm and the Teton Climbers’ Coalition.
“AlpinFilm has always been a celebration of what we love to do in the mountains, but this year feels different,” said Christian Beckwith, Executive Director of the Teton Climbers’ Coalition and founder of AlpinFilm. “With proposed large-scale public lands selloffs and growing political pressure in Washington, we felt a responsibility to use AlpinFilm as more than a film festival—to make it a catalyst for cultural change around how we value and defend the places we love.”
The panel is designed to be participatory and action-oriented. Attendees will be invited to reflect on the public lands and waters that shaped them, contribute to AlpinFilm’s six-word “Love the Land” letter campaign, and engage directly with panelists about the moments that sparked their commitment to conservation. The discussion will also explore how athletes and outdoor businesses can translate inspiration into stewardship, and what practical steps individuals can take to protect public lands in their own communities.
Doors open at 4:00 p.m., with food and beverages available. The panel will conclude with a Q&A, followed by a short transition to the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts, where AlpinFilm’s opening-night programming continues.
The panel is free and open to the public, with seating limited.
AlpinFilm 2026, which features award-winning adventure films, live conversations, and community events centered on adventure, stewardship, and the future of public lands, takes place January 16–17 in Jackson Hole and online. More information about the fourth annual festival may be found here.