DENVER — As the front doors to the Bellco Theatre swing open, you may catch a glimpse of Meredith McKee zipping around as a parade of Chaco-clad feet marches by her.
She’s checking off some last minute things on her to-do list.
“Any given event, the first time you throw it, there’s a lot going on. It’s all good,” McKee says reassuringly.
She’s the program director for 5Point Film Festival. Not to be confused with the historic Denver neighborhood, the Carbondale, Colo.-based organization has been showing adventure films for 11 years. They're in Denver for this first time this week as part of the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show.
Tuesday, Outdoor Retailer chose them to present The Night of Stoke - a night to share films about why it's important to protect public lands. It was the only event during the week-long outdoor industry tradeshow that’s open to the public.
“The Night of Stoke really exemplifies why Outdoor Retailer is in Colorado,” McKee explains.
The expo held its first meeting in the Centennial State in January. It migrated here from Utah in part because of how Colorado treats their public lands with love and respect.
“All of the films that we’re going to see here tonight that were filmed in the U.S. were filmed on public land,” the mustachioed master of ceremonies explains to the crowd.
McKee elaborates, “Without public lands, our outdoor industry doesn’t have a place to film, or a place for people to enjoy.”
5Point kept things local. The film Beyond the Horizon features Colorado native Steve Brown, and The Frenchy features 82-year-old skier and mountain biker Jacques Houot and filmmaker Michelle Smith, who both call Carbondale home.
Smith is excited to get her film in front of so many eyes.
“I just love telling stories, and inspiring other people, and making other people think out of the box," she said.
Houot is still getting used to the spotlight, but he knows it’s important to represent his the film.
“I’m happy to be up fronting that story because it’s been helping so many people.”
A portion of the money made from Tuesday’s show will go to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program designed to help protect natural areas like national parks.
And THAT is the Most Colorado Thing We Saw Today. What about you? Email the Colorado things you see to next@9news.com.
