A short film festival celebrating the full scope of female athletes and adventurers by un-defining what it means to be a woman in adventure, sport and film.
No Man’s Land is deeply engaged in enhancing the feminine presence in the outdoor adventure arena. The goal of this festival is to connect like-minded individuals who are action-oriented, wish to support a shared vision of gender equality, have a desire to experience their passions and environments through a uniquely feminine lens, and above all, love adventure.
Runtime: NR • approx. 2 hours
-Film Lineup-
Who Are You To Tell A Story? (3:10)
Director + Producer: Erica Hinck
Female Director + Producer
An intimate view of the filmmaker’s frustrations and fears. Erica never thought this
project would be viewed on such a big screen by so many people at once. While it is
scary for her, she’s thankful for those who make her feel brave and for all of you for
watching it now.
Reclaim Your Water: Natasha Smith (4:40)
Director: Faith E. Briggs
Producers: Kesshaan Cortez, BJ Frogozo + Purvi Patel
Female Director
Breaking barriers and making her own waves, Natasha Smith is a core member of the
Ebony Beach Club. She shares her own story in hopes of increasing representation in
surf, skate, and any other sport or activity that has historically been exclusive and can
give such an individual sense of freedom.
Stepping Out: Three Women, Ten Days To Ski in The Alaska Range For The First
Time (15:13)
Directors: Lani Bruntz + Mali Noyes
Producer: Mike Ferrell
Female Directors
Lani Bruntz, Maddie Crowell, and Mali Noyes set out to ski in the Alaska Range for their
first time. Serving as their own guides, they were excited to arrive on the glacier and
were quickly humbled by the complex structure of the terrain. In a new setting, they
reimagine what success looks like beyond the familiar expectations of adventure
athletes. The mission? Thrive in new roles and progress as a team to test their limits as
skiers and leaders. No trip is perfect but the most memorable ones evolve beyond sport.
This is Beth (17:41)
Director: Jen Randall
Producers: Sarah Steele + Noam Argov
Cinematographers: Tara Kerzhner + Jen Randall
Female Director, Producer + Cinematographer
Rock climber Beth Rodden is one of the most prolific athletes in climbing history, with
multiple free ascents of El Capitan and first ascents of cutting-edge lines to her name.
‘This is Beth’ takes an intimate look beneath the forward-facing success of her career,
diving into Beth’s grapple with body image and cruel self-talk, and celebrating how she
transformed this dynamic to rediscover the love of her sport and herself.
Apayauq (16:29)
Director: Zeppelin Zeerip
Producer: Princess Daazhraii Johnson
Female Producer
Apayauq Reitan’s journey to become the first out transgender woman to complete the
legendary Iditarod sled dog race.
Benched (8:45)
Director: Bronwyn Davies
Female Director
This is the story of a female professional athlete and new mother faced with the
challenge of corporate politics coupled with societal norms. On March 12th, four-time
U.S. mountain bike champion and professional cyclist Sonya Looney posted an Instagram
video of herself manualling rollers and riding berms through a mini pump track in
Kelowna, British Columbia. She was 40 weeks pregnant and she gave birth to a healthy
baby boy a few days later.
This is the inspirational story of how Sonya challenges the norms of motherhood while
simultaneously working to redefine the corporate side of athletics. Female athletes
shouldn’t have to struggle to keep their pregnancy journeys hidden. Fear of sponsorship
loss, failure to maintain results and standings, and societal pressure are all at play.
Suppose companies and people think that women can’t recover from pregnancy and be
just as good, if not better. How can the athletes believe that themselves? Are female
athletes indeed forced to choose between sponsorship and motherhood?
Elevated (15:08)
Director: Palmer Morse
Producer: Rachel Weinberg
Female Producer
Effective communication is a challenge every climber faces. It’s a sport that requires
intense focus, dedication, and overcoming fear. For Deaf climber Sonya Wilson,
communication and community is of vital importance. Elevated is a non-verbal film
sharing Sonya’s experience as a Deaf woman and outdoor advocate working to bridge
the gap between the Deaf community and the outdoor industry, one crag at a time.
Free to Run (30:57)
Directors + Producers: Carrie + Tim Hifgman
Female Director + Producer
FREE TO RUN – a mission to tell the stories of women using sport to transform the
world around them.
After completing the TOR330 race four times, Stephanie Case’s next goal in sight was
the TOR450, all while working behind the scenes to organize an all-women expedition
in Afghanistan with Free to Run. These women include Zeinab and Zahra, who represent
not only Free to Run’s ethos but the spirit of many other women in Afghanistan who
believe in education and progress. Captured by the lenses of Dream Lens Media, this is a
truly unique moment in history documenting Stephanie’s unshakeable strength and
incredible belief in the power of the women around her.
