Mountainfilm’s “Movies That Matter” Receives $50,000 Boost

24 Dec Mountainfilm’s “Movies That Matter” Receives $50,000 Boost

Major commitment from The McManemin Family Fund of the Telluride Foundation

Mountainfilm’s Making Movies That Matter. The program has already reach over 700 students. initiative offers teachers and students the chance to view a content-rich documentary and then learn how to use footage from that film to craft their own short video reactions to the themes and issues raised.

The Mountainfilm “Movies That Matter” initiative recently received a major Christmas present: a $50,000 grant from the McManemin Family Fund of the Telluride Foundation. Megan and Casey McManemin’s grant is designated for Mountainfilm’s education initiative, “Movies That Matter,” which introduces students to vital global issues through the medium of documentary films.

“We worked with Megan and Casey and Mountainfilm to structure a grant to support the Movies That Matter initiative,” said April Montgomery, Programs Director at the Telluride Foundation. “We are pleased to facilitate the McManemin family’s support of Mountainfilm and its programs that inform and inspire students in the Telluride region and beyond.”

Movies That Matter (MTM) connects with local K-12 schools all across the country, especially in underserved communities, to offer free screenings of award-winning films and learning opportunities based on uniquely informative and inspiring programming. Mountainfilm’s school initiative introduces middle and high school students to essential environmental, cultural and social issues through festival films, supported by customized teaching materials developed by accredited educational consultants that include interviews with the filmmakers, suggested talking points and discussion topics, and links to additional suggested readings and viewings.

For younger students, the Kidz Kino program offers age-appropriate shorts intended to make audiences gasp, whoop, cackle and wonder. Regardless of the age group, this leading-edge content is a no-cost add-on to almost any scheduled Mountainfilm tour stop.

“Megan and Casey McManemin and the Telluride Foundation have been tremendous supporters of Mountainfilm’s educational initiatives for many years,” said Mountainfilm’s Executive Director Sage Martin. “We are grateful for Megan and Casey’s renewed and expanded support of the Movies That Matter and for our partnership with the Telluride Foundation.”

The Telluride Foundation exists to create a stronger Telluride community through the cultivation and promotion of philanthropy. It is a nonprofit, apolitical community foundation that provides year-round support for local organizations involved in arts, education, athletics, charitable causes, land conservation and other community-based efforts through technical assistance, education and grant making. As a grant maker, the Foundation awards grants to qualified applicants that serve the people living and/or working in the Telluride region for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life within the region. For more information on the Telluride Foundation, visit www.telluridefoundation.org.