SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – For the first time ever, the Backcountry Film Festival will be visiting the South Shore. On March 20, Tahoe Backcountry Alliance is partnering with Lake Tahoe Community College’s (LTCC) Wilderness Education & Outdoor Leadership Program to host the film festival at Duke Theater. The night will consist of showing winter films celebrating backcountry experiences while offering attendees a chance to participate in a raffle to win some amazing prizes.
“The films celebrate human powered backcountry adventures and feature a mix of great action and beautiful scenery along with several that hit on some deeper themes,” said Anthony Cupaiuolo, Executive Director of Tahoe Backcountry Alliance. “There’s even one short film that I produced featuring local pro athlete, Claire Hewitt-Demeyer, that showcases Claire’s snowboarding skills on snow…and sand.”
Hewitt-Demeyer is a snowboarder from South Lake Tahoe. She specializes in splitboarding, a backcountry method using a board that splits into two skis for traversing uphill and then reconnects as a snowboard to shred downhill.
Hewitt-Demeyer will be featured alongside others, sharing stories of hope, the love for snowsport and the love for nature.
Local nonprofits including Tahoe Backcountry Alliance, Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association, Tahoe Rim Trail Association, Keep Tahoe Blue and Sierra Nevada Alliance will be at the event talking to attendees, answering questions and spreading awareness regarding ways to get involved.
After eight or so short films totaling two hours, folks have a chance to win an assortment of raffle prizes ranging from Rocky Talkie Radios, outerwear from Flylow and Patagonia, as well as backcountry-specific gear from Sports LTD. Gift certificates to local businesses like Summit to Shore Chiropractic can also be won, with Cupaiuolo noting that more items are coming in daily to be added to the raffle.
For the past seven years, Tahoe Backcountry Alliance has been hosting the Backcountry Film Festival in Truckee and Incline Village.
“We’re really excited that the first South Shore screening is at the Duke Theater at LTCC. It’s a perfect venue and the Wilderness Education & Outdoor Leadership Program is the perfect partner. The classes they teach help people learn how to recreate safely and responsibly in our amazing backyard. With this being our first year hosting it on the South Shore, we’re looking at it as a ‘base building’ event and hope to grow the event going forward.”
Doors to the Backcountry Film Festival open at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 20. The films will start at 6:30 p.m. and by 8:45 p.m., the films wrap up and the raffle winners will be announced.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $8 for students including those from LTCC and local schools. They can be purchased at https://givebutter.com/south-lake-tahoe-tba-bcff-2026
To learn more about the Backcountry Film Festival or Tahoe Backcountry Alliance, visit tahoebackcountryalliance.org
For more information on LTCC’s Wilderness Education & Outdoor Leadership Program, go to https://www.ltcc.edu/academics/academic_programs/wildernessed.php.
LTCC’s Duke Theater is located at 98 E College Dr in South Lake Tahoe California.
