In 2008, Aisha Weinhold, a teenager at the time, decided to attend an adventure-film event in her hometown of Carbondale. A competitive ski-mountaineer, she was inspired by the stories of fellow athletes on the big screen—but not in the way she expected. Almost every movie, it seemed, featured a man’s accomplishments. If covered at all, women were treated as secondary characters or scenery.

Seven years later, after earning her degree in environmental science and adventure education from Prescott College in Arizona, Weinhold launched No Man’s Land Film Festival. Held at the Carbondale Community School, the event sought to showcase adventure documentaries that highlighted women’s stories, and Weinhold certainly achieved that goal. The sold-out inaugural fest screened films about female climbers, skiers, and surfers. “What we weren’t seeing were women in action, and we aimed to help change [that] narrative,” says Kathy Karlo, who has been involved in the festival since 2017 and became its executive director two years later.

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But there was one big issue with the fest’s early years: The vast majority of films centered on cis white women. So, after moving its flagship event from Carbondale to Denver in 2019, No Man’s Land expanded its capacity—from 125 seats at Carbondale’s Crystal Theatre to 400 at Denver’s Holiday Theater—and its definition of diversity. Closed captioning became standard for all films, and ASL interpreters began working at live events. Organizers also created new ways to support filmmakers in underserved communities, such as $2,500 grants for genderqueer and Black female filmmakers. And lineups began to include more individuals from diverse racial, sexual, and gender backgrounds.

“We’ve championed women and genderqueer athletes, filmmakers, storytellers, and creatives by investing in them [and giving them] the respect and support they deserve,” Karlo says. Denver filmmaker Biz Young says becoming a finalist in the festival’s pitch contest in 2021 helped her make connections that boosted her career. “My interest in film and in the outdoor industry was solidified by No Man’s Land,” says Young, who now works as the North Face’s global media director.

No Man’s Land’s shift will be on full display during its 10th anniversary event, which will screen roughly 30 films at the Holiday Theater on International Women’s Day weekend. World premieres include Let My People Go Skiing by Indigenous, Colorado-based film director, skier, and scientist Ellen Bradley; Full Spectrum, a biography of the autistic, queer runner Caroline Whatley by queer filmmaker Erin McGrady; and Outlier, a documentary of three Latina snow athletes by Montrose-based director and producer Dani Reyes-Acosta.

The two-day occasion also includes four hourlong panels exploring topics ranging from Indigenous perspectives to men’s roles in feminism. As varied as No Man’s Land’s selection might be, however, its underlying intent remains the same. “The most exciting part of this event,” Young says, “is seeing back-to-back films of women in the industry crushing it.”

No Man’s Land Film Festival runs March 7–8. Tickets are available at nomanslandfilmfestival.org ($65 for a one-day ticket, $120 for both days). Can’t make it in person? Stream all the films and panels for $150 or watch individual titles for $25.

This article was originally published in 5280 March 2025.
Rebecca Bratburd
Rebecca Bratburd
Rebecca Bratburd is a contributing writer for 5280 and pens the monthly Hot Properties column, which showcases the best luxury listings in the Denver metro area.