Dog Mushing, Movies, and an Alaskan Tradition in Colorado

Dog Mushing, Movies, and an Alaskan Tradition in Colorado

KRISTA HALSNES STARS IN AWARD WINNING FILM BY THE FILM DAILIES

BOULDER, Colo., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- An exuberant 15 year-old female dog musher. A novice filmmaker. A world-renowned dogsledder. A story that needs to be told. Three impassioned women whose lives have become intertwined for all time.

Molly had heard of Krista and Krista had heard of Susan.

The Spirit of the Outdoors Film Festival is proud to announce the first place winner: "Sled" by The Film Dailies. Molly Cherington of The Film Dailies created her first film in memory of her cousin Susan Butcher, a four-time Iditarod champion who passed away in 2006 from complications from leukemia. Molly and her partners, Hannah Vanderlan and Michael Lloyd had learned about a rather famous teenager in Steamboat Springs, Colorado whose love of dogs and the outdoors drove her, at a very young age, to become a dogsledder and thought this would be a story worth telling and a great way to pay tribute to Susan Butcher.

Krista Halsnes, 15, stars in "Sled" to tell her courageous story of how her love of nature and animals has shaped her life and led her into dogsled racing. With up to 12 Alaskan Huskies racing for her, Krista is now a competitive distance musher who first felt the thrill of victory in a sprint race at age eleven. Who knows if she'll decide to conquer the Iditarod, but the stage is set. She can make that decision later. For now, she works hard and manages the dogs with the guidance of her father, Jarle Halsnes, dog racer, breeder, trainer, and Norwegian giant slalom skier in the 1980 Winter Olympics. In the film, Krista says, "It's all about the dogs." She means it. With evocative music by The Film Dailies playing in the background, Krista's mom, Leigh Halsnes says Krista never starts a race without giving each dog a hug. They are a team so in sync with each other they can make it across rugged terrain, through high winds, in extreme cold, at speeds up to 22 miles per hour.

Other award-winning films include: "Dreaming of Sea Turtles" by Patrick J. Reddy of Buffalo Creek, Colorado and "Living the Dog-Lights Out of Your Day" by Emily Gerich, a student at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, Colorado. To see the complete list of films or to watch the videos, visit

   www.spiritoftheoutdoorsfilmfestival.com.    In memory of Susan Butcher  

Susan Butcher was a four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome, an exceptionally demanding race through extreme arctic conditions across the Alaskan wilderness. She was also a Top-12 finisher five times. The Susan Butcher Family Center at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage is a special, supportive place for children to go while their parent or sibling is being treated for cancer. To make a donation, please visit www.susanbutcher.com or call 907.479.3825.

The Film Dailies

The Film Dailies formed in early 2008 in Denver with a mission rooted in songwriting and storytelling to make indie pop electronica music and digital films. Molly Cherington and Michael Lloyd, are the creative team behind The Film Dailies' music. Hannah Vanderlan produces the films. The Film Dailies release their debut album, "Staring Up at Giants Again," Friday, May 22, 2009 at The b.side Lounge in Boulder, Colorado at 9PM. For more information visit: www.myspace.com/thefilmdailies

About Spirit of the Outdoors Film Festival

Boulder Digital Arts and REI sponsor the Spirit of the Outdoors Film Festival to showcase novice filmmakers' love of the outdoors. Films of note show those who are environmentally conscious, active, energetic, and determined to make a difference in the world. Their story must be told in under five minutes. www.spiritoftheoutdoorsfilmfestival.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Spirit of the Outdoors Film Festival

CONTACT: Lynne Sanditen, +1-303-800-4647, lynne@boulderdigitalarts.com,
for Spirit of the Outdoors Film Festival

Web Site: http://www.spiritoftheoutdoorsfilmfestival.com/
http://www.susanbutcher.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thefilmdailies

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Profile: International Entertainment