The In-Person Experience

Telluride, CO •September 30 - October 3, 2021

6 Shows & More

01. Joy is an Inside Job
02. How Do We Heal?
03. Our Purpose Is Our Story
04. Truth Decay
05. Becoming Braver
06. The Big Idea •Into the After
+ The Spotlight Series
+ Live Music

Joy is an

Inside Job

Finding joy can be a challenge but is critical to a rich and full life according to the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. ↓

Our personal pursuit of joy can be complicated, layered and difficult. The thoughtful and uplifting documentary Mission:Joy wants to understand how to face this multi-layered challenge by exploring the unique friendship between Desmund Tutu and the Dalai Lama. The two holy men gathered in Dharamsala for several days of conversation and the film, directed by Oscar-winner Louie Psihoyos, consists of never-before-seen footage paired with beautiful animations. These two world religious leaders from vastly different backgrounds found hope, laughter and mutual companionship, offering lessons on how we can spread joy throughout our own lives. LEARN MORE

The Big Idea : Into the After

As we emerge from the pandemic, how do we create a smarter and more equitable world? ↓

The past 18 months have provided a real opportunity for many people to reexamine and recalibrate what they want from society. With that in mind, how do we move forward with intentionality and thoughtfulness, while at the same time disrupting, if not, dismantling age-old systems and constructs that do not serve our humanity and environment? Jean Oelwang is head of Virgin Unite and has delved deeply into understanding partnerships, which she believes is the key to creating a new paradigm. Engine No. 1 is a hedge fund, focused on climate change, that recently took on Exxon in an effective way that could have enormous ramifications on the future of our planet. Joining these speakers will be an array of festival guests who will briefly share their own big idea of how we build a new world that works for everyone. LEARN MORE

Our Purpose Is Our Story

Our Purpose Is Our Story

How do we lead a life of purpose that results in its own unique and indelible story? ↓

We are each leading a life that results in its own unique story. Some of us stumble through this narrative finding intention along the way, while others move with purpose, on a mission to make a difference. That is certainly the case with Pat Mitchell who has long been a cultural force at PBS, CNN and Sundance Institute, while also being the editorial director of TEDWomen, but she only really found her full freedom when she embraced her story and recognized herself as a dangerous woman, which she explores in her memoir Becoming a Dangerous Woman. Harold O’Neal is an exceptional storyteller and musician whose own personal story became the basis for some of the ambitious Pixar film, Soul. Understanding these stories will help us understand our own purpose and how the two are explicitly intertwined. LEARN MORE

Live Music

Live Music to Open Shows ↓

We are thrilled to have talented musicians Linzy Gustafson, Brigid Kaelin, Gabrielle Louise, Kiran Oohmen and Tiffany Thompson to open shows with 30 minute sets. Chris Pierce will showcase a concert and story during our OT Spotlight series. LEARN MORE

How Do We Heal?

Trauma manifests itself in so many ways - how can it be disrupted? ↓

The pandemic both exacerbated old issues and sparked all sorts of new stressors for people across the world. That was certainly what Tiny DeCory saw on the Pine Ridge reservation, where teen suicides more than tripled despite her best efforts to stem this tide. Tiny’s suicide prevention efforts are captured in the short documentary, The Bears on Pine Ridge. Dr. Halleh Sedigazzedah encounters the same thing in her work as a forensic traumatologist, where she focuses on survivors of human trafficiking, war, terrorism, genocide, gender-based violence and ecclesiastic abuse and offers a holistic approach to healing. Unfortunately, there is too much demand for the work of Dr. Halleh and Tiny, two women determined to disrupt trauma wherever they see it. LEARN MORE

Truth Decay

The attacks on truth are real and deeply dangerous so how do we stop this scourge? ↓

“Truth decay” is a phrase President Obama used to describe the current state of truth in this country, saying “not only do we not have to tell the truth but the truth doesn’t even matter.” This growing scourge is fueled by social media and other disreputable entities. Mick West is the founder of Metabunk.org, which investigates a cross-section of conspiracy theories. He is also the author of Escaping the Rabbit Hole, in which he outlines the ways that he helps people see actual facts more clearly and that starts with communication. We Have Reached the Moment is a short documentary about an ongoing conversation between Vic Barrett who is a 21 year-old climate activist and plaintiff in the landmark legal case Juliana vs. United States and his father who is not convinced climate change is happening. This isn’t an easy conversation yet one that seems ever more essential as the assault on truth is real and deeply problematic. LEARN MORE

Becoming Braver

What happens when a radical group of nuns takes on the Catholic Church patriarchy by deciding to live their truth through marching in Selma, creating protest art and trying to change the sexism and broken infrastructure of this hidebound institution? ↓

In the late 60’s, social change percolated across America including in one unexpected precinct - the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary convent in Los Angeles. The feature documentary Rebel Hearts, directed by Pedro Kos, tells the riveting and rollicking story of these bold and defiant nuns who knew that the world was changing and they had to be part of it. The women went on to make art, march in Selma and push back against the sexism and broken infrastructure within the Catholic Church. As one might expect, they were met with deep and formidable opposition from the patriarchy in the Catholic Church, even though what the nuns were doing were acts of faith. Their resistance caused all sorts of turmoil for the Catholic Church and their impact continues to resonate today, inspiring a new generation of rebel hearts who are committed to love and equality. LEARN MORE

Gwen Thompkins.jpg — The Spotlight Series

The Spotlight Series

Experiences that blend the boundaries of story, conversation and art across an in-person and virtual format. ↓

The OT Spotlight Series will showcase various original thinkers in a distilled environment - diving deep into their unique experiences and outlooks through the lens of story, conversation and art. LEARN MORE