OT Telluride

$150

The Big Idea Pass gets you access to all OT events in Telluride from Thursday, October 5 through Saturday, October 7. This includes film screenings, talks, and all other gatherings including Original Drinkers after-parties.

OTV

$100

The OTV Pass gets you access to all OT events at CampV from Sunday, October 8 to Tuesday, October 10. This includes all film and speaker programming as well as guided hikes, meditation, yoga and other activities.

This does NOT include lodging or food.

Lodging should be booked directly through CampV when purchasing passes. Food passes are available for purchase. If you need transportation from Telluride to Naturita please let us know by emailing info@originalthinkers.com.

Directed by Sara Nodjoumi and Till Schauder

Regimes and artists are always going to have a challenging relationship and that was certainly the case with painter Nicky Nodjoumi and Iran. This compelling documentary delves into just how complicated it was for this artist who art was celebrated and banned, while he was tortured and eventually left Iran, making a home and career in Brooklyn. The film, directed by his daughter Sara and son-in-law Till Schauder, also offers up an unexpected mystery about what happened to some of his paintings that stayed in Iran. Nodjoumi’s artworks will be exhibited in Telluride and co-director Till Schauder will be in attendance.

Directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Samantha Knowles

Bail reform seems like such an unlikely subject for a great documentary however this short is compelling with a terrific central character in reformer and activist Elisabeth Epps. She toils into the night in Denver, helping incarcerated people who can’t afford their bail before trial, which is yet another way for society to criminalize poverty. Her work is inspiring and the film sheds light on a subject that we would not know otherwise, while adding another layer with her run for State Representative representing Denver. This woman is a force and dedicated abolitionist who we are so fortunate to get to know through this film.

Directed by Owen Dubeck

Thirty to forty percent of the produce grown in our country goes to waste, a shocking statistic that shocked some young organizers into action that resulted in the Farmlink Project. Born out of necessity during the pandemic, this organization works to fix the broken supply chains between farmers and food groups working to feed people in need. This short doc tells the story of an astonishing success that has grown substantially while rescuing more than 70 million pounds of food, providing economic relief worth more than $4 million to farmers and serving about 60 million meals over the last three years. 

Directed by Liberty Smith

This funny and poignant short doc profiles artist Angela Charles who has had to deal with a degenerative eye condition, which is particularly vexing for a painter. However as an art critic said about her work, “A blind artist is not a contradiction. A blind artist is potentially even an upgrade.” Still, it has been a challenge, one that Angela takes on with honesty, vulnerability and mostly good humor as she not only continues to create beauty but also bring about changes as she advocates for more accessibility in the arts. 

Directed by Maite Alberti

This is a most unusual documentary that is part love story, history lesson and a deeply thoughtful reflection on memory. It tells the story of a magical Chilean couple - Augusto and Paulina - who have lived through so much politically, personally and now are grappling with his advancing Alzheimers. They are not an ordinary pair. Augusto was a legendary Chilean newscaster and commentator who's still haunted by reporting the horrors of past Chilean history. Paulina is extraordinary herself in her own accomplishments as a famous actress and minister of culture and as a loving, caring partner to her ailing husband. These are not easy themes to explore and yet, the filmmaking is fresh and inventive, so much so that it sometimes feels like a fiction film that is trying to reach these deeper truths.

Directed by Diane Russo Cheng

Skateboarding can be a toxic culture for trans people, making the story of Alexa, a trans woman with a strong skate community unusual and compelling, especially in this sharply made short doc.

Directed by Bryan Simpson and Taylor Simpson

Remembering their late father, two brothers create a touching and fun tribute to him through pieces of his art, family mementoes and interviews.

Directed by Sophia Lebowitz

Passion and outrage permeate Piled Up, which tells the story of Anna Sacks, a dumpster diver in New York City who finds an insane amount of perfectly usable food and other products in the trash. Her work gains her a significant social media following but her psyche gets weighed down by what to do with the ever-growing waste she collects. Her infectious energy allows her the drive to persist. 

Directed by Owen Dubeck

An entirely unexpected candidate, Paperboy Love Prince (yes, that is their real name) wants to be mayor of New York City. The campaign is like the candidate themselves, flamboyant, funny and also deeply rooted in a serious and sensible belief that there should be more equitable representation in politics. 

Directed by Dan Ashby

Former coal towns are challenged by poisoned rivers that are often polluted with iron oxide. Surprisingly, iron oxide is a key component of paint and a resourceful artist is extracting it for commercial use to use in his artworks, while helping the rivers heal.