Putting together a festival in a pandemic is no easy feat but we believe original thinking is needed now, more than ever. As hard and uncertain it is these days, gathering is still crucial to what makes us human. Earlier this summer, we announced much of the programming for our in-person event in Telluride this September 30-October 3rd and now we have added a bunch of knockout names to the list of people coming to town.

We look forward to holding our 4th annual Original Thinkers festival in-person September 30th to October 3rd in Telluride, Colorado. We are thankful that 90% of San Miguel County is vaccinated, but we are still closely monitoring all local, state and national public health guidelines. Safety is paramount to us. In order to protect and mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and the Delta variant for our guests, attendees, staff and the local community we are putting into place the following protocols.

Former Sundance Institute Program Director Joins Company as President.

Episode 20 of the Original Thinkers Presents series. Jane Ferguson of PBS NewsHour joins David Holbrooke in conversation about the US withdrawal from the war in Afghanistan.

Tangled Roots follows Kentucky State Representative Attica Scott as she fights to pass a bill that would ban black hair discrimination statewide. Against a national backdrop of similar bills being proposed, heard, and passed across the country, as well as countless examples of black men and women being fired, expelled, and maligned for their hair, Representative Scott aims to dismantle a system of discrimination against black people who are penalized for something seemingly innocuous — their hair.

Join Original Thinkers for our monthly OT Movie Night Wednesday, June 30 at the Telluride Transfer Warehouse. This month’s edition will feature a screening of Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America followed by an engaging conversation with Telluride Mayor DeLanie Young and Ridgway Mayor John Clark. The event kicks off at 8:30pm (MT) and admission is free.

Original Thinkers wants to celebrate the freedom and education that comes with making Juneteenth a federal holiday. This is an important step forward, however we also recognize there is still work to be done. So, this Juneteenth, Original Thinkers rededicates itself to addressing racial disparities through conversations and content addressing how to realize a more equal, equitable world. We have compiled a list of books, songs and documentaries in the hopes of assisting the efforts to cultivate a more well-informed society.

The Festival is confirmed for September 30 - October 3 in Telluride, along with a virtual component October 1 - 31. Tickets are on sale now.