TRAILER
AN AMERICAN ASCENT is a documentary film about the first African-American expedition to tackle North America's highest peak, Denali.
In only a few decades the United States will become a majority-minority nation, as people of color will outnumber today's white majority for the first time ever. Yet, a staggering number of people in this soon-to-be majority do not consider the outdoors as a place for them. By by taking on the grueling, 20,310 foot peak of the continent's biggest mountain, nine African-American climbers set out to shrink this Adventure Gap by building a legacy of inclusion in the outdoor/adventure community.
The film addresses often overlooked issues of race and the outdoors as it follows the team up the mountain, chronicling the many challenges of climbing one of the worlds most iconic peaks.
AN AMERICAN ASCENT is Wild Vision / Floating Point co-production. The film was produced and directed by George Potter & Andy Adkins, and written by Andy Adkins & James Mills. It follows Expedition Denali, a project of the National Outdoor Leadership School.
The film is currently available on DVD various streaming platforms, and for special screening engagements.
DVD + bonus features
We're excited to be able to offer the film An American Ascent to everyone! Pick up a DVD* and be part of the story! Every DVD sale helps us continue to reach kids around the country through film screenings and special events.
All DVDs contain still images from the production and additional bonus features like route maps and more.
All DVDs are sold through our friends at Patchmarks.
Allow 10-14 days shipping.
*For home use only.
Running time: 66 Minutes
Also available streaming on:
iTunes (Documentary section)
Amazon Video (Indie Movies section)
SCREENINGS
Feb. 11 / Denali National Park and Preserve
Denali, AK
Feb. 15 / Sierra Club Detroit Inspiring Connections
Detroit, MI
Feb. 18 / Williams Outing Club
Williamstown, MA
Feb. 27 / Granville Island Cultural Society/Vancouver International Film Centre
Vancouver, BC Details
Feb. 28 / MIT Outing Club
MIT Building 26-100, Cambridge, MA
Mar. 3 / Yale Outdoors
New Haven, CT
Mar. 23 / PNW Outdoor Women
Seattle, WA
April. 30 / Venture Outdoor Leadership at UNC Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
2017 Past Screenings
Jan. 2-10/Waimea Ocean Film Festival
Waimea, HI (Details)
Jan. 16 / Michigan State Univ. Detroit Center
Detroit, MI (Details)
Jan. 17/ Indiana Univ. Outdoor Adventures
Bloomington, IN (Details)
Jan. 17 / Tufts Mountain Club
Medford, MA
Jan. 31 / Lewis and Clark College
Portland, OR (Details)
Feb. 1 / Colorado College Outdoor Education
Colorado Springs, CO
Feb. 2 / Rye Country Day School
Rye, NY
Feb. 9 / John's Hopkins Univ.
Baltimore, MD
Feb. 9 / National Parks Conservation Assoc.
Seattle, WA
2016 Screenings
Nov. 30 / UWM Share the Earth Environmental Film Series
Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 17 / Tufts Mountain Club
Medford, MA
Nov. 17 / Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC
Nov. 9 /Ithaca College
Dept. of Recreation and Leisure Studies
Climber Scott Briscoe will be in attendance for Q&A
Nov. 3 / West Virginia University
Adventure WV and the Center for Black Culture and Research
Climber Tyrhee Moore will be in attendance for Q&A
Nov. 3 / Patagonia Portland
Free First Thursday screening in the store.
Climber Scott Briscoe will be in attendance for Q&A
Nov. 2 / Northwest Youth Corps
Eugene, OR
Climber Scott Briscoe will be in attendance for Q&A
Sept. 23 / Claremont/Pomona College
Office of Black Student Affairs, Claremont, CA Details
Sept. 23 / MCC Special Family Movie Night: An American Ascent
Yellowstone National Park, WY
Sept. 16 / Wild and Scenic Film Festival (On tour)
Duluth, MN (Tickets/Info)
Sept. 9 / Wild and Scenic Film Festival (On tour)
Minneapolis, MN (Tickets/Info)
Aug 7 / Hollywood Theater, Portland, Oregon Premiere, 7p
Hollywood Theater Tickets
Director Andy Adkins and DP Hudson Henry will be leading a Q&A after the film.
Aug 4 / Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park, 3p
Woodstock, VT More Info/Tickets
July 27 / Straub Environmental Lecture Series
Willamette University, Hudson Hall, Salem, OR Details
Climber Scott Briscoe, Filmmakers Andy Adkins and Hudson Henry will lead a Q&A after the film.
July 20 / San Francisco Green Film Festival
San Francisco, CA Details
July 5th / Brothers of Climbing Movie Night
Brooklyn Boulders Queensbridge, Long Island City, NY Info/Tickets
Jun 7th / Benjamin Banneker School
Cambridge, MA
May 26th / Voyageur Outward Bound School
Ely, MN
May 20th / Evergreen College
Olympia, WA
Apr 22nd / Great Lakes Environmental Film Festival
Milwaukee, WI
Mar 19th / DC Environmental Film Festival
Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC
Mar 2nd / DC Environmental Film Festival Special Youth Event
DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
Feb 25th / University Academy
Kansas City, MO
Feb 19th / BLM Youth Summit
California State University, Sacramento, CA
Jan 16/17th / Wild and Scenic Film Festival
Osborn-Woods Theater, Nevada City, CA. Details
2015 Screenings
Nov 15th / Chicago Adventure Film Festival
Logan Theater, Chicago, IL. Details
Nov 15th / Bay Area Wilderness Training
New Parkway Theater, Oakland CA. Details
Nov. 12th / SEED School. Washington, DC
Oct. 7th / Baltimore International Black Film Festival
Sept. 18th / Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival
June 26th / The White House
June 17th / 17th Annual Roxbury International Film Festival, Boston
Opening Night Film at the Boston Museum of Fine Art. Check details
June 17th / Denver Red Carpet Premiere
Greenwood Village Landmark Theater. Check details
June 12th / American Black Film Festival, NYC
April 29th / Festival International Du Film Pan African
Check Pan African Film Festival Cannes details
April 12th / 6.30pm / Langston Hughes Film Festival
Check Langston Hughes Film Festival details
April 4th / 3.30pm / Oakland International Film Festival
Check Oakland Film Festival details
February Screenings in Los Angeles at Pan African Film Festival
JUNE 30, 2015
The White House
We screened to a packed house in the South Court Auditorium last Friday, June 26. Check out the blog post.
June 1, 2015
Nominated for Best Documentary at American Black Film Festival
NYC June 11-14. Vote for us! Just kidding you can't. But we'll let you know if we win June 14.
may 22, 2015
Opening the 17th Annual Roxbury International Film
We're happy to announce that we've been selected to open this 10 day festival in Boston on June 17th.
March 26, 2015
Going International.
We're screening across the U.S. every week through April: Brooklyn, Oakland, Seattle and Vegas. Then we kick off May at Festival International Du Film Panafricain in Cannes.
March 11, 2015
AN AMERICAN ASCENT Wins Another "Best" Award.
Best Feature Film at the Mountain & Adventure Film Festival from Film Festival Flix.
February 6, 2015
AN AMERICAN ASCENT wins Best Director and Best Documentary at San Diego Black Film Festival.
