Mountains of the Moon: Chris Benchetler’s Latest Masterpiece

“Without darkness, we cannot see the light.”

That phrase is the heartbeat of Mountains of the Moon, the newest and most ambitious project from artist, skier, and filmmaker Chris Benchetler. A multidimensional exploration of the connections between sport, life, music, and the living earth set to the music of the Grateful Dead, the film invites viewers into a surreal dreamscape where the elements themselves seem to breathe in rhythm with the action.

Captured almost entirely at night, Mountains of the Moon pushes the boundaries of outdoor cinematography with lasers, animation, and projection mapping, creating an otherworldly visual language that blurs the line between the physical and the ethereal. Athletes appear as glowing figures: lit-up skeletons that represent the light within us all, a reminder of the shared essence that connects every living being no matter our external differences.

If these visuals ring a bell, it's no surprise. The project builds on the creative foundation Benchetler laid with Teton Gravity Research for the 2019 film, Fire on the Mountain. This time, the scope is bigger, the collaboration deeper, and the vision even more expansive.

The roster of featured athletes reads like a who’s who of adventure and artistry: Chris Benchetler, Mickey Hart, Rob Machado, Michelle Parker, Sam Kuch, Elena Hight, Danny Davis, Dennis Ranalter, Alannah Yip, Hamish McArthur, Sam Stroh, Carson Storch, Hannah Bergemann, Ryan Howard, Casey Brown, Peter Benchetler, Tom Balfour, and Kimi Werner.

Narrated by Paul Stamets, the film leads audiences through ocean, river, and mountain landscapes, each scene a meditation on life, death, and the resilience of nature. Moreover, the film is a challenge to and celebration of what it means to be human.

The global premiere of Mountains of the Moon goes down on November 15th. The Mountains of the Moon Project also includes a companion art book by Benchetler, along with immersive gallery installations opening in Los Angeles from November 15–23.

From the slopes to the sea, from light to shadow, Mountains of the Moon is a cinematic love letter to the interconnectedness of all things, a reminder that even in darkness, the light never leaves us.