Select your language
Ben ‘Sturge’ Sturgulewski is a National Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who grew up in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands. As a director, cinematographer, editor, and writer, he has worked in some of the world’s most rugged and inspiring environments, creating documentaries, narrative films, action sports projects, and commercial productions. His work has screened at festivals worldwide and earned numerous awards. In 2024, he released his first feature documentary, ‘Champions of the Golden Valley’, which premiered at Tribeca, won more than 50 awards, including a National Emmy in 2026 for Outstanding Long Sports Documentary and the Grand Prize at the Mendi Film festival in 2025. He now divides his time between Alaska and the mountains of Colorado.
She is a journalist specializing in mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and adventure. Born in Spain, she has built an international career, mainly covering Himalayan and Karakoram expeditions for three decades. She is Senior Mountain Editor at US-based ExplorersWeb.com and collaborates with print, audiovisual, and online media in Europe and the US. In 2024, she was named among the 50 most influential people in the mountain world. She served on the jury of the 74th Trento Film Festival and is featured in Amir Bar-Lev’s film The Last First: Winter K2 (2026). She is also a published author.
He served as President of the Trento Film Festival, having previously chaired the Italian Alpine Club (1992–1998) and the Club Arc Alpin (2001–2004). Until last year, he was Vice-President of the International Alliance for Mountain Film (IAMF). He has also served as a jury member at the Bansko Film Festival. His passion for festivals and mountain cinema is something he has also passed on to his granddaughters, who have already volunteered in Trento and Korea. Alongside his career in industrial relations, working with companies and industry associations, he has maintained a longstanding involvement with organisations and businesses engaged in cultural initiatives.
Katie Stjernholm is a producer and impact strategist motivated by stories worth telling. She has created documentaries, commercials and impact campaigns for leading organizations and media networks including the Smithsonian Institution, World Wildlife Fund, the BBC, and Arc'teryx. Her work has been featured in the National Geographic Short Film Showcase, the Discovery Channel, and over 140 film festivals worldwide. Her first feature documentary, ‘Champions of the Golden Valley’, which premiered at Tribeca, won more than 50 awards, including a National Emmy in 2026 for Outstanding Long Sports Documentary and the Grand Prize at the Mendi Film festival in 2025. She lives in the Colorado foothills outside Boulder and is the founder of Tideshift Studio, a production company and consultancy.
Mikel Urdangarin is one of the most influential voices in contemporary Basque music. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has released 20 albums and performed hundreds of concerts, taking his Basque-language songs to audiences at home and around the world. Through his production company Amura Produkzioak, Urdangarin has recently ventured into audiovisual storytelling. His first film project, the documentary ‘Itsasora’, marks his debut as both writer and director. He also co-composed the film’s original score with Koldo Uriarte, earning the Best Soundtrack Award at the Mendi Film festival in 2025.
