The Lookout Wild Film Festival got underway Thursday night at the Walker Theatre at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium with films ranging from the rescue of bats to the plight of longhorn sheep.
Other segments told how a rural skatepark in India was bringing members of two castes together and to families who RV from river to river in the South in winter months to revel in their kayaking passion.
For over 10 years, the festival has brought the best outdoor adventure and conservation films from around the world to Chattanooga "for one awesome weekend." Some of those in the audience had traveled long distances across the country as well as from foreign lands.
Judges had to pore through over 330 submissions to pare down to the weekend offerings.
Audience members are asked to choose an audience favorite for the weekend.
A highlight at the Saturday afternoon showing will be the story of how the Waldens Ridge Park came to fruition. On Sunday night, the finale is a feature on the Lookout Mountain Flight Park.
Here is the Friday schedule:
DOORS OPEN 6:00PM
FILMS BEGIN 7:00PM
Facing Goliath | 2 
Is this for you, or for the likes on your feed? Do you meet what comes with resolve and grace, or cry foul in public rage? In this savage arena, few are those who move calmly through the storm.
A Dogs Tale | 9
It all starts with the trail. The crunch of the dirt, the smell of a dewy morning ride, or the feeling of brushing away pebbles with a perfectly timed belly scrub. These are the happy memories of a trail dog’s life well lived.
Letting Go | 6 
Julie Hwang loses hold of herself and love of rock climbing after a traumatic divorce, but after a seasonal change, she finds new purpose and success in her time outside.
Uncharted Waters | 6
Uncharted Waters tells the life-changing story of 50 active and inactive gang members experiencing an overnight whitewater rafting trip for the first time.
Every Few Winters | 10
When the days grow shorter, and skiers begin to dream of their favourite pistes and perfect powder days, it’s not often that they imagine the Scottish Highlands. Yet for those in the know, Scotland is an obsession. A foggy, dented gem, beautiful in its own way; not for its clarity or perfection, but for its obscurity and esoteric nature.
A Space For All | 6
This year Brooke Goudy climbed and descended nearly 200,000 vertical feet and put in over 3,000 mile on some of the most beautiful, challenging, and remote trails. Mountain biking has forced her to push herself to unimaginable limits. It allows her to see in herself an incredible level of resilience and strength that she carries with her off the trail. She wants to share the healing power that cycling brings to her life, but her greatest happiness comes from introducing others to mountain biking and working to remove barriers to create a space for all.
Malik | 12 
From disparate backgrounds seemingly worlds apart, Malik Martin and Conrad Anker bridge whatever divide our society has erected between them through brotherhood and heartfelt connection.
On the Edge | 13
Five women set out on an eight day, 65-mile packrafting journey deep in the wilderness of Montana. Stunning scenery, challenging terrain, heavy packs, and extreme remoteness brings the group to their physical edge. A trip inspired by self growth, adventure, and world class westslope cutthroat trout fishing quickly evolves into a deeper exploration of how we are on the edge of a new climate era, leading them to question what the future of conservation and ethical wilderness recreation will look like in a rapidly changing climate.
A Tree a Minute – 1440 Trees | 18
There are 1440 minutes in a day, and Beau Miles loves planting trees so he decides to plant a tree each minute for 24 hours. It was *slightly* difficult.
Resilience | 16
Costa Rica’s highest mountain witnesses the inspiring journey of a woman overcoming cancer.
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Do A Wheelie | 6
Join Danny MacAskill and a host of friends as he pushes the boundaries of the humble wheelie and learns a thing or two from friends old and new.
Well Worn Life | 6
Meet Dani Reyes-Acosta: a mountain athlete, land cultivator, and storyteller whose path consistently seeks the limits of her possibility. Ticking off climbs and ski lines across South America, cultivating her role as a legacy Coloradoan, and setting the course for the future of outdoor access in remote communities, Dani is a visceral example of how self-care and self-determination can harmonize via the outdoors.
Chinatown Runners | 7
In a time of increased tension for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, Victoria Lo turned her own fear and anxiety into a call to action. The founder of Chinatown Runners creates monthly celebrations of place, space and culture, one mile at a time. Vics connects runners to Asian cultures, promoting safety, and running in solidarity with AAPI communities by running in Chinatowns across the country.
High Road | 12
High Road celebrates the unbreakable bond between Paralympian Meg Fisher and Jack Berry, a young para-athlete who’s cycling career is just beginning to unfold. Together, the two navigate life’s obstacles with grace and integrity- creating space for the next generation of para cyclists.
The Mirage | 60
Ultra runner, Timothy Olson, aims to break the fastest known time on the Pacific Crest Trail. Braving record high temperatures and impending wildfires, he must outrun nature and reach the finish line before the birth of his daughter. Supported by his wife and kids, Olson has to average over 50 miles a day for 50 consecutive days.