A little over three years ago, Sunlight Mountain Marketing and Sales Director Troy Hawks approached True Media Foundation President and Executive Director Chris Tribble to brainstorm an event to get the valley hyped for winter.

True Media was founded by Tribble 13 years ago in Carbondale with a goal to provide high quality and affordable nonprofit media services for organizations working for the social good.

“We educate kids interested in video production to the next level, introducing video with a story versus just throwing up a selfie video,” Tribble said.

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Sunlight and True Media joined in collaboration and formed the Winter Stoke Film Festival.

Now in its third year, the event benefits True Media Foundation and its efforts to educate and give back with a goal to educate youth in digital media

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“We invite local skiers and riders to submit their films,” Hawks said.

This year’s festival received nearly 20 film entries, shot and edited by local snowboarders and skiers.

“Winter Stoke is a real down-to-earth film festival,” Tribble said.

Organizers are in the process of selecting the top six short films submitted this year.

The event opens at the Glenwood Vaudeville Revue, with the top three winners being screened Nov. 29. After the local film, there will be a showing of the feature film “Zigzag.”

“We have some energy going, and it’s really fun,” Tribble said.

Tribble said the Vaudeville event was sold out last year and is hoping the festival continues to gain popularity.

Three more films will be screened Dec. 6 at the Third Street Center in Carbondale.

Added last year, the festival then heads to Rifle’s Ute Theatre Dec. 20 for the third and final screening.

At each event, the audience is asked to vote for the best film, with a golden ski boot going to the winner.

For more information on the Winter Stoke Film Festival visit winterstoke.org.

kmills@postindependent.com