Mountains of the Moon
2025 | Coast Film & Music Festival
Duration: 47 min
Synopisis
Without darkness, we can’t see the light.
In Mountains of the Moon, world renowned artist and skier, Chris Benchetler explores the unseen connections between sport, life, music, and the living earth—set to the timeless tunes of the Grateful Dead. Captured almost entirely at night using cutting-edge cinematography, lasers, animation, and projection mapping, the film leads viewers on a surreal journey through ocean, river, and mountain landscapes. The world’s greatest athletes, adventurers, and thinkers appear as luminous figures, navigating through the natural world. At its core, the film reflects on what makes us human. The glowing skeletons represent the essential truth of our existence, the light within us all no matter our external differences. Through their journey, the film reflects on life and death, the resilience of nature, and the threads of humanity that bind us together.
Featured at Coast Film & Music Festival 2025 | Special Director’s Screening - Friday, November 7th at 5 PM at Festival of Arts as part of the Mountain + Snow Night! GET YOUR TICKETS >>
Production Team
TYLER HAMLET - Director of Photography
Tyler Hamlet is an award-winning action sports Producer, Director and Director of Photography. He has worked in the action sports industry for twenty years. Through his years in action sports he’s adept at persevering in adverse and challenging scenarios. As a former US national freestyle skier with a degree in Cinematography, his passions combine to bring his creative eye and approach to the mountains and outdoor narratives. Starting as lead cinematographer, Tyler went on to produce and direct many full-length feature films with ski and action sports production company, Poor Boyz Productions. Tyler has since gone on to run numerous high level productions garnering accolades including Movie of the Year, Best Editing and Best Cinematography from IF3 (International Free-ski film festival) and Powder Magazine. Tyler also works on the ESPN’s Real series, a short documentary series for Red Bull Media House, and feature-length action sports films. Although he’s well versed in getting the shot on the side of the mountain, he's most passionate in the midst of a verite scene or human interest stories. Tyler has also been a long time collaborator with Chris Benchetler and has recently helped produced and C0-Direct “Fire On The Mountain” and “Butterfly in a Blizzard”. When he's not holding a camera, he’s usually swimming with his Newfoundland, Mountain biking and most recently learning to sail in preparation for the Race to Alaska.
CODY CARTER - Lead Editor
Cody Carter is an award-winning video editor with over two decades of experience in visual storytelling. With deep roots in action sports filmmaking, Cody went straight from high school to a technical college to learn production and follow his passion. Despite discouragement from teachers about action sports filmmaking and its longevity and future he followed his passion and skills—quickly becoming Lead Editor at Poor Boyz Productions for eight years. In that time, he earned multiple Best Editing awards from X-Dance, iF3, and Powder Magazine. During this era, Cody met Chris Benchetler, beginning a creative partnership built on trust and vision. Together, they’ve produced iconic projects, including the original Fire On The Mountain.
Today, Cody’s work spans documentaries, branded content, and fast-paced short-form visuals for clients such as ESPN, Red Bull, and major outdoor and lifestyle brands. Known for his cinematic eye, editorial precision, and instinct for rhythm, he creates stories that keep viewers fully immersed while pushing the boundaries of post-production. When not in the edit suite, Cody enjoys skiing, biking, and spending time with his wife and son.
ALI MEINERS - Producer
Alexandra Meiners was a pioneering force in heli-skiing, celebrated as the sole female heli-ski operator from 2014 to 2021. She took over Alaska Rendezvous Heli-Guides (ARG) and Alaska Rendezvous Lodge (ARL) following the passing of her father. She steered the operation with unwavering commitment to safety, snow science, and a familial ethos.
Under Ali’s leadership, ARG solidified key partnerships—such as outfitting their team with Tecnica Blizzard gear—and cultivated transformative guest experiences rooted in her father’s legacy. Known affectionately by guides as both impressive and approachable, her leadership earned the ski industry’s #BOSSLADY nod. After closing a transformational chapter at ARG, she transitioned her leadership and operational savvy into the creative sphere—joining forces with artist and skier Chris Benchetler as a producer on Mountains of the Moon. This groundbreaking film unites elite action sports athletes across multiple disciplines—skiing, surfing, climbing, biking—in ethereal, neon-lit night landscapes set to the music of the Grateful Dead.
SEAN LOGAN - Lead Editor of Documentary
Born in Long Island, NY I found my passion for film after high school while living and skiing in Mammoth Lakes, CA. Surrounded with amazing and talented friends I pursued the idea of documenting everything we did in the mountains. 20 years later, I’m still chasing friends and athletes in deep snow and remote mountain locations. As a specialty camera operator and storyteller I love matching athletes energy and style with the natural environment. For the ‘Mountains of the Moon’ project I served as a general specialist, assisting between the main camera teams and the behind-the-scenes doc team.
JEFF WRIGHT - DP of Documentary
Jeff is an Emmy-nominated director and cinematographer based in the Truckee/Lake Tahoe area. He has transformed his passion for the outdoors and filmmaking into a successful career, traveling worldwide to shoot and direct projects for major brands, from Swiss Tourism and Chevy trucks to HBO Documentaries.