DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT: Max Lowe
Max Lowe and Patt Parnell
Celebrated for his ability to unveil deeply personal stories in the most remote corners of the earth, Max Lowe has refined his expertise as an award-winning director, cinematographer, and photographer in his search for untold, emotional, and inspirational stories. Coast Film Festival has had the honor of featuring several of his award-winning documentaries throughout the years.
Photo credit: Candice Dartez
2019 Coast Film Festival: ADVENTURE NOT WAR
We first met Max at our inaugural Coast Film Festival in 2019, where he submitted ‘Adventure Not War’. A film shot deep in the mountains of Iraq through the eyes of war veterans, revealing a seldom-seen, beautiful underbelly in a place scarred by conflict. The film went on to win Best Short Documentary at CFF and many other awards.
Watch ‘Adventure Not War’ HERE.
2021 Coast Film and Music Festival: TORN
We welcomed him back in 2021, featuring his personal and very emotional documentary ’Torn’ which follows his family as they explore the legacy of his late father and iconic climber, Alex Lowe. The film won Best Documentary Feature Film at CFMF and many others.
Watch ‘Torn’ trailer HERE. The full-feature film is available on Disney+.
Learn more about Alex Lowe’s accomplishments, his impact on the climbing community, and his continued legacy through The Alex Lowe Charitable Foundation.
2023 Coast Film and Music Festival: CAMP COURAGE
Last year, we welcomed him home with one of his latest films, ‘Camp Courage’. A story of Ukrainian refugees Olga and her granddaughter Milana, who travel to a summer camp in the Austrian Alps to test the limits of their bravery and to strengthen their growing bond.
Pat Parnell got a bit emotional during his most recent Q&A at CFMF with Max, reminiscing on previous conversations they’ve shared. Patt and Max discuss how ‘Camp Courage’ came to life, shot entirely in 8 days at a summer camp in Austria, and how climbing ties Max’s stories together with his personal life. Stories of loss, bravery, facing fears, and moving through the trauma.
>> Watch the full Q&A from Coast Film and Music Festival 2023 HERE.
>> Check out more information on the story behind Camp Courage at Mountain Seed Foundation.
>> Watch ‘Camp Courage’ trailer HERE. The full-feature film can be found on Netflix!
So Far In 2024
Max just released a new short film, ‘AIKYAM’, with Fraction Skis athlete Vasu Sojitra - one of the world’s leading adaptive free-skiers. A story about Vasu’s ambition to understand himself and his family heritage in a deeper sense as he travels to ski in his home country of India for the first time. Gulmarg in India's northern Kashmiri Province is the nation's sole ski resort - where many skiers, Indian and otherwise, come together in the plentiful snowfall this area receives in the Western Himalayas to pursue the fall line. After discovering the beautiful and burgeoning community of locals who find solace and purpose in skiing, as he does, a world away from his home in Montana, sets his sights on continuing to grow his roots in the unique community of individuals who call Gulmarg their home mountain.
Watch the short film HERE.