Out There: A National Parks Story (2023)

“Out There is a dream to program on the big screen. It celebrates the majesty of the national parks and the dream of setting out to accomplish a personal goal. It’s a film that reminds me of both the beauty of the earth, but also the beauty of cinema.” — Tim Anderson, Programming Coordinator, Florida Film Festival

The Colonial Theatre is proud to partner with the Valley Forge Park Alliance in presenting Brendan Hall’s Out There: A National Parks Story. Filmmaker Brendan Hall will be in attendance and conduct a post-screening Q&A.

SYNOPSIS

Out There: A National Parks Story follows a young filmmaker and his childhood friend on a 10,000-mile road trip through America’s national parks during the centennial of the National Park Service. What begins as a search for awe-inspiring landscapes evolves into a deeper journey that uncovers the human stories embedded in these wild places.

Along the way, they meet rangers, conservationists, and everyday visitors whose lives have been shaped by the parks. Through personal stories of healing, transformation, and connection, a rich tapestry of the national park experience begins to emerge. One that reflects not just the beauty of the land, but the spirit of the people who love and protect it.

Blending stunning cinematography with archival travelogues, posters, and maps, Out There is both a tribute to the enduring legacy of the parks and a call to recognize the human presence that gives them meaning. It invites us to see these places not just as landscapes, but as living stories, reflecting on our own role in their preservation.