Jimmy Chin Receives True Grit Award at Jackson Hole International Film Festival
Presented by Harrison Ford during a sold-out screening of Meru
On a summer evening in Jackson Hole, film lovers and outdoor enthusiasts gathered at Grand Teton Music Festival’s Walk Festival Hall for a screening of Meru, a gripping chronicle of high-altitude adventure and human endurance. But the night held an even bigger moment: acclaimed filmmaker, climber, and photographer Jimmy Chin was honored with the True Grit Award by the Jackson Hole International Film Festival (JHiFF).
The award, which celebrates filmmakers who embody courage, determination, and excellence in storytelling, was presented by none other than Harrison Ford. A longtime Jackson resident and conservation advocate, Ford spoke with trademark candor and admiration:
“He brings these stories back to us, these lived stories, with honesty, with beauty, with incredible honesty and power. But this dude climbs like a goat and shoots like Spielberg.”
Chin, best known for the Academy Award-winning Free Solo and the critically acclaimed The Rescue, accepted the award with humility and reflection.
“For me, storytelling through film transforms raw experience—the weight of risk, the quiet of resilience, that sense of awe—into something visceral that others can share,” he said. “That bridge between lived moments and shared understanding is what drives my work. JHiFF and GTMF are creating something vital here: a space where the mountains, the arts, and our community converge in true dialogue.”
The award itself was a piece of art, literally, custom-designed by Jackson-based printmaker Ava Reynolds, whose work explores the relationship between environmental beauty and degradation through linoleum, woodcut, and intaglio techniques. The handcrafted award captured the spirit of resilience and creativity at the heart of Chin’s career.
Following the screening, Chin joined the audience for an intimate conversation about the creative and personal journey behind Meru. The full house stayed rapt as he shared insights into the risks, friendships, and filmmaking decisions that shaped the story.
For Chrisy Fox, JHiFF Executive Director, Chin’s work represents the core of what the festival hopes to cultivate:
“Film is one of the most accessible and powerful ways to explore what it means to be human. It crosses borders, breaks silence, and brings us face to face with truths we might otherwise avoid. At JHiFF, we believe great films don’t just entertain, they connect us, challenge us, and move culture forward. No one does that better than Jimmy Chin.”