Through Ellie’s Eyes: A Community Comes Together to Carry a Remarkable Legacy Forward
The Mad River Valley has always understood the power of community—especially when it means coming together to honor someone who left an extraordinary mark on the people and places around her.
Through Ellie’s Eyes Mountain FilmFest is a special weekend at the Big Picture Theater & Cafe dedicated to the life and legacy of Ellie Curtis. Through films, art and shared experience, the festival will celebrate Ellie’s passion for outdoor adventure, community, the environment and the voices of young people.
Ellie grew up here in the Mad River Valley, cut her skiing teeth at Mad River Glen, graduated from Green Mountain Valley School and Dartmouth College. She was an All-American ski racer, a professional mountain bike racer and someone who embraced outdoor adventure in all its forms. She focused her young career on climate justice and on building a better relationship between people, communities, the land and our sources of energy.
Ellie’s life was tragically cut short in a skiing accident in 2025, just as she was beginning to put her energy and ideals to work in the world. While we lost an exceptional young person far too soon, her family and community are ensuring that the work she cared so deeply about continues.
Carrying Ellie’s Work Forward
Ellie’s Fund was created in her memory to support young leaders who are reimagining the relationship between community, the environment and social justice.
Rather than establishing a new organization, the fund is built around partnerships that strengthen work already underway. Its first partnership is with New Learning Journey, the nonprofit organization at Knoll Farm—a place that held deep meaning for Ellie. She worked summers at Knoll Farm while growing up, embraced its mission and remained closely connected to the farm. It was also where her family and community gathered for her celebration of life.
Contributions to Ellie’s Fund currently help younger participants take part in the Better Selves Fellowship at Knoll Farm. As the fund grows, its support will expand to other organizations working for meaningful social and environmental change.
It is a fitting way to honor Ellie: investing in other young people who share her sense of purpose and are ready to carry that work forward.
The Online Auction Is Live
The Through Ellie’s Eyes Mountain FilmFest Online Auction is now open, with bidding continuing through August 9 at 9 pm.
The auction provides another way for friends, neighbors and supporters to participate in the weekend and help grow Ellie’s Fund. Proceeds will directly support opportunities for young leaders committed to environmental and social change.
Tax-deductible donations may also be made directly to Ellie’s Fund through New Learning Journey. Checks can be made payable to “New Learning Journey,” with Ellie’s Fund written in the memo line, and mailed to:
Knoll Farm
700 Bragg Hill Road
Waitsfield, VT 05673
A Weekend Rooted in Community
Through Ellie’s Eyes is more than a film festival. It is a community arts celebration and a chance to remember an extraordinary young woman through the things she loved most.
It is also an opportunity to transform grief into action—bringing people together, supporting a new generation of leaders and helping Ellie’s vision continue to take root.
Join us at the Big Picture Theater & Cafe, take part in the online auction and help honor Ellie by carrying her spirit and purpose forward.
Learn more and participate in the online auction:
Through Ellie’s Eyes Mountain FilmFest Online Auction
