Something powerful is charging down the mountains where ice and snow meet the Sahara Desert — and it’s called Ski Africa. The feature-length documentary Big Mountain Soul: Ski Africa follows a team of fearless Black skiers and snowboarders as they journey to Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, reconnecting with African roots while taking on some of the most extreme terrain on earth. The film had its World Premiere at the Breckenridge Film Festival, September 18–21, 2025, where it won third place in the festival - the coveted Audience Award. Skimag.com is already calling the film “a landmark story in winter sports and African-American history.”

“This isn’t just about skiing,” says Expedition Co-Leader Tele Mike Russell. “It’s about diaspora on snow. Legacy on ice. It’s for the next generation who’ll never question if they belong on the slopes. We’ve always been explorers — now we’re international ski moviemakers. Let’s get elevated.”

Fifteen years in the making, Ski Africa is part love letter, part reckoning. It captures a personal and physical journey that blends adrenaline-fueled action with cultural immersion — from scaling remote 13,000-foot peaks to exploring ancient Berber villages. The cast includes pioneers like Kirk Sykes, one of America’s first Black professional skiers, and rising talents like snowboarder Bryce Barnes, alongside endurance athletes and backcountry legends. Co-directed by Brendan Russo and Cameron Sale (Breckenridge, CO local), Produced By Jonathan Correia and John M. O’Connor (Breckenridge, CO local) the film delivers high-intensity adventure with the cultural depth of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Produced by Sorcery Cinema in association with Big Mountain Soul, Ski Africa marks the most personal chapter yet in the planned global series Big Mountain Soul: Ski the World.

“Our mission is to expand representation in winter sports, inspire young BIPOC adventurers, and elevate cross-continental connections,” says the Sorcery Cinema team. “Every mountain has a soul — and this one is for everyone.”