GC-12. Old Man Lightning

Frozen Frames: Murphy’s Yellowstone

US, Short Documentary, 2025, 27 min

Colorado Premiere

Photographer Tom Murphy has dedicated his life to speaking out for the wildlife of Yellowstone. In the dead of winter, 76-year-old Murphy treks deep into the Park to capture the lives and struggles of those who survive there. His remarkable photographs capture both the magnificence of Yellowstone and one man's tenacious dedication to protect what is still wild.

Directed by Allison Argo

Old Man Lightning

US, Feature Documentary, 2025, 60 min

Boulder Premiere

Cranky, yet witty, bouldering legend John “Verm” Sherman has lost his mojo and is jonesing to regain it. What better way than to climb the world’s most famous boulder problem, Yosemite’s iconic Midnight Lightning? He climbed it 25 years ago, but since then the climb has gotten harder and Verm’s gotten softer due to beer lust and a third-degree burning passion for bird photography. Standing in his way is his age (57), weight (200 pounds), dozens of injuries and myriad health issues. Verm wants to save condors from extinction, and if leveraging his climbing celebrity will help, he’ll stop at nothing. Verm enlists the assistance of Ryan “Meatball” Whited, a cheerfully sadistic personal trainer. A 6-month mission to whip Verm back into shape ensues, leading to a final confrontation with bouldering’s “Problem of Problems.”

Directed by Dawn Kish

Buy tix for Sunday, April 12, 2026, 4:00 pm at Grace Commons Church | Export to Outlook/iCal

In person: Allison Argo, Dawn Kish, John “Verm” Sherman

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Venues: The Boulder Theater; First Church, 1421 Spruce St.; Grace Commons Church, 1820 15th Street; Cinemark Century Boulder 1, 1700 29th St.; Cinemark Century Boulder 2, 1700 29th St.; Longmont Museum