The Great Alone

This screening took place on Sunday, February 14, 2016 at 7:30 pmYukon Arts Centre

Framed around the 2013 Iditarod race, The Great Alone offers a glimpse into the life of four-time Yukon Quest and four-time Iditarod winner, Lance Mackey, one of dog-sledding's most celebrated and eccentric champions. As Lance Mackey vies for his fifth Iditarod win, he reflects on the unusual course that his life has taken. Living in the shadow of both a father and brother who were champions of the sport themselves, and after a battle with substance abuse, Mackey describes how dog-sledding became his path to salvation. Even as he battles a life-threatening cancer diagnosis during the 2001 Iditarod, the film details how Mackey refuses to stop racing, with nearly disastrous results. As we follow Mackey's attempt to win his fifth Iditarod title, the harsh Alaskan conditions and mounting setbacks threaten to defeat him. Offering stunning cinematography of the Alaskan wilderness, The Great Alone tells the incredible story of one man and his dogs, and how they came to save each other. Grand Jury Award - Seattle International Film Festival