Anchorage Daily News

One film made, one film festival victory.

One hundred percent success is the sort of record even the most acclaimed movie directors would love -- and one that Anchorage videographer Carl Batrell now owns after his 26-minute documentary on winter riding in Alaska, "Fat Bikes," won first place at the Boston Bike Film Festival last month. It was Batrell's first film.

To be sure, the Boston festival is a far cry from the Academy Awards, Cannes or the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Only about two dozen films were submitted to Boston. But a win is a win, particularly when it comes over "Klunkerz," an acclaimed film about the origins of mountain biking that has already scored several film festival victories.

"It isn't a huge film festival," Batrell said. "Honestly, it was made for under $5,000. I did the entire thing myself. I've been a photographer 15 years and it's my first one."

The film documents the passions and perils of winter biking, following Josh Morehouse and Mike Morganson as they ride through town and train for the Susitna 100 race in February. Morganson finished 36th overall in 34 hours, 28 minutes; Morehouse scratched midway through the 100-mile race.

"The people are really likable characters," Batrell said. "It was appealing to people, I think, because of the tenacity of the riders. Seeing the bikes on snow, up here we're used to it but it's really unique to other people."

For Morganson, a bicycle commuter for decades, it's just his routine.

"We filmed a lot of stuff around town commuting," said Morganson, a former co-worker of Batrell's at REI. "I kept wondering -- is that going to make the cut?"

The film will debut locally at the Anchorage Film Festival next month.

Reach reporter Mike Campbell at mcampbell@adn.com or 257-4329.

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