Press Release for Bentonville Film Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 13, 2025

Northwest Arkansas Documentary 'Beyond the Ashes' to Premiere at Bentonville Film Festival

Feature-length film tells the story of Trailblazers and the push to build universal trails in Northwest Arkansas, through the voices of adaptive riders reclaiming the outdoors.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Beyond the Ashes: An Adaptive Trail Story will make its world premiere at the Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) on Thursday, June 19, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. at The Momentary’s Fermentation Hall. The documentary is an official selection in BFF’s new Homegrown competition, created to spotlight films made by Arkansans or filmed in Arkansas. The section highlights regional stories with increased visibility and eligibility for official festival awards.

Produced and cast with talent from Northwest Arkansas, the film centers on Trailblazers, a local nonprofit responsible for building and curating OZ Trails—a 500+ mile trail network that has helped transform the region into a global cycling destination. The film explores how Northwest Arkansas is leading the charge in adaptive trail design and the growing movement to implement “universal trails”—built to serve the widest possible range of riders, regardless of age, ability, or equipment—as part of their ongoing effort to integrate more universal trails into the broader system wherever possible. 

The film follows a range of adaptive riders—including those using handcycles, three-wheeled rigs, and other equipment designed for individuals with spinal cord injuries, limb differences, or traumatic brain injuries—as they reclaim their place in the outdoors. Among the powerful voices featured are Brian Carlson, a collegiate cyclist turned adaptive athlete and longtime advocate; Jeremy McGhee, an adaptive athlete, trail access consultant, and public speaker; and Annijke Wade, an adaptive athlete, community advocate, and co-founder of DirtBound. They appear alongside a wide network of builders, riders, and changemakers helping shape the future of trail access.

Directed by Tim Johnson, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Brock Wagner, a five-time Telly Award-winning cinematographer, the film blends emotional storytelling with striking visuals.

“Beyond the Ashes is about more than trails — it’s about access, advocacy, and rewriting what’s possible,” Johnson and Wagner said in a joint statement. “These are deeply human stories—about what’s rebuilt and rediscovered when the path forward seems lost.”

Uriah Nazario, vice president of soft surface trails at Trailblazers and a key voice in the film, said the documentary captures more than just technical innovation.

“Seeing this documentary come to life is incredibly meaningful. It not only captures the heart of our work, but it shows how we discovered a process for building trails that are truly universal. This film is about giving autonomy back to a passionate group of people who simply want to be in nature again. It’s been one of the most rewarding parts of my career, and I’m proud to see it shared on screen.”

The 1-hour-and-40-minute documentary features an inspiring cast that includes world champion cyclist Anneke Beerten; pro downhill racer turned adaptive athlete Gustavo “Guga” Ortiz; Cole Bernier, a globally recognized adaptive rider and Bowhead ambassador; and Trailblazers’ Uriah Nazario and his team—alongside a powerful lineup of adaptive riders from around the world. The film was produced by Jason Williams, Bianca Montoya, John Hunter, and a dedicated team of collaborators.

Festival passes, which grant access to multiple events throughout the week, are available at BentonvilleFilm.org. A limited number of individual tickets for specific screenings will be released closer to the event date. Updates on ticket availability will be posted at @BeyondTheAshesFilm.

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