Nestled on the plateau within the Nantahala National Forest just miles from major access points to the Appalachian Trail, it is no surprise that the documentary Trail Mix won the Audience Choice award at the inaugural 2025 Highlands Cashiers Film Festival.
Directed by Nashville-based filmmaker and graphic designer Glenn Sweitzer, the 50-minute documentary follows a 2,000-mile journey from Georgia to Maine along the Appalachian Trail. The film focuses on the "transformative power of nature," interviewing a diverse range of hikers—including military veterans with PTSD, grieving widowers, and troubled teens—who seek healing and clarity in the wilderness.
Sweitzer began the project in May 2018, initially inspired by the story of Cheryl Strayed in the book/movie Wild. The film was completed at the end of 2024 and dedicated to Sweitzer's mother and brother.
Tickets coming soon.