Director: Catharine Axley
Run Time: 61 min.
Rating: Not Rated
Release Year: 2019
Featuring: George Attla, Joe Bifelt, Rose Attla Ambrose
The Anchorage Museum is screening Attla on Thursday, Nov. 13, 6:30–8 p.m. in the Auditorium. The powerful documentary about legendary Huslia sprint musher George Attla was directed by Catharine Axley and featured on PBS’s Independent Lens (2019). The film interweaves interviews and archival footage as Attla comes out of retirement to train his grandnephew Joe Bifelt, carrying his legacy forward.
He was an icon for me growing up, and for so many across Alaska! It’s exciting to see new audiences still discovering legendary George Attla’s story.
“Sharing stories like this helps remind us that resilience, determination, and connection to place are powerful forces,” says Janet Asaro of the Anchorage Museum. Independent Lens aptly called Attla “a rare sports film that blends the excitement of sprint mushing with the humanity of a cultural icon.”
While you’re there, visit the museum’s Dog Show exhibition, a heartfelt look at how dogs help us live, work, and connect, from sled teams in the North to pets and working dogs across the U.S. It highlights the deep human–dog bond and how it shapes culture and everyday life.
Details & tickets ($8; $5 for members): Check the Anchorage Museum website for the Nov. 13 screening of Attla.