Award-winning Documentary “Out There” Now Available Online—Purchases Support National Parks
Portion of sales will be donated to Western National Parks, nonprofit partner of the National Park Service
TUCSON, Ariz., October 7, 2026—The award-winning feature-length documentary Out There: A National Parks Story by Director Brendan Hall is now available to rent or buy on demand. A portion of the sales—up to $8—will be donated to Western National Parks (WNP), a nonprofit that supports over 70 national parks across 12 Western states.
Watch the independent documentary and support parks
“Out There captures something that so many of us feel when we spend time in our national parks—the sense of wonder, connection and perspective these places can inspire,” said Michael Matthews, Chief Marketing Officer at WNP. “We’re excited to help bring this story to new audiences while giving people another meaningful way to support the parks they love.”
Out There is available on demand from an independent streaming program designed by the film team to bring the documentary directly to audiences and give back to the national parks. Portions of the rental and purchase proceeds donated to WNP will fund a variety of initiatives that help national parks thrive, including research, visitor experiences, programs, cultural experiences, and more. Since 1938, WNP has provided more than $176 million in aid to parks. Learn more about how WNP’s work supports parks.
An independently made cinematic tribute to America’s public lands, Out There: A National Parks Story chronicles the 10,000-mile journey of the director and his childhood friend as they experience the national parks during the centennial year of the National Park Service. The film is a portrait of the parks as beautiful landscapes, places of healing, reflection, resilience, and connection across generations.
“Out There began as a love letter to the landscapes that have shaped so much of my own life, and many of the places that transformed us while making the film were across the Western United States,” said Brendan Hall, the film’s director. “I’m deeply grateful to Western National Parks for helping care for these extraordinary places and for creating ways for people to form their own lasting connections with them. It means a great deal to have the film now giving something back to that work, and hopefully inspiring a few more people to fall in love with these places along the way.”
This initiative is a continuation of the partnership between WNP and Out There. WNP and Brendan Hall collaborated to present the film virtually and at in-person screenings in Phoenix, Tucson, Santa Fe, St. Louis, and Albuquerque.
Give back to parks
“Every purchase or rental of Out There is an opportunity to turn your love of national parks into meaningful support for these special places,” said Bret Muter, Chief Philanthropy and Program Officer at Western National Parks. “These contributions will help WNP fund research, education, visitor experiences, and other vital work that parks need to thrive. We are beyond grateful to Brendan Hall for his partnership and continued investment in supporting and connecting people with our National Park Service partner parks.”
The film’s many honors include the 2023 Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at the Florida Film Festival and the 2023 Rising Star Award from the Naples International Film Festival. It was a Heartland International Film Festival Official Selection. Director Brendan Hall has created films for National Geographic, Google, Adobe, and The Nature Conservancy. His work explores the intersection of adventure, the natural world, and the human experience.
About WNP
Since 1938, WNP has worked to connect new generations to parks in meaningful ways, all with one simple goal: create advocates who want to preserve and protect these special places for everyone, for all time. Learn more about the organization and career opportunities at www.wnp.org.
Media Contact
Western National Parks, Julie Thompson, julie.thompson@wnp.org
