Film & Story
Award-winning documentary films and impact media that shift culture, build community, and foster reciprocity with the land.
Explore the work →Filmmaker · Strategist · Builder
Story and strategy for a future worth living.
Hola. I'm Dani Reyes-Acosta — cultural strategist, filmmaker, and founder of Afuera Productions. My work lives at the intersection of story and strategy, where documentary film meets behavioral change and community impact meets organizational leadership. The through-line is always the same: move people toward what matters.
Strategy & Consulting
Culture-shifting campaigns, brand strategy, and fractional creative leadership for organizations ready to move people toward what matters.
Work with me →
Speaking & Facilitation
Keynotes, workshops, and seminars for festivals, summits, universities, and brand gatherings worldwide.
See topics & book →As Seen In
About
Perhaps one of the most valuable aspects of being an outsider is that you can see things insiders can't.
I've spent most of my adult life in liminal spaces: here, the best outcomes emerge. Sliding in-between known entities, listening to the silence for the nuances it reveals, and setting a direction on the disorienting threshold of our horizon — this is where the most interesting work gets done.
Between the corporate world and the backcountry, the boardroom strategy session and the darkened green room at a film festival, when something shifts in an audience that can't quite be named… That liminal territory — uncomfortable yet underestimated, fecund in its abandon — is where I built my methodology.
We can change what people believe by changing what they see.
That thread runs through everything I've built, from the years I spent embedded in Nike's Change Center of Excellence driving communications for a $3B transformation across 110,000 retail locations, to leading the creative rebrand of Vail Resorts' slope safety culture across 37 international resorts, to founding Afuera Productions in rural Southwest Colorado and making the films, seminars, and campaigns that have reached audiences on three continents.
As a creative, my storytelling reexamines the meaning of play, social responsibility, and care for the Commons — exploring regenerative economies in the American West, the links between heritage and identity, and what interdependence demands of us in the Anthropocene.
As a filmmaker, my practice is rooted in the simple belief that reconnection to our roots is a survival strategy. Under the banner of Afuera Productions, our work builds bridges from the present to the future, using documentary and branded content to shape the container and impact of community. My award-winning films have screened around the world, from the Italian Alps to the Canadian Rockies to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.
As a strategist and consultant, I work with organizations at a crossroads. My practice draws on deep experience in behavioral change, brand architecture, human-centered design, cross-channel campaigns, and creative leadership. I thrive when I'm brought in not just to execute, but to help shape the path forward.
As a speaker, facilitator, and educator, I bring the same commitment to honest storytelling to the stage — keynoting and workshopping on ethical media, resilience, community-building, inclusion, and the future of outdoor culture at Banff, Mountainfilm, The Futurist Project, and beyond.
What I bring to every room I enter
Executive-level fluency in partnership development, program design, budget management, and cross-functional team leadership. Whether advising brands on impact strategy, directing creative campaigns, or speaking to the intersection of identity and the outdoors, I spark action where culture, community, and commerce meet. Bilingue. Strategist. Builder.
Film & Impact Media
Award-winning stories from here to the horizon — for a future, outside.
Afuera Productions
Afuera Productions builds bridges from the present to the future, using documentary and branded content to shape the container and impact of community. We create culturally acute stories and programming for, by, and about all those existing at the crux of a better world. A Latina/Asian-founded, rural Colorado-based impact media studio.
Film-based documentary storytelling is the core of what we do. We are an impact media studio — a brain trust developing documentary stories rooted in the outdoors that shift our relationships with each other and with Nature.
The OUTLIER Film Series
Be bold. Be brave. Be an Outlier.
The OUTLIER film series sparks connection, builds community, and fuels hope. Through storytelling, we transform social upheaval into momentum for lasting change — catalyzing community power, fostering reciprocity with the land, and building textured, multifaceted visions of a shared future.
OUTLIER: COMMON · 2025
"What happens if we survive all this chaos?"
Three mixed Latina athletes navigate life in remote mountains alongside the unpredictable forces of Mother Nature. A film about what we owe each other — and the land — when the world is coming apart.
Most Inspiring Film · No Man's Land Film Festival
Screened at Mountainfilm · Banff · Trento Film Festival · Rocky Spirit, Rio de Janeiro
OUTLIER: TRUST · 2022
"An 'I see you' to anyone who has ever struggled to confidently know they belong."
Two women face down the biggest of enemies in the mountains — themselves — as they discover who they are, and who they want to be, on a rugged backcountry ski trip to SE Utah.
Official Selection: Banff · Wild & Scenic · VIMFF · Philadelphia Film Festival · No Man's Land · and more
OUTLIER: GOOD · In Production
Coming 2027
Impact Campaigns
Nature Connects Us — National Forest Foundation
Part of a national campaign celebrating the healing power of time outside — and the communities who call these landscapes home. I appear as a National Forest Foundation Trusted Voice, exploring what it means to belong to a place.
Running Toward Resilience — American Forests
A cross-channel story campaign tracing the links between reforestation, partnership, and the runners who show up for both.
The North Face Explore Fund — Latino Outdoors
As a member of The North Face Explore Fund Council, I developed and produced an original impact story in partnership with Latino Outdoors — amplifying their work celebrating the many ways Latine communities explore and centering their connections to land, culture, and truth.
Branded Work
OutsideTV Dispatches, Seasons XIV & XV
Producer, Co-Director, and on-screen talent for OutsideTV's flagship documentary series.
Well Worn Life: Dani Reyes-Acosta
Produced by BLK ELK for Livsn. A short film exploring what it means to live well outside.
This is Alberta — Destination Canada
A branded content campaign by Courageous Studios for Destination Canada, celebrating regenerative travel in Alberta.
Outside Unscripted — Stio
On-screen talent for the branded short. "The further from perfection, the closer to joy."
Subaru Owner Stories
A brand film portrait exploring the life of an athlete, storyteller, and community builder rooted in the American West.
Strategy & Consulting
Make it matter.
The through-line in my work — across documentary film, brand campaigns, and corporate transformation — is a single question: how do you move people toward what matters?
What I Do
I work at the intersection of cultural strategy, creative leadership, and organizational change — helping brands, nonprofits, and institutions translate vision into work that actually moves people.
- Impact Strategy & StorytellingNarrative strategy and campaign design for organizations driving social, environmental, or community change
- Fractional CMO & Creative DirectionEmbedded creative and strategic leadership without a full-time hire
- Brand & Messaging StrategyPositioning, manifesto development, voice and tone, and audience-centered messaging architecture
- Behavioral Change CampaignsCross-channel campaign development rooted in psychology, audience insight, and cultural fluency
- Org Change CommunicationsInternal communications, change management, and cross-functional alignment for teams navigating transformation
- Workshop & Seminar FacilitationLeadership, communication, and strategic planning sessions for teams and organizations
- Strategic AdvisoryLight-touch, high-impact counsel for leadership teams navigating complexity
Signature Work
OUTLIER Film Series
More than a film series — a full-scale impact production built to shift culture, build community power, and create measurable change. As director, executive producer, and lead impact strategist, I oversee every dimension: creative vision, grant funding, a production team of up to ten, community partnerships, and the impact campaign extending the films far beyond the festival circuit.
Role: Director, Executive Producer, Lead Impact Strategist
The North Face Explore Fund Council
Selected to join a group of established storytellers, athletes, and cultural leaders to shape the brand's grantmaking and storytelling direction. Developed the inclusive exploration strategy and produced an original impact story in partnership with Latino Outdoors.
Vail Resorts: Play It Safe
Led the reimagination of a decade-old slope safety program — transforming safety from a punitive function into an embedded mindset across 37 international resorts.
Scope: 37 international resorts
Nike: Sales 2.0
Managed strategic communications for a $3B program transforming Nike's entire B2B ecosystem. Scaled an email platform across four functions and six geographies, authored analytics-driven content guides, and built turnkey templates translated into 17 languages.
Scope: $3B program · 110,000+ retail locations · 17 languages
Nike: NABO Academy
Co-developed the foundation for Nike North America Brand's "Training for Greatness" learning initiative — building the program's visual identity, print workbooks, and internal engagement strategy from the ground up.
Select Consulting
Outdoor Diversity Alliance: Fair Play in Partnerships
Partnered with Leander Lacy to research, design, and produce Fair Play in Partnerships: Partner Insights — an actionable guide addressing reciprocity, transparency, and boundary-setting in brand-influencer relationships.
Role: Community Advisor, Co-Author
REI Embark | Path Ahead Ventures
Brand Startup Mentor supporting emerging founders of color in developing brand positioning and storytelling.
Sonoran Avalanche Center
Developed audience profiles and messaging strategy designed to reach the most disaffected corners of the outdoor community — building trust with an audience that's earned its skepticism.
Vail Resorts: Epic for Everyone
Developed the manifesto language for Vail's belonging initiative — translating organizational commitment into words that land with the communities they're meant to reach.
Woolmark Performance Challenge
Category Leadership Mentor for Ski / Mountain, guiding participants in forward-thinking solutions at the intersection of performance, sustainability, and outdoor culture.
Trusted By
Testimonials
"Dani jumped right in and took charge of the challenging project — strategizing, designing, organizing and simplifying the content to create the most effective campaign. She not only made the tasks effortless, but she was extremely genuine and positive during the process."— Wendy Conley, Creative Manager, Vail Resorts
"She brought great content expertise and experience to the team, including communications skills to effectively reach all levels of the program and wider organization, marketing skills, and transition management skills."— Tony Tomich, Director of Portfolio & Business Operations, Nike North America
"The work Dani helped us do made rethinking how we talk about ourselves feel much more manageable. She introduced us to incredibly useful new tools and resources that we've continued using long after our work with her wrapped up."— Emma Walker, Project Manager, Bonfire Collective
If the work you're doing matters and you need someone who gets that — let's talk.
Speaking & Facilitation
Find the limits of your possible.
I bring the same methodology I use in film and strategy to the stage — honest storytelling, hard questions, and the conviction that changing what people see can change what they believe.
Land, Climate & Community
Keynote · Seminar
Bridging the Land: From Rural Community to Recreation Landscape
Colorado Outdoor Industry Leadership Summit
Common ground exists in our shared connection to place — that's where coalitions are built.
Details ↓Panel · Discussion
Food and Fields: Moving Toward a Climate-Smart West
Mountainfilm · Woodwell Climate Coffee Talk
Agriculture, land management, and food systems offer more climate solutions than we think.
Details ↓Keynote · Guest Lecture
Integrative Health, Mental Wellness & Environmental Sustainability
University of Utah · Westminster University
Wellness, community, and the land we share are not separate conversations.
Details ↓Storytelling, Film & Media
Seminar · Workshop
Ethics & Reciprocity in Documentary Filmmaking
Banff Mountain Film & Book Festival · The Art of Documentary
Just as we steward land and water, we must also steward story.
Details ↓Workshop · Facilitation
Good Trouble: A Storytelling Gathering
See Change Sessions
Affecting change can be an act of everyday courage — or lifelong work.
Details ↓Keynote
Brand Innovation: What Is It and Why Should I Care?
Outdoor Retailer
What if meeting change at its most uncomfortable point was also your greatest opportunity?
Details ↓Leadership & Teams
Keynote
The Outsider Advantage: Identity, Belonging, and the Future of Outdoor Culture
The intersection of identities the industry wasn't built for is exactly where the most important work is happening.
Details ↓Keynote
Resilience as Strategy
Adversity is information — if you know how to read it.
Details ↓Workshop · Seminar
From Vision to Impact: Building Campaigns That Move People
For teams that need more than a good idea.
Details ↓Workshop
Authentic, Inclusive Leadership and Healthy Team Dynamics
The Futurist Project
Real leadership is inclusive every day — not just when it's convenient.
Details ↓Workshop
Read the Room: Empathy-Driven Communication for Leaders
The Futurist Project
The most effective communicators don't just speak well — they listen differently.
Details ↓Keynote
Can a Wild Idea Change the World?
Central Colorado SBDC Outdoor Industry Summit
The stories we tell about ourselves change what we believe is possible.
Details ↓Movement & Wellness
Workshop · Facilitation
Mindful, Embodied Running
Latino Outdoors Central Coast · See Change Sessions · Runners for Public Lands
The trail is one of the best classrooms we have — if we know how to listen.
Details ↓Facilitation · Workshop
Just Show Up
Camp & Run, Runners for Public Lands · Leadville, CO
Being a trail-lover can mean showing up for yourself, each other, and the land.
Details ↓Workshop · Course
Equanimity Outdoors: Find Your Voice
San Juan Expeditions · AIARE Rec Level 1 & 2
Two things keep us safe in wild snow: technical skills and emotional equanimity.
Details ↓"Dani is a uniquely capable and passionate activist. Her energy and charisma make her message irresistible."— Lila Leatherman, Consultant, Gender & Language Inclusivity
"Dani belongs in leadership and inspires everyone around her."— Dana Ellison, Senior Recruiter, Creative Circle Denver
Ready to work together? Tell me about your event, audience, and what you're hoping to create.
Impact & Press
The receipts. All of them.
Federal & Policy
- White House Outdoor Recreation Leaders Roundtable — with CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory and NPS Director Chuck Sams · 2022
- Electrifying America's Future — with Senator Martin Heinrich · 2022
- Protect Our Winters Capitol Hill Cross-Partisan Lobby Day · 2022
- White House Inflation Reduction Act Celebration · 2022
Industry & Community
- Outdoor Diversity Alliance Advisory Committee · 2025
- Snowsports Industries America Inclusivity Committee · 2020–2025
- The North Face Explore Fund Council · 2022–2023
- Farm To Crag, Board Member · 2023–2025
- West End Economic Development Corporation, Board Member · 2023–current
- Jackson Wild Judge · 2023–current
In the Press
Washington Post"Van Life During Coronavirus" →
Outside"Thank You, Running" →
Ski Magazine"The New Rules of Apres-Ski" →
Trail Runner"The Backyard Stories: Dani Reyes-Acosta" →
National Forest Foundation"Nature Connects Us" →
Elevation Outdoors"The Butterfly Effect" →
On the Page
American Forests"Running Toward Resilience" →
Backcountry"The Tough Things" →
Dirtbag Dreams"Como Empezar En Las Carreras de Sendero" →
Alpinist"Local Hero: Vasu Sojitra" →
Outside Business Journal"Everything You Need to Know to Combat Social Media Trolls" →
Book Contributions
- Women+Water · She Explores · 2023
- Return to Nature · Emma Loewe · 2022
- The Hispanic Star Volume III · Claudia Romo Edelman · 2022
- The Falcon Guide to Van Life · Roxy & Ben Dawson · 2021
Contributing writer: Backcountry Magazine · The Alpinist · Outside Business Journal · Elevation Outdoors · Outdoor Retailer Magazine · Outdoor Prolink · Treeline Review · Dirtbag Dreams
Recognized
- 2025Most Inspiring Film · OUTLIER: COMMON— No Man's Land Film Festival
- 2024Adan Medrano Legacy Award in Film— National Association of Latino Arts and Culture
- 2022Gerhard Gross Award · Alliance Member of the Year— Protect Our Winters
- 2012Nike Maxim Award · "There Is No Finish Line"— NFL Strategic Communications
Connect
Let's find out if we're a fit.
Whether you're a brand, a festival programmer, a headhunter, a collaborator, or a curious human who found their way here — I'd love to hear from you.
I'm based in Southwest Colorado and work with partners around the world. Response time is typically within five business days.
Speaking inquiry
Everything else
Consulting, film collaboration, press, partnerships, and general connection:
dani [at] afueraproductions.com