MEDIA RELEASEwww.banffcentre.ca

2003 Banff Mountain Film Festival features Sherpa Tashi Tenzing, Italian climber “Bubu” Bole, and legendary filmmaker Leo Dickinson

Tashi Tenzing will talk about the contributions Sherpas have made to mountaineering since the first ascent of Everest 50 years ago, at a presentation Friday, November 7, at 8 p.m. to open the 2003 Banff Mountain Film Festival. Tashi Tenzing is the grandson of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who reached the top of Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary.

“Tashi will present a unique point of view of the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest — that of the unsung heroes of Everest, the Sherpas, ” says Bernadette McDonald, vice-president, Mountain Culture, The Banff Centre, which hosts the Banff Mountain Film Festival. “No one has felt the impact of that historic climb more than the Sherpas, who have been directly involved in nearly every successful Everest expedition.”

This year’s festival runs November 4, and 7 to 9 and features film screenings, presentations and seminars bringing mountain stories to life from around the world. During the film festival weekend, theatre-goers will have an opportunity to screen over 35 mountain films. More than 300 films were entered into the competition from over 30 countries.

Other highlights from this year's Banff Mountain Film Festival include:

A presentation Saturday, November 8, at 8 p.m. by Italian alpine guide Mauro “Bubu” Bole, who rose to the top ranks of the world’s climbers when he added a 10th grade to the scale of climbing difficulty in the Dolomites after completing the free ascent of the Couzy route on the Cima Ovest di Lavaredo. Bole will share his unique sense of humour and passion for climbing.

The ever-popular Radical Reels on Tuesday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m. This is a selection of some of the world’s most outrageous skiing, boarding, mountain-biking and kayaking films.

Retro Reels on Saturday, November 8, with Leo Dickinson. Dickinson is one of the world’s leading adventure filmmakers and has over 50 films to his name. He is the 2003 winner of the International Alliance for Mountain Film Lifetime Achievement Award for mountain filmmaking. Dickinson is a three-time Grand Prize winner at the Banff Mountain Film Festival for his films "Dudh Kosi – Relentless River of Everest "(1978), "The Cerro Torre Enigma" (1981) and "Eiger" (1984). In 1991, he organized and filmed the four-man team that made the first hot-air balloon flight over the world’s highest mountain. This outstanding achievement was recorded in his acclaimed film "Ballooning over Everest".

The screening of "Touching the Void", the most eagerly anticipated film at this year’s festival. This feature-length film based on Joe Simpson’s best-selling book is directed by Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald.

Free, public noon-hour seminars including: “Beyond Imagining: The Next Great Projects” on Saturday, November 8, and “After Everest: Lives Transformed” on Sunday, November 9. Both panel discussions will feature well-known and experienced members of the mountain community.

The international jury will announce the Best of the Festivals award winners on Sunday, November 9 starting at 7:30 p.m. For tickets to the 2003 Banff Mountain Film Festival call The Banff Centre Box Office at 403-762-6301 or 1-800-413-8368 or buy online.

Media Contact:

The 28th Banff Mountain Film Festival
Presented by:
National Geographic and Dunham Bootmakers
Sponsored by:
Eagle Creek Travel Gear, Patagonia, Chevy Avalanche, eVENT Fabrics,
And MSR - Mountain Safety Research
With assistance from:
Lake Louise Ski Area and PETZL

The Banff Centre is Canada’s centre for creative excellence in the arts, leadership development, mountain culture, and conferences. Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre promotes understanding and appreciation of the world’s mountain places by creating opportunities for people to share – and find inspiration in – mountain experiences, ideas and visions.

Back to media room