Banff Mountain Film Competition
For over 37 years, the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival has showcased a selection of films from around the world during a nine day Festival that takes place annually in Banff, Canada. A pre-selection committee narrows down over 350 entries to approximately 70 finalists. The selected films are then viewed by our international film jury and shown to the public during the Festival.
For any questions please contact banffmountainfilms@banffcentre.ca.
2012 Film Competition Winners
From the film Crossing the Ice © Justin Jones and James Castrission
View the 2012 Film Winners
Past Winners of the
Banff Mountain Film Festival
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |
1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | Groundbreakers' Series
2012 A-Z Film Finalists
2011, Switzerland, 17'
2012, UK, 48'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Baffin Island - A Skier's Journey
2011, Canada, 16'
2011, Poland, 2'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2012, France, 52'
2011, Norway, 55'
BIRDMEN: The Original Dream of Flight
2012, USA, 42'
2011, Japan, 3'
CONGO - The Grand Inga Project
2012, USA, 81'
2012, Australia, 46'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2010, Poland, 6'
2011, USA, 15'
2012, USA, 1'
2011, Spain, 53'
2012, USA, 20'
2012, USA, 5'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2012, USA, 80'
2012, Canada, 12'
2012, USA, 8'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
2012, Canada, 4'
2011, New Zealand, 25'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2010, France, 53'
2011, France, 53'
2012, Nepal, 5'
2011, Germany, 15'
2012, USA, 5'
2010, Norway, 89'
2011, UK, 5'
2011, USA, 50'
2012, USA, 85'
2011, USA, 9'
2012, USA, 20'
LACON DE CATALONIA - Andreu Lacondeguy
2012, Norway, 5'
2012, USA, 6'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
2012, USA, 22'
Life Above the Clouds - A Mountain Farmer in South Tyrol
2011, Germany, 53'
2011, USA, 4'
2012, France, 54'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
2011, UK, 57'
2011, France, 11'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2012, Germany, 108'
2012, USA, 4'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Mountains in Motion: The Canadian Rockies
2012, USA, 15'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2012, USA, 59'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
2012, Canada, 61'
2012, France, 90'
Non Cosi' Lontano - Not so far
2012, Italy, 38'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
Nuit Blanche - A Sleepless Night
2010, Belgium, 20'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Of Souls+Water - The Shapeshifter
2012, USA, 6'
Tuesday, Oct. 30 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2012, USA, 24'
2012, USA, 7'
On the Road - Welcome to the Jungle
2012, USA, 7'
2011, Norway, 2'
2012, France, 57'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2012, France, 23'
2011, Argentina, 20'
2012, USA, 75'
2012, USA, 33'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
2012, USA, 25'
2012, USA, 12'
2011, Australia, 12'
2012, Canada, 4'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
2012, Canada, 25'
2012, Canada, 6'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
2012, USA, 1'
2012, USA, 6'
Wednesday, Oct. 31 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
2011, USA, 48'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2012, Canada, 83'
2012, USA, 43'
2012, USA, 24'
2011, France, 54'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Rolston Recital Hall
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Max Bell Auditorium
2010, France, 78'
2012, USA, 57'
2011, USA, 9'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
2012, Canada, 76'
2011, USA, 7'
2012, USA, 61'
2011, Germany, 54'
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Margaret Greenham Theatre
Saturday, Nov. 3 | Max Bell Auditorium
Sunday, Nov. 4 | Eric Harvie Theatre
Winged Seduction: The Birds of Paradise
2012, USA, 46'
How to Enter your film
The 2013 Banff Mountain Film Competition is now open.
- Read the 2013 Entry Procedures and Regulations (pdf)
- Submit an entry form online or register through Withoutabox.
(Withoutabox logos are trademarks of Withoutabox, a DBA of IMDb.com Inc. or its affiliates.) - We have created a series of tutorials to help filmmakers with their digital file submissions. Click on the link to view them http://vimeopro.com/bmffworldtour/tutorials
- Before you send your film please review the Film Entry Checklist
Adventure Filmmakers’ Workshop
Take your next adventure film project to a new level. Special rates are offered to filmmakers who have submitted eligible entries to the Banff Mountain Film Competition.
» More
Workshop supported by: Big Rock Brewery, Mammut, Sole and ExOfficio
Past Juries
2012 Film Jury
Kathryn Bonnici
Kathryn Bonnici has been working in distribution for the past ten years. At Java, her responsibilities include developing and sourcing documentaries from independent directors, handing pre-sales and co-productions and overseeing sales to America, Iberia, Germany, Australasia and the Middle East.
Documentaries she has worked on for Java include the Goya nominated documentary 30 Years of Darkness, Desert Riders, and Letters from Iran (both selected for IDFA 2011). In 2011, Bonnici was a jury member for the Silver Eye Award at the Jihlava Festival and in 2012, she was on the selection committee for the Medimed Pitching Forum. Previously, she worked in London for six years, heading the sales department of a news and current affairs distribution agency. She has also worked as a producer.
"Being on the Banff jury was one of my favorite experiences all year. I've been on other juries before but nothing compares to Banff. Everyone was really friendly, all the events were well organized and I couldn't help but be inspired being in such a beautiful place with so many interesting people. The films were great and I made some real friends - as well as professional contacts. My only regret is that I was unable to stay for the big gala."
– Kathryn Bonnici
David E. Brenner
David E. Brenner, Chief Executive Officer of Principal Media, oversees all aspects of the Beverly Hills-based TV production/distribution company. Under his stewardship, Principal Media has created over 300 hours of TV programming for Sky Channel, National Geographic, Travel Channel, Fox Reality, ABC Family and others. Additionally, Principal Media's international distribution wing represents 3,000+ hours of award-winning TV programming, including long-running series on Spike, Lifetime, Fuel, Fox, Discovery, Versus, Speed, National Geographic and many more.
Prior to joining Principal Media in 2006, Brenner was a business legal affairs executive at Lionsgate Entertainment, as well as Director of Worldwide Distribution at Alliance Atlantis Pictures International.
Fluent in Japanese, Brenner was educated at Colgate University, where he dual-majored in Asian Culture and philosophy. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.
Tommy Heinrich
Tommy Heinrich left Argentina for the USA in 1988, where he commenced a life of traveling the world and combining his passions for climbing, photography, and filmmaking.
In 1995, he became the first person from Argentina to reach the summit of Mount Everest. A member of over 15 Himalayan expeditions, his photographs have been published in various magazines and catalogues in the USA, Argentina, and Europe; and his powerful images taken during a winter ascent of Nanga Parbat in northern Pakistan during an ascent of K2, were featured in National Geographic magazine.
Heinrich has filmed expeditions to Everest, Dhaulagiri, Aconcagua and other high altitude peaks for CBS, Dish Network, Discovery, CNN, and Canal 13 (Argentina) among other networks.
Heinrich currently lives in Buenos Aires with his family.
Dale Templar
Dale Templar spent 22 years working for BBC Television as a producer/director and series producer in factual programmes. She has specialized in filming abroad in extreme and often dangerous locations with both humans and wildlife, travelling to over 50 countries and to all continents including Antarctica.
Templar series-produced Human Planet, the landmark series from the BBC's Natural History Unit. This eight-part series won huge critical acclaim and was shot in HD with astonishingly high production values. Human Planet was one of the highest budgeted documentary series ever made - filmed in over 75 remote locations.
In 2011, Templar was presented with the Cherry Kearton Medal and Award from the Royal Geographical Society for Natural History Photography and Cinematography.
Templar now runs her own TV production company One Tribe TV, while also working as a professional speaker, film judge, travel writer, lecturer, and production trainer at the BBC Academy; with her newest venture being Real In Media, an online company designed to assist professionals seeking work in the broadcast industry.
Cindy Witten
Cindy Witten has worked as a journalist, director/producer, television executive, and senior director in both public and private sector media companies, in both traditional and digital media.
Her most recent position was Director General of The National Film Board of Canada's English Program where she oversaw the NFB's ground-breaking work in documentary, animation and experimental film, as well as pioneering interactive productions.
Witten established the NFB's first Digital Studio in Vancouver in 2008 and it has produced acclaimed interactive work such as Waterlife, Bear 71 and double Webby Award-winner, Welcome to Pine Point.
Before the NFB, Witten was a senior executive at Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting, most recently as VP Content of History Television. Witten began her career at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation producing news and current affairs programming, event programming and live specials.
The Banff Centre Audio Post Production Award
Charlie Robinson
No stranger to The Banff Centre, Robinson is back – this time to adjudicate films with the goal of awarding the 2012 Audio Post Production Scholarship. The recipient, chosen from the finalists in this year’s film competition, will receive approximately $10K in Banff Centre studio services and on-site expertise to produce a surround DVD soundtrack for their chosen project. The winner will be announced at the Best of the Festival awards night on Sunday, November 6. According to Robinson, sound for film should strive for “being better than being there” — sometimes quieter and cleaner, sometimes more intense and complex — while maintaining some production sounds to give a first-person feel. Robinson is a leader in the field of surround sound formatting for Dolby Research. As an engineer who studied at the University of Illinois, he worked on real-time music synthesis at the CERL Music Laboratory. Current areas of interest include acoustics, audio coding, interactive audio, spatial audio, and audio production with applications to broadcast, gaming and cinema. He has authored or coauthored nine patents in audio signal processing, contributed to two Emmy-award winning products, and is a member of AES and IEEE.
“Being a film juror for the Banff Mountain Festival is like kayaking class 5 whitewater: it comes at you quickly, requires complete focus and is full of surprises. You have to process the now, keep the big picture in mind, trust your instincts and make your choices. It’s a blast! Great setting and people, inspiring adventures, and the thrill of accomplishment and camaraderie, both vicarious through the films and personal thru your efforts as a jury member.”
Charlie Robinson, Dolby Research, USA
ENTRIES FOR THE 2013 BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM COMPETITION ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED
Enter your film into the Banff Mountain Film Competition and bring the magic of mountain places and cultures, and the adrenaline of exploration and adventure to an appreciative, international audience.
WHY YOU SHOULD ENTER YOUR FILM INTO THE BANFF COMPETITION
Interested in reaching a global audience in 40 countries all over the world? Looking for better recognition, more revenue, and a chance to collaborate with the best in the adventure film industry? Consider entering your film into the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Competition.
A WORLD-CLASS REPUTATION
After 37 years, the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival has a proven track record as the world’s largest and one of the most prestigious mountain festivals in the world. The Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, presented by National Geographic and The North Face, is the flagship program of Film and Media at The Banff Centre.
OUTREACH AND PRIZES
- Be part of the largest mountain festival and film tour in the world.
- Reach broadcasters, distributors, tour hosts and acquisitions agents via our online listings and on-demand screening room at the Festival.
- Over $40,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the 2013 Festival.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK
The Festival offers you the chance to meet other filmmakers and exchange ideas and collaborate in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with leaders in the outdoor adventure world including climbers, mountaineers, gear manufacturers, and journalists. Festival finalists are invited to join us in Banff during Festival week. As our special guests, attending film finalists will receive:
- two film program passes
- admission to special invitation-only events during the Festival
- one hotel room for up to three nights during the Festival
- an invitation to introduce your film in person at our public theatre screenings
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN
Banff Adventure Filmmakers’ Workshop: Take your next adventure film project to a new level. This workshop focuses on topics essential to every independent filmmaker. The faculty are award-winning, entrepreneurial filmmakers and influential decision-makers. The format is lively and interactive with lots of opportunity for one-on-one feedback. And best of all, attendance at the world-renowned Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival is mandatory! Special rates are offered to filmmakers who submit eligible entries to the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Competition.
Check out our Adventure Filmmakers’ Workshop and sign up for email updates.
FILM ENTRY INQUIRIES
Email: banffmountainfilms@banffcentre.ca
Phone: 1.403.762.6441
A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE: BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR
All films entered in the Festival will also be considered for inclusion in our World Tour programs. If your film is selected, we will contact you to arrange a separate licensing agreement (including royalties).
Each year, we find that short films are very popular because of the programming flexibility they provide. No film is too short — some of our most popular films from the World Tour are less than five minutes long! If you are submitting a longer film, we encourage you to consider providing a shorter version (special edit or excerpt, 5 to 15 minutes long) for both Festival and World Tour consideration.
The World Tour programs span the globe, reaching over 330,000 audience members through more than 740 screenings in 400 locations in 40 countries. From armchair adventurers to world-class climbers, from business leaders to schoolchildren, from Argentina to Iceland, and from South Africa to Japan – the World Tour is where you want your film to be. In addition to our well-established World Tour program, we also present a high-adrenaline, sport-oriented Radical Reels Tour based on our very successful Radical Reels screenings during the Festival.
Film Awards Sponsors
Adventure Filmmakers’ Workshop
Take your next adventure film project to a new level.
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