Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival

What is the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival?

The Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival -- a flagship program of Film and Media at The Banff Centre -- is one of the most prestigious mountain festivals in the world and is a founding member of the International Alliance for Mountain Film. For more than 35 years, the Banff Mountain Film Festival -- which has included a Mountain Book component for the past 17 years -- has showcased a selection of outstanding adventure, exploration and mountain culture speakers, films, books, and photographs from around the world during a nine-day festival held each autumn in Banff, Canada. The Festival is an international, competitive event that awards over $50,000 in prizes, both in cash and services.

Events featured over the nine days include:

Film screenings – A wide range of films are screened – from 5-minute shorts to feature-length films including many premieres. Dozens of filmmakers are in attendance to introduce their films. Over 300 films are entered into the Banff Mountain Film Competition each year, and the best are screened to the public during the Festival. Our International Jury announces the Film Competition award winners on the final night of the Festival, handing out more than $50,000. in prizes.

Guest speakers – World-renowned adventurers, explorers, authors, conservationists, and filmmakers take to the stage in Banff – appearing in a variety of events, including literary readings, “hot topic” panel discussions, presentations and slideshows on the big stage. Speakers have ranged from true legends like mountaineers Sir Edmund Hillary and Reinhold Messner to avant-garde alpinists Ueli Steck and Alex Honnold.

Additional speakers through the years have included:

• In 2002, blind mountaineer Erik Weihenmeyer telling his tale of summiting Mt. Everest.
  
• In 2004, writer and adventurer Aron Ralston telling the story of saving his own life in the remote canyons of Utah.
  
• In 2006, author Nando Parrado retelling his first-had account of the 1972 Andes plane crash.
  
• In 2009, conservationist Mike Fay explaining the plight of the California Redwoods.

Mountain Art & Craft Sale – This colourful sale spans the Festival’s Opening weekend, and features unique mountain-themed gift items made by regional artisans – including original artwork, pottery, jewelry, weavings, woodwork, handbags, and more.

Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival Tradeshow – An exhibition featuring the latest in gear and apparel, mountain organizations, and adventure travel. There are also opportunities to purchase top-selling mountain books and have them signed in-person by authors and adventurers.

Exhibitions – Each year, a selection of artists’ works are mounted in various venues throughout The Banff Centre and the Banff townsite, including historical memorabilia, artist retrospectives and the winners of the annual Banff Mountain Photography Competition.

FREE events allow audiences to rub shoulders with those at the top of the field, including “Hot Topic” noon-hour seminars, “Big Topic” breakfast conversations, and a wide-range of learning opportunities and workshops.

What is the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour?

Immediately following the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival in November, a selection of the top films submitted to the Festival go on a tour around the world. Host organizations in each tour location choose a program that reflects the interests of their community, creating a unique celebration of adventure and adventurers at each stop.

The World Tour spans the globe, reaching over 245,000 audience members through more than 635 screenings in 350 locations in 32 countries. Check the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival website for World Tour locations, dates, and local host contact details.

Many of the tour screenings benefit local outdoor programs, community causes, or nonprofit organizations. Some of the causes supported by the tour include bursaries for outdoor pursuits, adventure programs for disadvantaged children, search and rescue operations, climbing clubs, youth ski programs, and trail maintenance groups.

In addition to the regular World Tour screenings, audiences in Canada and the US are invited to attend a special selection of high-energy action sports films presented throughout the Radical Reels Tour.

What is the Banff Mountain Film Competition?

The Banff Mountain Film Competition is an international film competition featuring the best moving footage of mountain and adventure content from around the world.

Hundreds of films are entered into the competition each year. A pre-screening committee selects the finalists to be screened throughout the Festival. During the Festival, an international jury presents awards to the best films in ten distinctive categories. Over $40.000 in cash, services and prizes is awarded.

What is the Banff Mountain Book Competition?

Each year, the Festival brings the spirit of outdoor adventure and the tradition of mountain literature to Banff, uniting writers, publishers, editors, photographers and readers. The Banff Mountain Book Competition is an internationally-recognized literary competition.

A pre-selection committee spends hours reviewing the more than 100 books entered into the competition and an international jury presents awards to winning titles in four categories (Adventure Travel, Mountain Guide Books, Mountain Image, and Mountain and Wilderness Literature). Over $6,000 in cash and prizes is awarded.

What is The Banff Centre?

The Banff Centre is Canada’s creative leader in arts and culture. Our mission is Inspiring Creativity. In our powerful mountain setting, exceptional artists and leaders from around the world create and perform new works of art, share skills and knowledge in an interdisciplinary environment, explore ideas, and develop solutions in the arts, leadership, and the environment
In addition to the fall Festival and the two touring programs (Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour and Radical Reels Tour), other mountain-related programs at The Banff Centre include: Banff Mountain Photography Competition; Banff Adventure Filmmakers’ Workshop; Banff Adventure Photography Workshop; and the Mountain and Wilderness Writing Program.

Where is Banff?

Banff is located in the province of Alberta, Canada, about 130 km west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. The Town of Banff is situated in Banff National Park, which is part of the UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. Banff is Canada’s oldest and most popular national park.
How can I get more information?

Media contact:
Jill Sawyer
Media and Communications Officer, The Banff Centre
phone: 403-762-6475, fax: 403-762-6158
e-mail: jill_sawyer@banffcentre.ca