Banff Mountain Film Festival

What is the Banff Mountain Film Festival?

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international film competition featuring the world’s best footage on mountain subjects. The festival began in 1976 and is held annually on the first weekend in November in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The year 2010 marks the 35th anniversary of the festival.

What is the Banff Mountain Film Festival Competition?

In 2009, 277 films from 28 countries were entered into the competition. The films range from productions created by first-time filmmakers to professional crews working with companies like the BBC and National Geographic. A pre-screening committee selects approximately 50 finalists for the festival. During the festival, the international film festival jury chooses the best films and presents awards in the following categories:

What is the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour?

Immediately after the festival in November, a selection of the best films entered in the festival goes on tour. The host organization in each tour location chooses a program that reflects the interests of their community. Each community creates a unique celebration of local adventure and adventurers.

The world tour spans the globe reaching over 200,000 audience members in 30 countries and 360 locations, with over 550 screenings. Many of the tour screenings benefit an outdoor program, community cause, or a nonprofit organization. Some of the causes supported by the tour are bursaries for outdoor pursuits, adventure programs for disadvantaged children, search and rescue operations, climbing clubs, youth ski programs, and trail maintenance groups.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival website lists the World Tour locations and local contact details. For specific locations and dates, visit our website at www.banffmountainfestival.ca/tour

In addition to the regular World Tour screenings, audiences in Canada and the USA can see a special selection of high-energy action sports films at about 50 screenings of the Radical Reels Tour. For more information and the Radical Reels Tour schedule, please visit www.banffmountainfestival.ca/radicalreels.

What else is featured at the festival in Banff?

The feature film weekend includes a mountain art and craft sale. The nine-day film and book festival includes daytime and evening presentations by guest speakers, panel discussions, workshops, noon-hour seminars, an adventure trade show, a book fair, and a climbing wall.

Past speakers have included: Reinhold Messner (1993 and 2000), Sir Edmund Hillary and Alison Hargreaves (1994), Henrich Harrer and Lynn Hill (1995), Catherine Destivelle and Alex Lowe (1996), Sir Christian Bonington and Walter Bonatti (1997), Goran Kropp (1999), Kurt Diemberger (2000), Kitty Calhoun (2000), Carlos Carsolio (2001), Erik Weihenmayer (2002), Tashi Tenzing (2003), Carlos Buhler (2004), Sir Ranulph Fiennes (2005), Nando Parrado (2006), Ed Viesturs (2007 and 1998), Peter Habeler (2008).

The 34th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival in November 2009 featured the Snow Show (mountain-themed winter sport films), Radical Reels night (the world’s most outrageous extreme sports such as BASE jumping, mountain biking, trials riding, speed flying, white-water kayaking and more!), and world-renowned guest speakers including alpinist Ueli Steck, rock climber Chris Sharma, and conservationist Michael Fay.

Presenting and Supporting Partners

The 35th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival: Presenting Partners include National Geographic, The North Face and Parks Canada; sponsored by Deuter, OR (Outdoor Research), Stones into Schools/Three Cups of Tea, Prima Loft, Tom’s of Maine, ProBar; with the support of MSR (Mountain Safety Research), Fernie Alpine Resort, Petzl, World Expeditions, Mountain Hardwear, Mountain Equipment Co-op, CBC Radio Canada, the Calgary Herald, and the Alberta Foundation of the Arts.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is a founding member of the International Alliance for Mountain Film.

What about other mountain-themed programming?

Banff Mountain Festival programming 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.

In addition to the fall festival, programs at The Banff Centre include the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, the Banff Mountain Photography Competition, the Adventure Filmmakers’ Workshop, Adventure Photography Workshop, Mountain Writing Program, exhibitions of mountain artists, Leading Ideas Speakers’ Series, and scholarships for various training opportunities.

What is The Banff Centre?

The Banff Centre is Canada’s creative leader in arts in 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.

Where is Banff?

Banff is located in the province of Alberta, Canada, about 130 km west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. 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?

Details about the Banff Mountain Festival and mountain programming at The Banff Centre are available at www.banffmountainfestival.ca

Media contact:

Jill Sawyer
Media and Communications Officer
The Banff Centre
phone: 403-762-6475; fax: 403-762-6158
email: jill_sawyer@banffcentre.ca