Competitions, Awards + Workshops

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival features numerous competitions for creatives of all types. Filmmakers, photographers, writers, or even just mountain people that give back. Check back after the festival to view all the competition winners. 

From the film Sonder

Mountain Film Competition

The 2022 Banff Mountain Film Competition is now closed.
2021 Category Finalists

Mountain Book Competition

The 2022 Banff Mountain Book Competition finalists announced!
2022 Banff Mountain Photo Essay Competition Grand Prize, Zagros, Emily Garthwaite

Mountain Photo Essay Competition

The winner of the 2022 Banff Mountain Photo Essay Competition is announced!
Ashlee Hendy and Elizabeth Chong, Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, Australia © Simon Carter

Signature Image Search

Our 2022 Signature Image will represent the Festival and World Tour in over 40 countries! 

Mountain Spirit Award

Learn about the Mountain Spirit Award nomination process and past winners.
Summit of Excellence recipient Helen Sovdat on Ama Dablam's top slope 1996

Summit of Excellence Award

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is proud to announce Helen Sovdat as the 2021 recipient of the Summit of Excellence Award.

Workshops & Programs

Person wearing a blue jacket and striped hat points video camera at man in red jacket, seated

Adventure Filmmakers Workshop

Yearly - Now Open for Applications!

This workshop is an exceptional chance for independant and emerging filmmakers to turn their...

Mountain and Wilderness Writing

Yearly

This intensive writing program, open to all genres, is focused on mountain narratives, environmental journalism, wilderness...

Photography Practicum

Yearly

Advance your skills in a professional photography environment that includes complex systems, logistical and technical...

Partners + Sponsors

View detailed information on festival partners.

Festival Archive 

Click here to access our festival archive. Historical festival information available.