Competitions, Awards + Workshops

Congratulations to all winners in our Mountain Film, Book, and Photography Competitions!

Competitions currently open are:
Banff Mountain Book Competition, Banff Mountain Photo Essay Competition, and Signature Image Challenge.
The Film Competition opens in spring 2021! 

Thanks to all of our partners and sponsors.

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. 

Film still from 2020 Grand Prize Film winner Then Comes the Evening

Mountain Film Competition

The 2020 Banff Mountain Film Competition Winners Announced! 
2020 Category Finalist

Mountain Book Competition

The 2021 Banff Mountain Book Competition is now open!
2020 Banff Mountain Photo Essay Competition Grand Prize, Shadows of Kurdistan, Murat Yazar

Mountain Photo Essay Competition

The 2021 Banff Mountain Photo Essay Competition is now open!
Two skiers climb into the Sierra Nevada backcountry for some ski touring.

Signature Image Challenge

The 2021 Signature Image entry form is now closed. The chosen image will represent the Festival and World Tour in over 40 countries on our poster...
Photo of Isobel Hendry - 2020 Mountain Idol

Mountain Idol

The 2020 Mountain Idol has been announced. Nominate a 2021 Idol today!
Image courtesy of Raphael Slawinski

Summit of Excellence Award

The 2020 Summit of Excellence Award recipient has been announced !

Workshops & Programs

Adventure Filmmakers Workshop 2021 - ONLINE (March)

Online in March 2021

This workshop offered online in March 2021 is an exceptional chance for independant and emerging filmmakers...
Filmmaker rock climbing with filming equipment

Adventure Filmmakers Masterclass

Yearly

Join award winning, industry leading faculty and guest speakers for this hands-on, technical skill- and- theory-based...

Mountain Photography Residency

Yearly

This program examines the practice of photography when working in mountain or wilderness communities with deep ecological...

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...
Youth Adventure Photography Workshop 2018 © Franka

Youth Adventure Photography Workshop

Yearly

2-day outdoor adevnture photography workshop for youth ages 15-25, led by local instructor Jeremiah Marsh.

Partners + Sponsors

View detailed information on festival partners.

Festival Archive 

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