Fact Sheet
Banff Mountain Film Festival
November 1 to 9, 2008
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 2008 marks the 33rd anniversary of the festival.
This year’s film festival begins with the Feature-Length Films Weekend on Saturday, November 1, and Sunday, November 2. Regular programming runs Friday, November 7, through Sunday, November 9. On Sunday evening, the international jury will announce the Best of the Festival award winners.
What is the Banff Mountain Film Festival competition?
In 2007, almost 300 films from approximately 35 countries were entered into the competition. The films came from more than 35 countries and range from productions created by high school students to professional crews working with companies like the BBC and National Geographic. A pre-screening committee selects approximately 55 finalists for the festival. An international film festival jury chooses the best films from these finalists and awards prizes in eight categories.
What awards are given?
Winners of the following awards will be announced on Sunday, November 9:
- Grand Prize $4,000CDN cash prize sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op
- Alpine Club of Canada Award for Best Film on Climbing: $2000
- Best Film on Mountain Sports: $2000
- Best Film on Mountain Environment: $2000 sponsored by Patagonia
- Best Film on Mountain Culture: $2000 sponsored by Petzl
- Best Short Mountain Film (15 minutes or less): $2000 sponsored by Mountain Hardwear
- Best Feature-length Mountain Film (70 minutes or more): $2000 sponsored by Camper’s Village
- People’s Choice Award: $2000
- Radical Reels People’s Choice Award sponsored by FIDO
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, making its way from Austria to Argentina and from Iceland to India. More than 200,000 people attend approximately 500 screenings in about 285 locations.
About 50 percent 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.banffmountainfestivals.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 screenings of the Radical Reels Tour. For more information and the Radical Reels Tour schedule, please visit www.banffmountainfestivals.ca/radicalreels.
What else is featured at the festival in Banff?
The feature film weekend includes an art and craft sale. The six-day event includes evening presentations by guest speakers, lunch-hour seminars, an adventure trade show, a book fair, and a climbing wall.
Past speakers have included Sir Ranulph Fiennes (2005), 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), Ed Viesturs (2007 and 1998), Goran Kropp (1999), Kurt Diemberger (2000), Kitty Calhoun (2000), Carlos Carsolio (2001), Erik Weihenmayer (2002), Tashi Tenzing (2003), and Carlos Buhler (2004).
The 33rd annual Banff Mountain Film Festival will feature the Radical Reels films (the world’s most outrageous skiing, boarding, mountain-biking, and kayaking films), Austrian climbing icon Peter Habeler and Himalayan Cataract Project founder and humanitarian Dr. Geoff Tabin.
What is Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre?
Mountain Culture is a unique division of The Banff Centre, one of Canada’s leading cultural and education institutions. Established in 1996, Mountain Culture 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 challenges.
In addition to the film festival, Mountain Culture activities include the Banff Mountain Book Festival (November 5-7, 2008), Banff Mountain Summits, the Banff Mountain Photography Competition, Mountain Communities conferences, touring exhibitions of mountain artists, mountain speakers series, and grants for mountain projects.
What is The Banff Centre?
The Banff Centre is Canada’s only learning centre dedicated to creative excellence in the arts, leadership development, and mountain culture. The Centre serves the needs of accomplished artists, business and community leaders, and members of the global mountain community through year-round programs designed to enrich professional practice beyond the realm of traditional education. The Centre is also home to a world class-conference facility.
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 Canadas oldest and most popular national park.
How can I get more information?
Details about Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre events and programs may be found on the festival website at www.banffmountainfestivals.ca.
The 33rd annual Banff Mountain Film Festival is presented by National Geographic and New Balance; sponsored by Patagonia, Deuter, Outdoor Research, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Polartec, and Gortex; with assistance from MSR, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, Petzl, World Expeditions, Mountain Hardwear, Mountain Equipment Co-op, CBC Radio Canada, the Calgary Herald, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Media contact:
Jill Sawyer
Media and Communications Officer
The Banff Centre
phone: 403-762-6475; fax: 403-762-6158
e-mail: