Banff Centre Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out when the tour will be coming to Utah or visiting Iceland?

Check our tour schedule page for tour dates and locations. Please contact the local host listed for details about the tickets, times, and venues.

Which films will be shown in my home town?

The host organization selects the films that will be shown at each local event, so check with the local host to find out what films will be shown. Every year, the Banff World Tour team chooses about 25 films that feature a range of styles and themes, including climbing, skiing, kayaking, biking, adventure, culture and the environment. When making this selection many factors are considered: comments made by our pre-screening committee, audience reaction to the films shown in Banff, and feedback we've received from the tour audience. The hosts try to choose the films that are best suited for their local audience and event. You can find host contact information by choosing the appropriate links from our tour schedule page.

Why aren’t all the award winning films from the festival on tour?

The tour aims to provide a concentrated presentation of the diversity of the multi-day Banff festival in just a couple of hours. The tour film list always includes some award winners, but many of the jury selections are not suitable for the tour. Shorter films are very important to tour audiences, and juries frequently pick longer, often feature length, films for awards. It’s also common for audiences to prefer other films to some of the award winners. The opinions of the 5 people on the jury are always considered, but tour host and audience reactions also play a big role in the tour film selection.

How can I bring the tour to my home town?

The tour is so popular that we have very few openings for new locations, at least for the North American part of the tour. Our vans are on the road for almost six months straight and there are very few evenings without shows or travel. We eagerly accept applications to join the tour, but unfortunately we turn away more people than we can accommodate for any new locations in Canada and the United States. New host applications can be filled out on-line.

How much are tickets to the tour screenings?

Each host organization sets their ticket prices according to their local situation (theatre costs, sponsor support, etc). Please check with the local host for details — check your local host information on our schedule page.

How do I get a copy of my favourite film? Why don't you sell a compilation DVD of all of the films?

We do not own the home video rights to any of the films you see on tour or at the Festival in Banff, so we cannot sell you a copy for home viewing or produce a compilation DVD. Please ask your local video store to order any titles that interest you. Knowing the title and producer/director can help. You can find this information by searching our on-line festival archives.

To view a list of films with contact details for obtaining your own copy, visit our Filmmaker/Distributor Contact Page .

How can I find out more about the great music and inspiring images in the video that starts each screening?

The music was composed by Jacques Blackstone. He was commissioned in the late 90's from The Banff Centre to write a theme for the festival. Jacques brilliantly composed this piece that has moved people worldwide. Please visit his website for a list of accomplishments, credits, albums, and contact information. The “voice” for the intro is provided by Richard Armstrong, a New York-based teacher and performer who conducts International Voice Workshops at the Banff Centre. The film clips come from the films that are entered in each year’s festival (view a list of films that were used in the video).

Why aren’t there more women in the films?

Audience feedback indicates that this is an ongoing interest, so we actively look for films that feature women. However, there are some years when we receive very few appropriate film entries starring or made by women. We encourage filmmakers and female athletes to submit more films that include women and we hope to see more in the future. All films are judged for their overall quality, so a film about female athletes will not be chosen for the tour just because it has women in it.

Why don’t you show more of the high adrenaline action films?
Why don’t we get more of the thought provoking films about mountain culture and environment?

Experience has shown that most audience members prefer programs that include a mix of film styles, from intense action films to longer documentary films. However, some people have strong preferences for particular styles. Let your local organizers know what films you enjoyed from past shows, or tell them the film topics and styles that you most enjoy. This will encourage the local hosts to pick films that match your interests. If you want to see a program that features all action films, rather than a mix of styles, check out our Radical Reels Tour.

Why did you show that one sided, politically controversial film?

We try to select a range of films that show the diversity of views, interests, and activities found in the mountains. We do not make the films, control their content, or endorse their viewpoints, but our selections do sometimes include political perspectives. Not everyone in the audience will agree with the actions and attitudes shown in every film, nor should they. However, these films can serve as a catalyst for discussion, including criticism and disagreement, on relevant mountain issues.

Why do some of the films have strong language or intense situations?

The content of the films is determined by the filmmakers, and can include coarse language and frightening events. Not all films are suitable for family audiences. If you have concerns about the films to be shown at your local event, please check with the local organizer or our office for details and advice.

The World Tour sponsors play a key role in making the festival and tour possible through their financial and prize support, so they are always acknowledged as part of our program. Some filmmakers and athletes receive independent support from their own sponsors, and recognition of these sponsors may be included in the films that they enter in the festival. This is most common in action sports films.

How do I find out more about the music played at intermission?

The music played during intermission comes from Shining Spirit: A Tibetan Family’s Reunion Through Music. This CD features music by Jamyang Yeshi, a talented singer and musician from the Amdo region of Tibet, and his extended family. In 1998 Jamyang fled Tibet, and in 2005 he settled in Canada. Because Jamyang can no longer travel to his home country, his music was recorded in Canada, and this recording was then carried to Tibet where his family were able to listen to, and accompany, him. The family was reunited musically by mixing the tracks in the studios of The Banff Centre. The Shining Spirit CD is available for purchase from the Tara Café Project.

How can I volunteer at my local screening?

The tour host handles all arrangements for volunteers and local staff at each screening. Please check the contact information provided for each location and contact them to see if any opportunities are available.

How do I enter the “Win a trip” contest that I heard about at the tour screening?

Details for the on-line contest are here.

How did the tour begin?

In 1986, The Banff Mountain Film Festival began an outreach program to bring the festival to other communities. Banff’s Festival organizers wanted to share the efforts and talents of the world’s finest mountain filmmakers with a larger audience. Like the first festival in Banff, the tour began small: three cities across Canada. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings mountain films to thousands of people who cannot make the annual trek to the Canadian Rockies. We hope you will join us when the tour visits your town or city!