Films shown during the 2003 festival

We were proud to have the first ever public screening of :

"Frozen" UK, 2002, 50 minutes.

A film about Andy Kirkpatrick and Ian Parnell's controversial attempt to repeat the Lafaille route on the west face of Les Drus in winter. A route billed as' The hardest Big Wall' in Europe. An honest and revealing insight into the world of modern alpinism and big wall climbing.

Banff Mountain Film Festival

For twenty seven years, The Banff Mountain Film Festival has celebrated the spirit of adventure and the mountain environment. Each November, the world's best films on mountain themes draw an international audience to the town of Banff, Canada. From its grass roots beginnings in 1976 when approximately 450 people gathered to view 10 films, the festival now attracts audiences of 8300 plus with over 250 films submitted from 27 countries.

Sixteen years ago, The Banff Mountain Film Festival began an outreach program to bring the festival to other communities. Festival organizers wanted to showcase the efforts and talents of the world's finest mountain filmmakers. Like the first festival in Banff, the tour began small: three cities in central Canada. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings some of the world's best mountain films and videos to thousands of people who cannot make the annual trek to the Canadian Rockies.

This year's selection from The Banff Mountain Film Festival included :

"White Trax" Canada, 2002, 2 minutes, director and producer Sean White. Banff 2002 Special Jury Award. Kris Holm rides moguls, steep hardpack, snowboard parks and backcountry terrain - all on his unicycle!

"Eiger B.A.S.E." Switzerland, 2001, 11 minutes, director and producer Hannes Arch.
This film portrays the second ever B.A.S.E. jump by Hannes Arch and Ueli Gengenschatz from the so called Champignon, a bizarre rock formation on the north face of the Eiger (3970m) above Grindelwald in Switzerland. After a freefall of 13 seconds along the most famous wall in the world, the two pull their parachutes and land at the foot of the 1800m high wall. Wales' Eric Jones and Californian Moe Viletto B.A.S.E. jumped the wall first on 2nd October 1989.

"Sat Republic" Spain, 2001, 5 minutes, directors Daniel Crespo and Raul Rodriguez, producer Acrosat Productions.
A short but daring composition bringing together paragliding acro tricks, adrenaline and images never seen before. The Safety Acro Team, or SAT, was founded in 1999. This team of friends / pilots works together to discover paragliding aerobatics. Flying sequences shot at Organa (Lleida, Spain) mix with funny and simple studio images. Up in the sky, above the mountain peaks, or with both feet on the ground - it always links to discovery and fun.

"MX" USA, 2002, 28 minutes, director and producer Rich Purnell - M9 Films.
Four of the best mixed / ice climbers in the U.S. are showcased in Colorado. The climbing is steep and the footage spectacular on routes ranging from The Designator and Lucky (M11) in Vail to ice bouldering on Cascade Creek's overhanging drips and smears.

"Essence of Adolescence" Canada, 2002, 7 minutes, director and producer Daniel Kingsbury - Khaos Productions. Banff 2002 Best Film on Mountain Sport.
This short film features the local boys of the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. From the extreme performance to the directing and editing, this film is made by teenagers.

"Cost of Risk" Switzerland, 2001, 26 minutes director Pierre-Antoine Hiroz, producer Benoit Aymon. Banff 2002 Best Film on Mountain Culture.
This documentary places us right in the heart of avalanche rescue in the Swiss Alps. At Zinal, an avalanche crashes down on a group of professional rescuers who are searching for a girl who is already buried. The camera is running. Two of the rescuers lose their lives. In the rescue world and in public opinion this is truly traumatic - how far should rescue work go?

"Bergsjo Action" Norway, 2002, 4 minutes, director and producer Oystein Bjorke.
Arnulf Refsnes is the best kite skier in the world. In this film he is kiting his heart out on Bergsjo Lake in the mountains of Norway.

"Rock 'n' Trial" Slovakia, 2001, 11 minutes, director Marcos Kocan, producer Co-Nic Crazy Sports.
For this film maker the fascinating sport of bike trial is a lifestyle, pushing him to overcome extreme barriers in order to reach the edge of human ability.

"Front Range Freaks (Part 1): Urban Ape" USA, 2002, 9 minutes director and producer Peter Mortimer. Banff 2002 Best Short Film.
Renowned climber Timmy O'Neill turns his hometown of Boulder, Colorado, into an urban playground. He scales buildings, leaps across walls and hassles the local citizens, all in good fun.

"Escape From the Himalayas - Tibet's Children on Their Journey into Exile" Germany, 2000, 29 minutes, director Zazie Blumencron, producer Alecsander Faroga. Banff 2002 Special Jury Award.
Tibetan parents send their children on a dangerous, often deadly, march across the Himalayas to Nepal and ultimately Dharamsala, India, to provide them the chance at an education and the privilege of religious freedom. Zazie Blumencron accompanied this trek and created a film that is moving, tragic and hopeful at the same time.

Also screened this year :

"Storm" USA, 2002, 90 minutes, director and producer Warren Miller.
Warren Miller's 53rd annual ski and snowboard film. Loyal Warren Miller fans will find all the essential powder, cliffs and exotic locales. And for the newest generation of snowriders, STORM never fails to deliver today's most cutting-edge athletes and action.

"The Edge" UK, 30 minutes, Richard Else.
The recreation of the first winter ascent of Tower Ridge narrated by Cameron McNeish.

"The Bat" UK, Jim Curran.
The classic film recreating the first ascent of The Bat (E2 5b) on Carn Dearg Buttress of Ben Nevis, by Haston and Smith in 1959, before the use of harnesses and dynamic ropes. The name referred to the various swoopings out of the corner and the amount of night climbing involved!

"Rock Queen" UK, Jim Curran.
Catherine Destivelle's solo ascent of the Old Man of Hoy while three months pregnant.

"Fear" UK, 2002, 16 minutes, director and producer Andy Jackson.
Fort William paddlers Andy Jackson, Callum Anderson and Greg Nicks in the Telemark region of Norway, tackling extreme white water and their fear of it. This film won the UK Paddle Sport Amateur Short Competition 2002.

"Pushing Winter" Scotland, 2002, 7 minutes, director and producer Paul Raistrick.
Paul Raistrick snowboards grade I and II gullies on Ben Nevis and the Cairngorms. Somehow he manages to shoot all the footage himself!