Banff Mountain Film Festival

World Tour 2010 Highlights

Mont-Blanc Speed Flying
Banff Award for Best Short Mountain Film, sponsored by Mountain Hardwear
(France, 2008, 10 minutes)
Directed and produced by Didier Lafond

Six speed riders fly from the upper slopes of Mont Blanc down to Chamonix in one continuous 10-minute shot, filmed in Cineflex.

Signatures
(USA, 2009, 51 minutes)
Directed by Nick Waggoner
Produced by Ben Sturgulewski

In Japan there is a cultural connection to the different signatures of their terrestrial home - a sense that the rhythm of fall, winter, spring and summer influences the rhythm of the person, their energy, their riding style and the lines they choose. One of the film's main characters, Yoichi Watanabe, explains: "As a photographer, the change in season brings a change of subject. I have to be ahead of this change in nature, like I have to be thinking about flowers before they actually bloom in order to capture what really goes on. I can say the same about the snow as well."

Finding Farley
Winner of Grand Prize Award, sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op
People's Choice Award, sponsored by Timex
(Canada, 2009, 63 minutes)
Directed by Leanne Allison
'Produced by Tracy Friesen

When filmmakers Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison, along with their two-year-old son Zev and indomitable dog Willow, set out to retrace the literary footsteps of Farley Mowat, they meant it literally. Their 5000-kilometre trip -- trekking, sailing, portaging and paddling from the Prairies to the Maritimes -- is captured in this film. The family's arrival at their final destination (Mowat's Nova Scotian summer home) is, as Karsten says, "an affirmation of what the land and animals had already told us". "Stories aren't so much written or created as they are released, expressing what's been there all along."

Revolution One
(USA, 2009, 10 minutes)
Directed and Produced by Dan Heaton

"Revolution One" takes a look into the history, people and places that have defined the rapidly emerging sport of off-road unicycling. Follow world champion unicyclists Kris Holm and Dan Heaton as they display riding that has blown the minds of viewers worldwide.

The Ultimate Skiing Showdown
(Canada, 2009, 4 minutes)

The final sprint showdown between the fastest skiers on Earth in juxtaposition with a stunt performer showing some of the sickest moves on Nordic skis. A lot of fun!

First Ascent: Alone on the Wall
(USA, 2009, 24 minutes)
Directed and produced by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen

After gaining international climbing renown for his landmark free-solo of "Moonlight Buttress" (V, 5.12+, 9 pitches) in Zion National Park, Utah, in April 2008, 24-year-old Alex Honnold moves on to his next big challenge: the first free-solo of the "Regular Northwest Face" route (VI, 5.12a, 23 pitches) on Yosemite’s Half Dome.

Project Megawoosh
Special Jury Mention
(Germany, 2009, 4 minutes)
Directed by Minh Duong
Produced by Nikolas Hannack

Bruno Kammerl, a German engineer, works to perfect the world's tallest human water slide.

Best of Banff World Tour evening | Monday 15th February | Nevis Centre Festival Theatre | 7-10pm | Online ticket price: £12.50 adults / £10 kids. On the door tickets: £14 / £12 | Book online

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