Banff Mountain Film Festival – October
Yet another dream completed, when I started with all the crazyness of adventures, I heard about the Banff Mountain Film Festival, a weeklong festival honouring the best o the best adventurers around the world and showing some of the best movies made over the year with one theme in common… Mountains.
Saturday, October 27 — 7:30 p.m. Program
Yamabushi
Canada, 2006, 13 minutes
Directed by Will Gadd
World Premiere
This film follows Will Gadd and his climbing partners as they put up a new route on “the Yam”, as the massive rock wall in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains is affectionately called. In Will’s words, it is a “sporty sport route”: eight pitches following vastly overhanging sections of the wall that have not been climbed before.
Into the Wild
USA, 2007, 140 minutes
Directed by Sean Penn
Produced by Art Linson, Sean Penn, and William Pohlad
Into the Wild is based on a true story and the best-selling book by Jon Krakauer. After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity, and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.
Sunday, October 28 — 3:30 p.m. Program
Searching for the Coast Wolves
Germany, 2006, 52 minutes
Directed by Richard Matthews
Produced by Heinz von Matthey
In person: Gudrun Pflueger
This is a story of one woman’s passion for wolves. Gudrun Pflueger is a former world champion cross-country skier and long-distance runner. For the last six years, she has been studying wolves in the wilds of Canada, collecting field data, hair, droppings, and other evidence for use in scientific projects on wolves. This film follows her as she goes in search of the coastal wolves of British Columbia.
Becoming a Woman in Zanskar
France, 2007, 87 minutes
Directed by Jean-Michel Corillion
Produced by Manuel Catteau
Canadian Premiere
Becoming a Woman in Zanskar recounts the moving story of a friendship shattered by destiny, when two best friends have to part and leave their families forever. Tenzin will be married to a man she hasn’t chosen, while Palkit will become a nun.
Sunday, October 28 — 7:30 p.m. Program
Facing Obsession
Germany, 2006, 27 minutes
Directed by Jochen Schmoll
North American Premiere
Stefan Glowacz and Robert Jasper are totally obsessed with climbing the notorious “ForgottenWall”, the steep and massive 1000-metre north pillar of Cerro Murallon amidst the inland ice of Patagonia. This obsession dates back to 2003, when they first attempted the climb. Despite being brutally beaten back by raging storms, the two “possessed” alpinists decide to return for two more extremely tricky attempts. In order to make their dream come true, Glowacz and Jasper are finally forced to push themselves to the very limit.
Loop
Norway, 2005, 75 minutes
Directed and produced by Sjur Paulsen
Searching for extraordinary ski trails, an engineer and a fishing enthusiast travel from Narvik to the Lofoten Islands on a cutter. A marketing expert manages to climb one of Norway’s most difficult routes all alone, just to BASE jump from the top. A paramedic takes time out from his exhausting job to monitor a large forest area and prevent outbreaks of fire. What unites these four men is a typical professional career on the one hand and the courage to defy conventions on the other. Loop tells us their stories and introduces us to 90 year old Arne Nœss, a philosopher and adventurer.
November 2 —
8:00 p.m. | Official welcome and Opening address (simulcast)
Mary Hofstetter, President & CEO, The Banff Centre, and Shannon O’Donoghue, 2007 Festival Director |
8:20 p.m. | Krzysztof Wielicki (simulcast) |
9:25 p.m. | Break |
9:45 p.m. | Great Day for Climbing
USA, 2007, 7 minutes Directed and produced by Stephen Burgess World Premiere In person: Stephen Burgess A sleepy climber has trouble distinguishing dream from reality as his climbing buddy bursts into song at the most inopportune moments. Who are those guys dancing in his driveway? |
9:54 p.m. | Duet
UK, 2006, 7 minutes Directed by Keith Partridge North American Premiere The lives of the birdmen of St Kilda were intertwined with those of the sea-cliff birds they hunted. However, increasing contact with the wider world disrupted the old rhythms and balances. St Kilda was evacuated in 1930, but its story continues to resonate through many cultures today. Told in aerial dance, Duet represents the ebb and flow in a relationship between two lovers flying in the face of a dangerous existence. |
10:02 p.m. | Iran — A Mountain Journey (Part 2)
Ireland, 2004, 51 minutes Directed and produced by John Murray Irish writer and mountaineer Dermot Somers travels with a group of nomads on a spectacular mountain journey across Iran. Dermot’s hosts are a family of shepherds who travel 400 kilometres on foot across a forgotten corner of this extraordinary country. Stunning landscapes and an isolated tribe reveal aspects of Iranian life almost never seen in the West. |
Saturday, Nov 3 — Eric Harvie Theatre and Max Bell Auditorium
Max Bell times in italics
9:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m. |
Light in Liquid — A Kayak Collage of Movement and Sound
USA, 2007, 15 minutes Directed and produced by Adrian Matthew Glasenapp Canadian Premiere In person: Adrian Matthew Glasenapp Light in Liquid features expeditions and adventures on rivers and creeks in Colorado, Idaho, and Mexico. This kayak collage pushes the creative edge in the whitewater film genre and focuses on the process of travel, the paddlers themselves, and the world around us, just as much as it does on running waterfalls and creeks. |
9:25 a.m.
9:23 a.m. |
Borneo’s Pygmy Elephants
The Netherlands, 2006, 53 minutes Directed by Joe Kennedy Produced by Michael Patrick Wong Until very recently, Borneo’s forest elephants were thought to be tame elephants gone wild. However, DNA testing has proven that they are a new species unique to the island and now under threat from habitat loss and conflict with humans. This is the story of one man’s mission to track and monitor these mystery elephants in order to protect them. |
10:21 a.m.
10:17 a.m. |
Break |
10:41 a.m.
10:32 a.m. |
Higher Ground: Black Canyon
USA, 2007, 14 minutes Directed by Chris Alstrin and Alexander Lavigne Produced by Chris Alstrin In person: Chris Alstrin Black Canyon features Josh Wharton and Phil Gruber, who explain the importance of friendship and of climbing efficiently while ascending the Free Nose (5.12c) in Colorado’s notoriously adventurous Black Canyon. |
10:58 a.m.
10:47 a.m. |
20 Seconds of Joy
Germany, 2007, 60 minutes Directed by Jens Hoffmann Produced by Clenonice Comino World Premiere In person: Jens Hoffmann “I don’t want to die, I want to live. I’m pretty good at running away, and this is my escape!” This is how Karina Hollekim describes her dedication to BASE jumping. Documentary filmmaker Jens Hoffman first met the now 30-year-old Norwegian in 2002. He immediately started to film, accompanying her through many stages of her BASE-jumping career, until it comes to a sudden stop, changing all aspects of her life. |
Noon | Break |
2:00 p.m.
2:15 p.m. |
Last Chance Journeys: Across the Himalaya
Ireland, 2007, 52 minutes Directed and produced by John Murray This documentary follows a clan of Buddhist yak herders on a breathtaking journey unmatched anywhere on the planet. Starting from the nomads’ tiny village close to the Tibetan border, the film shadows the group through a soaring landscape, traversing some of the highest mountain passes in the world, until the exhausted caravaneers eventually reach their destination—the lowland valleys of southern Nepal. |
2:55 p.m.
3:08 p.m. |
King Lines
USA, 2007, 50 minutes Directed and produced by Josh Lowell and Peter Mortimer Filmed on location in France, California, Venezuela, Greece, Utah, and Mallorca, King Lines captures Chris Sharma’s most outrageous ascents and visionary projects, and explores his fascinating lifestyle as a nomadic professional climber and global citizen. |
3:48 p.m.
3:59 p.m. |
Break |
4:08 p.m.
4:14 p.m. |
Vicious Circle (Festival edit)
Canada, 2007, 16 minutes Directed and produced by Jonathan Desrosiers In person: Jonathan Desrosiers A bike movie shot in North America, from the wildest areas of the rain forest, to the baking-hot sun of California, and the fastest trails on the east and west sides of Canada. |
4:27 p.m.
4:31 p.m. |
The Beckoning Silence
UK, 2007, 73 minutes Directed and produced by Louise Osmond North American Premiere Joe Simpson, whose battle for survival featured in Touching the Void, travels to the Eiger to tell the story of one of mountaineering’s most epic tragedies. Toni Kurtz was a brilliant mountaineer who in 1936 tried to be the first to conquer the Eiger. The climb started well, but disaster struck and Kurtz’s climbing colleagues were killed, leaving him alone and fighting for his life. The Beckoning Silence recounts Kurtz’s heroic battle for survival but it also forces Simpson to confront some fundamental questions of his own. Why continue climbing when you have come so close to oblivion? |
Saturday, Nov 3 — Evening Program – Margaret Greenham Theatre
8:00 p.m. | Lincoln Hall — Dead Lucky (simulcast)
Lincoln Hall is one of Australia’s best-known mountaineers. Hall’s eighth book, Dead Lucky: Life After Death on Mount Everest, is his personal account of his climb of Everest and of a tragic season on the mountain. |
9:00 p.m. | Announcement of the 2007 John Lauchlan Memorial Award (simulcast) |
9:10 p.m. | Break |
9:25 p.m. | Set in Stone
UK, 2006, 37 minutes Directed and produced by Alastair Lee Canadian Premiere In person: Alastair Lee U.K. trad-climbing legend Dave Birkett and his numerous hard climbs are profiled in this humorous and innovative film. |
8:00 p.m. | Ain’t Got No Friends on a Powder Day
Switzerland, 2007, 5 minutes Directed and produced by Nicolas Falquet and Loris Falquet North American Premiere Loris is a “classic” freerider. Jean-Yves, however, has a more or less “accidental” style. This film draws a parallel between two styles and two approaches to the same mountain, which are otherwise worlds apart. |
10:09 p.m. | Un Désert Vertical (Vertical Desert)
France, 2006, 48 minutes Directed and produced by Daniel du Lac In person: Daniel du Lac In this film about desert rock climbing in Mali, Africa, Daniel Du Lac, 2004 world champion and European bouldering champion, attempts an ascent of Harmattan Rodeo, a 400-metre route comprising 13 pitches graded between 5.12a and 5.13b. The culture of the people living in the Gourma desert forms the backdrop to the film. |
Sunday, Nov 4 — Eric Harvie Theatre and Max Bell Auditorium
Max Bell times in italics
9:00 a.m. | Pacific Horizons: Exploring the Northwest Coast by Kayak
Canada, 2007, 32 minutes Directed by Bryan Smith and Lise-Anne Beyries Produced by Bryan Smith In person: Bryan Smith and Lise-Anne Beyries Showcasing some of the world’s most sought-after sea-kayaking destinations, Pacific Horizons captures the essence of the ocean and inspires one and all to get out on the water and go kayaking! Blending wildlife, people, places, and action-packed kayaking, the film takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through the San Juan Islands, the Bunsby Islands off the remote coast of Vancouver Island, the Queen Charlottes, and along the Oregon coast. |
9:42 a.m.
9:40 a.m. |
Committed
UK, 2007, 61 minutes Directed by Paul Diffley and Dave Brown Produced by Dave Brown In person: Paul Diffley and Dave Brown Held in awe by climbers around the world, the hard traditional rockclimbing scene in Britain commands both respect and bewilderment. This film accompanies many of the top climbers of the modern era on an astonishing journey through the world of hard trad and witnesses, first-hand, one of the most remarkable years in climbing history. |
10:46 a.m.
10:42 a.m. |
Break |
11:06 a.m.
10:57 a.m. |
Climber
Canada, 2007, 2 minutes Directed by Carlos Villarreal-Kwasek Produced by Vancouver Film School A climber attempts an icy route in this animated short. |
11:10 a.m.
11:00 a.m. |
The Endless Knot
USA, 2007, 52 minutes Directed by Michael Brown Produced by David D’Angelo In person: Michael Brown In 1999, best friends Alex Lowe and Conrad Anker were overcome by an avalanche while climbing in the Tibetan Himalaya. Alex died and Conrad survived and suffered terribly from survivor’s guilt. In comforting one another after the tragedy, Conrad and Alex’s widow, Jennifer, unexpectedly found love. Now they must see if their love can survive and if Alex’s three boys can accept Conrad as a new father. To honour Alex’s name, Conrad and Jennifer try to find meaning beyond tragedy by supporting a mountaineering safety school for Sherpas. |
Noon | Break |
2:00 p.m.
2:15 p.m. |
Ice Mines
Canada, 2007, 30 minutes Directed and produced by Will Gadd World Premiere In person: Will Gadd What’s an ice climber to do in the age of global warming? Go underground. Deep underground. Five years ago Will Gadd heard rumours of ice hidden in the blackness of abandoned mines in Sweden. This is the story of what Gadd and his friend Spak found. |
2:33 p.m.
2:46 p.m. |
Resorting to Madness — Taking Back Our Mountain Communities
USA, 2007, 50 minutes Directed by Hunter Sykes and Darren Campbell Produced by Darren Campbell Canadian Premiere In person: Hunter Sykes and Darren Campbell Resorting to Madness addresses the impacts of the modern ski resort industry on mountain communities and the environment. Including footage of dozens of ski areas, experts, and concerned community members throughout North America, it reveals some disturbing trends and presents examples where efforts are being made to protect and maintain mountain environments and communities. |
3:26 p.m.
3:37 p.m. |
Break |
3:46 p.m.
3:52 p.m. |
24 Solo (festival edit)
USA, 2007, 55 minutes Directed by Jason Berry Produced by Ken Bell Canadian Premiere In person: Jason Berry and Ken Bell 24 Solo follows the gut-wrenching story of Chris Eatough on his quest for a seventh world title in the unforgiving discipline of 24-hour solo mountain-bike racing. Dark horse Craig Gordon, who is the Australian national champion, challenges Chris to a level of intensity and exhaustion that leaves one rider with severe blood poisoning. |
4:44 p.m.
4:48 p.m. |
Wings on Your Feet (Le ali ai piedi)
Switzerland, 2006, 52 minutes Directed and produced by Fulvio Mariani North American Premiere John Falkiner and Paolo Tassi — two charming characters, untiring powder hunters, and free telemark interpreters — tell us about their dreams and why they have chosen skiing as their true lifestyle. Whooshing through Fulvio Mariani’s camera shots, they guide us on journeys of discovery and friendship in the magnificent landscapes of Lebanon, Patagonia, the Dolomites, Mount Etna, and Kashmir. |
Sunday Evening — Nov 4 – Best of the Festival @ Eric Harvie Theater
7:30 p.m. | The Bill March Summit of Excellence Award
Presentation to Bernadette McDonald. Sponsored by Canadian Mountain Holidays. |
7:45 p.m. | Awards
Introduction of the international jury and announcement of the 2007 Banff Mountain Film Festival awards |
8:00 p.m. | Screening of award-winning films |