The Banff Mountain Film Festival is going into its third year and organizers said attendees can expect selections that range from comedic to dramatic to outright astounding.
The event, which takes place on Sept. 20 at the Dutch Lake Community Centre, will offer 10 or so films that vary from five-minute mini clips to half-hour videos for film buffs to enjoy.
“It’s an evening of film and fun,” said Charlotte Smith, Wells Gray Outdoors Club director and Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour event coordinator.
“The films are the best of the Banff Film and Book Festival from the year before; some people might just think they’re just about the adrenalin rush and extreme sports, but they’re not. We’ll have a couple of those, but basically they’re about the mountains, the mountain environment, mountain culture.”
Every fall, the Banff Mountain Centre hosts its world-famous Mountain Film and Book Festival held in Banff Alberta and since many who may be interested can’t make it to Banff, the centre brings the films on the road, with stops planned in about 550 communities and more than 40 countries across the globe.
Wells Gray Adventures (WGA) is on board as an Extreme Sponsor this year and is donating two of its three-day wilderness trips, each valued at $575.
One of the trips will be drawn during the festival’s regular door prize event. Last year more than $1,500 worth of trips were donated by local adventure businesses.
The other trip was given away in the festival’s early bird draw and the winner, Jordan Scott, was the recipient of the three-day adventure with WGA.
As for the festival, Smith said those who enjoyed the event during its last two runs won’t be disappointed this year.
“According to the (the Banff Mountain Centre), the films are getting better every year as well as the choices that we have; so we have some great human interest ones and some good mountain biking ones on the agenda,” said Smith.
“Some will make you laugh, some will pull at your heartstrings, and some will make you go, ‘Oh, my god, how can they?’”
Tickets for the festival are $25 and can be found at the Bigfoot Trading Co., the Dutch Lake Community Centre, Yellowhead Community Services reception and online www.wellsgrayoutdoorsclub.ca.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and movies begin screening at 7 p.m.