By Jaime Polmateer
The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is coming back to Clearwater Sept. 21 and will be held at the Dutch Lake Community Centre.
The event is a three hour evening featuring top picks from last year’s Banff Mountain Film Festival, including a variety of themes from adventure sports environment, mountain culture, heritage and human challenges.
“How many opportunities do we have in Clearwater for such world class entertainment? This is an international world tour, so it’s just an excellent opportunity for people from Clearwater to participate and view in our community,” said Charlotte Smith, vice president of the Wells Gray Outdoors Club, which brings the event to town.
“No one has to drive to go to a larger centre, it’s right here just down the street.”
According to Smith, the selections will make viewers gasp, sigh, laugh out loud, shake their heads and possibly even cry.
The event is now featured in more than 400 communities across the globe and WGOC said its proud and fortunate to bring the event back to Clearwater.
“The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings best of the Banff Film Festival to audiences around the globe,” Smith said, during a presentation last year to the District of Clearwater.
“Every year they choose about 25 to 30 of the best films from that year’s festival and then they take them on the road, across Canada, the United States, and now internationally to over 400 locations as diverse as South Africa, India, Iceland, Lebanon, New Zealand, Venezuela, and Finland.”
Smith said last year’s event was well-received by Clearwater residents, noting the energy in the room was “amazing.”
At each of the host communities between six and 10 films are selected and screened for the audience.
WGOC notes that those planning on bringing their families to the event should be aware some films are rated Parental Guidance because they may feature coarse language or nudity.
For those within the age of majority, there will be a licensed area where beer and wine will be served.
Tickets are $25 a person and the festival will also have door prizes handed out, so it’s advised participants hold on to their ticket stubs.
Tickets can be bought at Bigfoot Trading Co. and Dutch Lake Community Centre or online at wellsgrayoutdoorsclub.ca.
Pre-purchased tickets can be received at the door for pickup.
“We really hope people come and enjoy the evening; it’s a don’t miss and I think it’s one of the big cultural events of the year,” she said.