Outdoor Action lectures and films are open to the public.
|
Wednesday, March 10 |
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international competition featuring the world's best films and videos on mountain subjects. It is held annually on the first weekend in November in Banff, Alberta. The festival began in 1976. 2003 is the festival’s 28th anniversary. The film festival will takes place each fall in November.
In 2003, over 300 films from 38 countries were entered in the film festival competition. The films range from productions created by high school students to professional crews working with companies like the BBC and National Geographic. A pre-screening committee selects approximately 40 finalists to be show during festival. An international film festival jury chooses the best films and awards prizes in eight categories: Grand Prize, Climbing, Mountain Sports, Mountain Environment, Mountain Culture, Short Mountain Film and Feature-Length Mountain Fiction. Audience members decide the winner of the People's Choice Award.
Every year, the best films from the festival go on tour immediately following the festival. The host organization in each tour location chooses a program from the films on tour that reflects the interests of their community. Each community creates a unique celebration of local adventure and adventurers.
Fifty-five per cent of the festival screenings on the North American tour benefit an outdoor program, community cause, or a not-for-profit organization. Some of the causes that are supported by the tour are bursaries for outdoor pursuits, adventure programs for disadvantaged children, search and rescue operations, youth ski programs, park and trail maintenance and operation, etc. The Festival showing at Princeton University is sponsored by the Outdoor Action Program and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports at the Princeton Shopping Center. Proceeds support summer camp scholarships for needy children at the Princeton-Blairstown Center.
(Netherlands, 2002, 53 minutes)
Director: Johan Kramer
Producer: Jacqueline Kouwenberg - KesselsKramer
On the same day as Germany and Brazil played in the World Cup Final in Japan, the national teams of Bhutan and Montserrat met in an officially sanctioned, friendly match in Thimphu, the Bhutanese capital. Ranked at the very bottom of international soccer, they played strictly for the love of the game. The film
follows the two teams in their respective countries as they prepare for the match, travel to the stadium and play in the Other Final.
Focus: Culture
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: Europe
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(UK, 2002, 40 minutes)
Director/Producer: Alex Gabbay
What makes a nomad? Is it his land, his herd or just his heart? Through the story of Choegatar, a 30-year-old nomad who lives in northeastern China, the film explores the dilemmas of a modern nomad caught in the interface between traditional nomadic life and the changing world around him.
Focus: Culture
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Low
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: Yes
Language: Tibetan
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(Switzerland, 2002, 52 minutes
Directors: Frank Senn, Thomas Ulrich
Producer: Otto Honegger
In 2002, the accomplished mountaineers Stephan Siegrist and Michal Pitelka take on the challenge of climbing the Eiger's infamous North Face using equipment similar to that available to the first-ascent party in 1938. The documentary follows the two men in their attempt to repeat the original feat and observes
their battles with themselves, the Eiger's North Face and their unusual, outdated equipment.
Focus: Alpine Climbing
Type: Historical
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Low
Broadcast: Oct/02, April/03 & July/03 Europe only
Subtitles: Yes
Language: German/Swiss
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(Canada, 2003, 30 minutes)
Directors/Producers: Glen Crawford, Brad Wrobleski
Production Co.: Glen Crawford Production Services
"Spinal Tap with Crampons"! This satirical mockumentary features Rex Van Fuegoshmidt and Jeff Z. as they attempt the first ascent of the notorious west face of the Middle Sister in the Canadian Rockies. During this "out there" climb, Rex and Jeff shed light on the mystery surrounding the tragic disappearance of legendary Dutch alpinist Rexal Van Fuegoshmidt. With commentary by renowned climbers Barry Blanchard, Will Gadd, and Pat Morrow, Sister Extreme's humour and local connection made it People's Choice at the Banff Festival.
Focus: Climbing/Humour
Type: Humour
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(USA, 2002, 36 minutes)
Director/Producer: Vanessa Schulz
In 1995, a wolf reintroduction effort in Idaho generated heated controversy, but this time all the major players, human and animal alike, were captured on film. Showing the intensity of the passions that motivate all sides of the wolf issue, Cost of Freedom lays out an accessible and infuriating portrait of the wolf question, no matter which side you are on.
Focus: Environment/Culture
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(USA, 2003, 13 minutes)
Director/Producer: Joy Tessman
This is a story about two young kayaker/photographers whose nations had conditioned them to be enemies, but who came to depend on each other at the extreme edges of the disintegrating Soviet Union.
Focus: Culture/Environment
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Low
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(USA, 2003, 47 minutes)
Director/Producer: Charles Houston
Veteran mountaineer and medical researcher Dr. Charles Houston brings us moving stories from early expeditions to the world's highest mountains. Featuring remarkable archival footage, this film documents the first ascent of Nanda Devi in 1936 (the highest mountain climbed at that time), the first visit by westerners to the south side of Everest in 1950, and two amazing trips to K2 including the tragic and heroic 1953 attempt. "This is not a biography. It's not about me. It's the story of a group of friends, a story of mountaineering and altitude research in the golden age before commercialism."- Dr. Charles
Houston.
Focus: Culture/Environment
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Low
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(USA, 2003, 6 minutes)
Director/Producer: John Armstrong
This short film about waterfall kayaking beautifully captures the awe and exhilaration that kayakers experience when they are able to find harmony in a very special place.
Focus: Kayaking
Type: Action
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: High
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
* Custom World Tour Version
(USA, 2002, 10 minutes)
Directors/Producers: Steve Winter, Murray Wais, Scott Gaffney
Shane McConkey takes his usual antics on snow - and off - to the next level.
Focus: Skiing
Type: Action
Rating: General - mild swearing
Adrenaline Factor: High
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(USA, 2003, 15 minutes)
Director: Howard Donner - Pleasureville Productions
This is a story about a young man, his truck and a bunch of used vegetable oil. This funny and inspiring piece follows "the Granola Ayatollah of Canola" as he makes his rounds educating and inspiring folks in his veggie-powered rig. Cameo appearances feature Daryl Hannah, Dennis Weaver and health guru Doctor Andrew Weil. Woodstock musicians make this soundtrack inventive by fusing "Eco-Rap", electric sitar, stand-up bass and bluegrass.
Focus: Environment
Type: Documentary/Humor
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Low
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
* Custom World Tour Version
(USA, 2003, 24 minutes)
Director/Producer: Peter Mortimer
Derek Hersey's unique character, skills, and lifestyle are highlighted in this touching and humourous collection of archival footage and interviews with friends and family.
Focus: Climbing
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: Yes
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
* Custom World Tour Version
(USA, 2003, 3 minutes)
Director/Producer: Peter Mortimer
With encouragement from owner Tom, Biscuit - a small dog with an appetite for big climbs - makes her way up difficult and committing rock faces.
Focus: Climbing
Type: Action/Humour
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: High
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
* Custom World Tour Version
(USA, 2003, 20 minutes)
Directors: Todd Jones, Steve Jones, Dirk Collins, Corey Gavitt
Producer: Jon Klaczkiewicz
Features progressive big mountain skiing from Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, over the head powder in Utah, ski mountaineering huge couloirs in the Dolomites, and Victoria Jealouse boarding spectacular lines in Northern BC.
Focus: Skiing/Boarding
Type: Action
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: High
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(France, 2003, 29 minutes)
Director: Bertrand Delapierre
Producers: François Damilano, Bertrand Delapierre
Rather than emphasizing performance, this film about waterfall ice climbing and dry-tooling aims to captivate the viewer through the beauty of the settings and the routes, and the enjoyment found in the activity. Featured climbers include Frenchmen François Damilano, Daniel Dulac and Stéphane Hussot, and Canadian Guy Lacelle.
Focus: Ice Climbing
Type: Action
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: In negotiation
Subtitles: Yes
Language: French
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(USA, 2003, 23 minutes)
Director/Producer: Bud Greenspan
The civil war of 1991 in Yugoslavia left the Kostelic family jobless and penniless, but with their mutual love for skiing intact. Ante Kostelic, a self-taught coach, would drive his two children, Janica and Ivica, to the Austrian Alps to train. Living out of their car, they often skied on closed or backcountry slopes, and slept outside at night. They arrived in Salt Lake City with no expectations of what would happen when they took on the titans of Olympic alpine skiing.
Focus: Skiing
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: March/03 Showtime
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(Switzerland, 2001, 31 minutes)
Director: Luca De Luigi
Producers: Benoît Aymon, Claude Delieutraz
Much of mountaineering's early history was written at the foot of the Matterhorn, and it was highly dramatic from the very beginning. The death of four climbers in 1865 during the first ascent marked the beginning of a legend that, perhaps, would not exist without cinema. This film features exceptional
archival footage including segments from a film made in 1901, a copy of which was found in a cupboard. The Matterhorn and cinema make a true love story.
Focus: Culture/Climbing
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Low
Broadcast: Switzerland
Subtitles: Yes
Language: French
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(Canada, 2003, 42 minutes)
Director/Producer: Andrew Gregg
The millennia-old way of life of the Vuntut Gwitchin aboriginal community of Old Crow, Yukon, depends on the migration of the 120,000-strong Porcupine caribou herd on its way north. The problem: there is oil under the calving grounds on the other side of the border, and the U.S. government wants to drill. It will
likely mean the end of the caribou, the end of the migrations and the end of Old Crow.
Focus: Culture/Environment
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Low
Broadcast: June/03 Canada only
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(UK, 2003, 34 minutes)
Directors/Producers: Graham Saunders-Griffiths, Scott Mason, Adam Hill
Nestled in the heart of Nepal's foothills and set against the backdrop of the majestic Himalayas, the city of Pokhara has played host to the evolution of a remarkable story. Adam Hill and Rajesh Bomjan, owners of Sunrise Paragliding, meet Scott Mason, a falconer from England, and in a charming twist of fate their
passions become entwined. Together they train birds of prey to fly with paragliders.
Focus: Paragliding/Wildlife (birds)
Type: Action/Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(Canada, 2003, 11 minutes)
Director/Producer: Will Gadd
Warren Macdonald is an aspiring ice climber on a mission to climb Canada's premier ice route, the Weeping Wall, with some friends. His tactics are a bit different (he is missing both legs), but he gets the job done in a lively and compelling manner.
Focus: Climbing
Type: Action
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
* Custom World Tour Version
(Switzerland, 2003, 12 minutes)
Director: Alec Wohlgroth
Producer: Halsundbeinbruch Film
The Swiss Alps provide the backdrop for variety of wild stunts and escapades on and off the bike.
Focus: Mountain Biking
Type: Action
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: High
Broadcast: Europe
Subtitles: Yes
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(Ireland, 2002, 53 minutes)
Director/Producer: John Murray
A film of the greatest nomadic journey left on Earth, undertaken by an irrepressible group of Siberian natives - the Nenets. Possessing the most intact culture left in the Arctic, they live in tents of reindeer skin and survive on tea, raw reindeer meat, and bread up to six months old. Irish mountaineer Dermot
Somers has joined brothers Sergei and Sasha and their families as they travel north by reindeer sled on a six-month odyssey to the Arctic Ocean and back.
Focus: Culture
Type: Documentary
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Low
Broadcast: Ireland
Subtitles: Yes
Language: Gaelic
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
* Custom World Tour version
(Canada, 2003, 15 minutes)
Director/Producers: Mike Kinrade, Jeremy Grant
Mountain bike action from British Columbia! From the makers of Riders Anonymous, this special version of Self Titled features urban trials, big jumps, and hard crashes set to a strong soundtrack.
Focus: Mountain Biking
Type: Action
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium/High
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(USA, 2003, 15 minutes)
Director/Producer: Bud Greenspan
In 1992, Stefania Belmondo became the first Italian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing. Over the years, she won six more Olympic medals, none of them gold. The Salt Lake City games, her fifth Olympics, would be her last chance to win another gold medal.
Focus: XC skiing
Type: Action
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: March/03 Showtime
Subtitles: Yes
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
* Custom World Tour Version
(Canada, 2003, 5 minutes)
Director/Producer: David McMahon
Mixing traditional and modern cross-country skiing, "Unlimited Winter" provides a dynamic and unusual look this sport. Featuring Olympic medallist Beckie Scott.
Focus: XC skiing
Type: Action
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
* Custom World Tour Version
(USA, 2003, 21 minutes)
Directors/Producers: Arden Oksanen, Trask McFarland
Witness a crew of international paddlers explore wild whitewater in Iceland, Mexico, and Norway.
Focus: Kayaking
Type: Action
Rating: General - some swearing
Adrenaline Factor: High
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
(Canada, 2003, 7 min)
Director: Todd Forsbloom
Producers: Todd Forsbloom, Jeremy Smith
This mockumentary follows an elite team of Xtrampers searching for the perfect backyard trampoline. The tricks, the tramps, the trespassing and the adrenaline highs all come to life in this hilarious comedy.
Focus: Satire
Type: Humour
Rating: General
Adrenaline Factor: Medium
Broadcast: No
Subtitles: No
Aspect Ratio: 4:3