Organizers of Powell River’s annual Banff Mountain Film Festival are urging the public to buy their tickets early this year. Last year tickets were sold out a week prior to the festival.
This year’s event runs over two evenings, Friday and Saturday January 9 and 10, at Brooks Secondary School’s Max Cameron Theatre.
It is the 10th anniversary of the film festival in Powell River. “We’re trying to spice it up this year,” said Jim Palm, adding that Brooks’ culinary arts students will again be catering the event with hors d’oeuvres.
He said the festival stop will include a silent auction and social time before the screenings. During previous years different films were shown each night of the festival, but this year Palm said he was planning on showing one or two of the signature films both nights.
Debra Hornsby, the Banff Centre’s festival road warrior, will be hosting the two nights of films.
While the lineup of films to be shown in Powell River has not yet been confirmed, Hornsby said there are some core prize-winning films that are being shown on the world tour of festival dates.
The films include:
• And Then We Swam, winner of Best Film on Exploration and Adventure, a story which chronicles a group of British travellers’ journey across the Indian Ocean.
• Delta Dawn, winner of Best Short Mountain Film. When water was released into the Colorado River delta for a short time, filmmaker Pete McBride grabbed his stand-up paddle board to have a look.
• Tashi and the Monk, winner of Best Film on Mountain Culture. On a remote mountaintop in the foothills of the Himalaya, a former Buddhist monk is transforming the lives of abandoned children through love and compassion. Tashi might be the monk’s biggest challenge as she struggles to make friends and learns that love can help heal even the saddest memories.
• Sufferfest 2: Desert Alpine winner of Radical Reels People’s Choice Award. Cedar Wright and Alex Honnold are back riding mountain bikes and climbing towers.
• Valley Uprising—The Golden Age, festival grand prize winner. This 28-minute tour edit of the 90-minute original film takes viewers on a journey through an amazing period of climbing history at Yosemite Valley.
As with years prior, festival organizers will also be collecting donated used outdoor equipment and clothing for use at School District 47’s Powell Lake Outdoor Learning Centre. Because the facility is used extensively by students in the district’s outdoor education programs, Hugh Pritchard, director at the centre, said that they are in particular need of rain gear and equipment in children’s sizes.
Doors open at 5:45 pm on both evenings to give attendees an hour to socialize before the screenings start. Tickets are on sale at Taws and River City Coffee. For more information, interested readers can contact Palm at 604.483.3171 or [email protected].
