Banff International Mountain Film Festival Kolkata

The Banff mountain film Festival is an international film festival showcasing short films and documentaries on mountain culture, outdoors and adventure sports. It was first launched in 1976. Banff derives its name from the city Banff in Alberta, Canada. It is being held every year in the month of October and November in Banff, Canada. Approximately 300 films make an entry into the film festival annually and out of which 60 films are selected by the prescreening committee. These selected films are screened over a period of one week in Banff center. The international film festival jury chooses the best films and gives award under various categories including: Best Film on Mountain Sport, Best Film on Mountain Environment, Best Film on Mountain Culture, Best Film on Exploration and Adventure and more.

Some of the films for Kolkata screening

DESERT WINGS Year: 2023 Country: USA Duration: 4 min Filmmaker: Nathan McBride, NVisualMedia Advisory: Coarse language Film Synopsis: Paramotoring is a niche, largely undocumented, and little-known flying sport. This piece brings it to light in a rightfully epic way. Shot over 6 days, with multiple paramotor pilots, Desert Wings highlights some of the most dramatic desert landscapes in the American Southwest.

TWO POINT FOUR Year: 2023 Country: United Kingdom Duration: 20 min Filmmaker: Natasha Brooks, Leo Houlding Advisory: Coarse language Film Synopsis: Not your typical family holiday, but this is not your typical family. Leo Houlding, his wife Jess, their two children Freya (9yrs) and Jackson (5yrs) climb Norway's national mountain via a 2,000ft big wall.

SEA TO SKY TRAIL SERIES: PROGRESSION Year: 2022 Country: Canada Duration: 12 min Filmmaker: Joel Fuller, Michael Overbeck Advisory: None Film Synopsis: One step at a time, the trail-running community is constantly moving upward. In recent years progression has vaulted forward, with runners blending inspiration from the world of alpinism, rock climbing, and running and tackling technical terrain in a way we’ve never seen. Follow along as Emma Cook-Clarke and Jesse McAuley dig deep on the west peak of Ch'ich'iyúy Elxwíkn, the Twin Sisters (or the Lions), an iconic Sea to Sky trail.

ONE DEGREE° #PERU Year: 2023 Country: France Duration: 15 min Filmmaker: Alex Lopez, Riding to Explore Advisory: None Film Synopsis: Armelle Courtois and Martin Thomas seek out the highest glacial lakes – over 5,000m above sea level – to try and break the altitude record for kitesurfing. Their sporting challenge quickly takes on a new objective: to raise awareness about the consequences of melting glaciers and inspire change.

STILL ALIVE Year: 2023 Country: USA Duration: 27 min Filmmaker: Santino Martirano Advisory: Coarse language Film Synopsis: Doctors gave him until age twenty-five to live and now 10 years after his expiration date, he is still climbing. Klaas Willems is a Rock Climber who, due to his Cystic Fibrosis, has dedicated his life to climbing in clean air. He has bolted hundreds of routes in non-polluted areas like Sardinia, Italy and found great success and peace in the process. His journey takes on a new dimension when he is also diagnosed with cancer.

FUEGO Year: 2023 Country: France Duration: 7 min Filmmaker: Pierre Henni, Kilian Bron Advisory: None Film Synopsis: An ode to escape and adventure travel, Fuego is a new mountain biking masterpiece. From Guatemala to Peru via Bolivia, the team scoured the most beautiful spots for two months bring back breathtaking images. Kilian Bron rides from the foot of the Fuego volcano the day before its historic eruption, to the colourful facades of Barrio Chualluma in La Paz, through the geological formations of the Valle de las Animas to an unforgettable meeting with the Cholitas Escaladoras.

SOUNDSCAPE Year: 2023 Country: USA Duration: 14 min Filmmaker: Timmy O'Neill, Sarah Lee Steele, Well Travelled Collective Advisory: None Film Synopsis: Soundscape shares the sightless experience of climbing a mountain via echo location, touch and imagination. Soundscape features Erik Weihenmayer, a global adventure athlete and author who is fully blind, as he ascends a massive alpine rock face deep in the Sierra Nevada. Using expert camera work from Mikey Schaefer and emotive, novel animation from Scott Hassell and Mitch Pond to bring to life a concept by adaptive climbing pioneer Timmy O'Neill, the film is a surprising and soulful adventure.

ETERNAL FLAME Year: 2023 Country: Switzerland Duration: 26 min Filmmaker: Nicolas Bossard, MS PROD Advisory: Coarse language Film Synopsis: After having climbed the Eternal Flame route on Nameless Tower in Pakistan (6,200m), French BASE jumpers Eric Jamet and Antoine Pecher combine the ascent with one of the most beautiful BASE jumps imaginable. Following in the footsteps of pioneer jumpers from 1990, the duo of friends devour adventure and all it offers, beauty, power and anxiety all contribute to the experience.

REEL ROCK: DNA Year: 2023 Country: USA Duration: 23 min Filmmaker: Josh Lowell, Zachary Barr, Reel Rock Advisory: Coarse language Film Synopsis: 29-year-old French sport climber Seb Bouin has been quietly working his way through the elite grades, culminating in his attempt to establish a long pitch through an overhanging cave in the Verdon Gorge of France. His proposed line is so futuristic, the moves so improbable, that if Seb can put it all together it may be the most difficult route ever climbed.

NO WAY Year: 2023 Country: France Duration: 4 min Filmmaker: Jean-Baptiste Chandelier, Marine Pascal, EURL JB Chandelier Advisory: Coarse language Film Synopsis: Jean-Baptiste Chandelier takes his unique low-flying, ground-skimming art combining paragliding and filmmaking to a whole new level.

Venue

Mahajati Sadan
166 Chittaranjan Avenue, Kolkata-700007