Naturally, we’re big fans of festivals here. We like all kinds of festivals: big festivals, small festivals, music festivals, literary festivals, beer festivals and, of course, film festivals. Mountain festivals, however, have eluded us. Fortunately for us altitudinally challenged folk in Atlantic Canada, The Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming to us.
You’ve probably heard of these people before. Every November, the Banff Centre hosts The Banff Mountain Film Festival, billing itself as the largest and most prestigious mountain festival in the world. For many of us who have rarely ventured beyond sea level, the concept of a mountain festival is excitingly foreign. We’re imaging a celebration of luge racing, yodelling, goats, all-you-can-eat snow cones and live-action roleplay reenactments from The Sound of Music.
Following the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival at their primary location this fall, the festival will embark on a world tour. The festival has stops planned in 550 communities and more than 40 countries across the globe. While exporting their alpine activities might not be possible, they will be featuring world class collection of inspiring action, environmental, and adventure films from the festival.
With approximately 400 films entered into the annual festival, a selection of the award-winning films and audience favourites will be chosen to travel the world, with host organizations curating programs to reflect the interests of their community.
“It is an absolute honour to have Banff Mountain Film Festival choose us as one of their stops on the international tour. This festival is the inspiration to get people stoked for the outdoors that Atlantic Canada needs,” says Greg Hemmings, who is helping to coordinate the festival’s Saint John event.
The festival will be making six stops in Atlantic Canada in January of 2018 as part of their globe-spanning World Tour. The full tour is estimated to reach over 400,000 audience members.
Prince Edward Island
01.12-13.18 – Charlottetown, PE
Duffy Amphitheatre, UPEI
Nova Scotia
01.17-18.18 – Halifax, NS
January 17, 18, 2018
Spatz Theatre
01.23.18 – Wolfville, NS
Al Whittle Theatre
Newfoundland & Labrador
01.20-21.18 – St. John’s, NL
Innovation Hall, MUNN
New Brunswick
01.25.18 – Saint John, NB
The Imperial Theatre
01.26-27.19 – Fredericton, NB
The Fredericton Playhouse