There's a score of people—many of them live in the Wood River Valley—who regularly conquer mountains, ride wild rivers, pedal thousands of miles through remote areas and jump into couloirs and ravines hoping the snow is there when they land. These adventurers are not alone. Some of their comrades carry cameras and their films are what we get to see when the annual Banff Mountain Film Festival comes to town.
The World Tour will make its yearly stop at the nexStage Theatre in Ketchum from Thursday, Jan. 31, through Saturday, Feb. 2, where 21 films will be shown over three nights.
Thursday
· "20 Seconds of Joy" (parental guidance for language) is a German film about a Norwegian BASE jumper and what happens when her life abruptly changes. This movie won Best Film on Mountain Sports and People's Choice Awards.
· "Trial & Error," made in Canada, about extreme mountain biking, won the People's Choice Award for Radical Reels.
· "Badgered" is an animated short film nominated in 2006 for an Academy Award. Written, animated and directed by Sharon Colman, it won The Banff Film Festival's Best Film on Mountain Environment.
· "It's Fantastic" is a documentary about the new sport of speed-flying.
· "Ain't Got No Friends on a Powdered Day" was made in Switzerland and is (remarkably) about skiing.
· "In-Flux" is a French film about running waterfalls and rapids in South America and Africa, including a section with native African paddlers.
· "King Lines," a movie about climbing filmed in France, California, Venezuela, Greece, Utah and Mallorca, won the Alpine Club of Canada Award for Best Film on Climbing.
Friday
· "Searching for Coast Wolves," a German film, is about an ex-world champion cross-country skier and runner.
· "Inner Balance" concerns top unicycle riders.
· "Wings on your Feet" is all about two characters who go for free-heeling above all other skiing. It was made in Switzerland.
· "Entropy," made in Norway, documents a couple of the world's best snow-kiters in the search for the ultimate snow.
· "Higher Ground: Mountain Photographer," features the work of professional photographer Andrew Querner and the challenges he faces in his work.
· "Great Day for Climbing" is a humorous movie about climbing and reality.
· "Le Ventana" was made in Patagonia about a group of native climbers determined to write their own story on Cerro Torre and St. Exupéry.
Saturday
· "24 Solo" (parental guidance for language) follows the gut-wrenching story of Chris Eatough trying for his seventh world title in mountain bike racing.
· "Committed: To Grit," (parental guidance for language). Two English climbers (who swear a lot) tackle the gritstone routes in England's gorgeous Peak District.
· "Respect" states that all committed skiers have respect for culture, lifestyles and their environments in common. The path they choose is addicting yet dangerous.
· "Balance," made in Canada, profiles the rapidly growing school of new-school skiing: terrain parks, half pipes and jibbing, accompanied by a high-energy soundtrack.
· "Ice Miles," (parental guidance for language). As an ice-climber Will Gadd figures he should head underground in the ice of an abandoned mine, since global warming is affecting his work above.
· "Cross-Country with Snakes," (parental guidance for language), is about a punk band that spends their free time on tour cross-country skiing.
· "The Western Lands—Hoy," the Best Short Mountain Film, made in the UK, is about a writer's attempted climb on his 60th birthday.
The 32nd Banff Film Festival is held annually in late autumn. Immediately after the festival, a selection of the best films entered in the festival goes on tour across the globe. The host organization in each tour location chooses a program that reflects the interests of its community. As in the past, a portion of the proceeds will go to support Friends of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center and the Sun Valley Ski Patrol's charity of choice, The Satipo Kids Project.
Tickets are available at Chapter One Bookstore, the Elephant's Perch and Backwoods Mountain Sports. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the 6:30 p.m. program. Films begin at 7 p.m. each night.
Film festival
What: Banff Mountain Film Festival
Where: nexStage Theatre, Ketchum
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, through Sunday, Feb. 3.
Tickets: $15. Chapter One, Backwoods Mountain Sports, Elephant's Perch.
"In Flux" by Trip Jennings will screen on Thursday at the nexStage Theatre.
Photo by Paul Villecourt
