Banff Mountain Film Festival
The world's most prestigious mountain and adventure film festival, held annually in November in Banff, Alberta, presenting the best films about mountaineering, adventure sports, and wild places before touring to over 550 communities worldwide.
Overview
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is the world's most prestigious mountain and adventure film festival. Founded in 1976 and held annually in November in Banff -- one of the Canadian Rockies' most spectacular mountain towns, surrounded by Banff National Park's peaks, glaciers, and wildlife -- the festival presents the best films about mountaineering, adventure sports, and wild places before touring to over 550 communities worldwide.
The World Tour that follows the Banff Mountain Film Festival brings selected films to mountain towns, outdoor recreation centers, universities, and community venues across more than 40 countries. This touring reach makes Banff the most widely seen adventure film event in the world, with combined audiences reaching hundreds of thousands annually.
The festival celebrates both the highest technical achievements in adventure filmmaking and the personal stories of the athletes, explorers, and communities whose lives are shaped by mountains and wild places.
Key Sections
- Mountain Film Competition -- films competing for jury prizes
- Adventure Sports -- extreme sports and action films
- Mountain Culture -- films about mountain communities and traditions
- Environment and Conservation -- films addressing mountain ecosystems and climate change
- Student Film Competition -- films by emerging adventure filmmakers
What Filmmakers Should Know
Banff accepts open submissions. A competition selection or award at Banff represents the highest recognition available in adventure and mountain filmmaking. The World Tour selection is arguably even more valuable, placing selected films before massive global outdoor and adventure audiences.
Major Awards
- Grand Prize -- Best Mountain Film
- Special Jury Award
- People's Choice Award
Festival History
Banff Mountain Film Festival was founded in 1976 by the Banff Centre and has grown into the world's most important adventure film event over nearly five decades.
See Also
For adventure filmmaking, see Film Festival Strategy. For Jackson Hole Wildlife, see Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival.
