Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival

Who says great things can’t come from having a few beers with friends. What originally started as a one day festival of climbing films in 1976 has now grown to 9 days of serious mountain culture fun as well as encompassing a world tour with over 840 screenings worldwide.

Now each fall, the mountain climbing community congregates in the Canadian Rocky mountain town of Banff for the Rocky Mountain Film and Book Festival. The event is a celebration of mountain adventure experiences, remote cultures, wild places and mountain expeditions that captures the imaginations and enthusiasm of hard core climbers and weekend warriors.

The entire Festival is showcased at The Banff Centre with all their theatres and venues playing host to the steady lineup of events. From full length feature films, to guest speakers and musical entertainment, there is something for everyone, but be sure to get your tickets and packages early as events are known to sell out and with past guests as David Suzuki, Sir Edmund Hillary, Jon Krakauer and Reinhold Messner, would you expect any less.

The festival has grown over the years to include in-person author signings at the book fair and well as offering a Mountain Art and Craft sale where you can pick up unique gifts, paintings, pottery, jewellery and much, much more. Are you looking for the latest gear? The Mountain Marketplace is where you can fill your wish list of must haves. Take an extended peak at the Banff Mountain Photography Competition’s winners display and continue stretching your muscles on the public climbing wall.

One of the biggest crowd favourites is the Radical Reels night. It is a presentation of the best high adrenaline films entered into the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. Again, be sure to get your tickets early as these are usually sell outs. In the event you aren’t able to make it into Banff, the Radical Reels Tour has been traveling throughout Canada, the USA and the world since 2004.

November use to be a between season, but thanks to the continued support of the Banff Centre and the popularity of the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival it is now an ‘it’ season.