Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival

Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival A nine day mountain culture & adventure sports Festival in Banff, AB, then an annual World Tour.

A giant mountain. A dream line. Two of the best ski mountaineers on the planet. 🗻We're spotlighting Robson, a film curre...
06/10/2026

A giant mountain. A dream line. Two of the best ski mountaineers on the planet. 🗻We're spotlighting Robson, a film currently touring New Zealand as part of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour's Aoraki Program.

The film begins beneath the shadow of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. For generations, climbers have been drawn to its immense faces, unpredictable weather, and larger-than-life reputation. Now, elite ski mountaineers Christina Lustenberger and Guillaume Pierrel are adding their own chapter to that story.

The film by Director Philip Forsey had its world premiere at the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival in November. ⛷️ It follows two of the world’s world’s most accomplished ski mountaineers, as they turn the sights on Mount Robson.

The film gives background and history on the greatness of Mount Robson as the two skiers retrace the steps of pioneering alpinists who came before them, pushing the line between past and present mountaineers attempt a daring first descent of Mount Robson’s South Face. Their journey becomes as much about resilience and legacy as it is about the pursuit of a descent few have ever dared to imagine.

Robson is a reminder that some adventures are about more than reaching the summit—they're about writing the next chapter in mountain history. Check your local World Tour stop to see if Robson is on the lineup.

📸1, 3, 6 & 7: Blake Gordon
📸 2 & 5: Phillip Forsey
📸4: Josh Lavine

"At first, I wondered if I had heard my name correctly. Only when the title of my film was mentioned did I realize it wa...
06/07/2026

"At first, I wondered if I had heard my name correctly. Only when the title of my film was mentioned did I realize it was me," recalls BanffPitch First Runner-Up Nazgul Omurzhanova. "It was around 5 a.m. in Kyrgyzstan, and I could not fall back asleep for a long time afterward."

Last summer, took a chance on BanffPitch with her documentary Суу башы (Waterkeeper), which was still in early production at the time. The film follows her father, Rysbek, who has supplied drinking water to a mountain village of 3,000 people for more than 30 years. As health issues force him to step away, the community must find a way forward.

Her pitch earned the $10,000 First Runner-Up Prize.

Since then, the award has helped transform the project. Nazgul spent more than four months filming full-time, expanded her team, and gained an executive producer through a connection made with BanffPitch juror Ava Karvonen.

"The support gave me the confidence to think bigger about my film," she says.

For filmmakers considering applying, her advice is simple: go for it.

"Even though I participated online, I connected with many people from Canada, and honestly, it felt almost like attending in person."

⌛ June 30, 2026 — Deadline

The top five finalists will pitch live on November 7, 2026 for a chance to win the $25,000 Grand Prize and additional awards. Your story could be next. Apply through the link in our bio.

📸 2-9: Saule Mukanbetova

What image will become the face of the 2027 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival? It could be yours. Each year, ...
06/02/2026

What image will become the face of the 2027 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival? It could be yours.

Each year, the Festival’s Signature Image is featured on promotional materials in Banff and travels around the world through the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, reaching audiences in more than 40 countries. There’s only a few days left for professional outdoor adventure photographers to submit to our 2027 Signature Image call. We welcome images captured anywhere in the world, ideally within the last five years.

The selected photographer will receive $3,000 CAD, prominent exposure across Festival platforms, a feature on our website with their biography, and the opportunity to attend Festival screenings and events.

Deadline to Apply: June 5, 2026

We’re excited to see what you share. Head to the link in our bio to apply today.

📸1: Antoine Mesnage
📸2: Jordan Manoukian

05/30/2026

“What excited you most about applying to BanffPitch?”

We asked the top three placements from the 2025 competition—and despite coming from different countries, different filmmaking backgrounds, differ and different stages of production, different story focuses, they all said the same thing: they took a chance on their story.

Mateo Arango Guerrero took home the Grand Prize for Echoes of Memory. Nazgul Omurzhanova earned First Runner-Up for Waterkeeper (Суу башы), while Tyler Burr and Alicia Newell were named Second Runner-Up for Making The Cut.

Watch the video above to hear from our Grand Prize Winner, Mateo, and our Second Runner-Up team, Alicia and Tyler.

Now we’re asking: are you our next BanffPitch finalist?

⌛ Deadline: June 30, 2026

The top five finalists will pitch live on November 7, 2026, for a chance to win the $25,000 Grand Prize plus additional awards. There is just over one month left to apply:
https://www.banffcentre.ca/film-fest/competitions/banffpitch

Love mountain culture, film, books, and live events? Join our team at Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.Our M...
05/27/2026

Love mountain culture, film, books, and live events? Join our team at Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.

Our Mountain Culture department is hiring for several exciting roles supporting the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival and World Tour. From helping deliver this year’s 51st Festival to supporting audiences around the globe, we’re looking for creative, organized, and passionate people to join us.

Current openings include:
⛰️ Events Specialist, World Tour
⛰️ Film and Events Specialist
⛰️ World Tour Manager

Banff Centre is looking for passionate new team members. View all current opportunities at Banff Centre: https://www.banffcentre.ca/careers

05/22/2026

Your art could be part of this year’s Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.🎨With just over one week left to apply for our first-ever Festival Exhibit Call, now’s the time to submit your idea! The sky's the limit—we’re excited to welcome a wide range of artistic styles and concepts.

🗻We’re currently accepting 2D visual and digital art exhibits, from photography and painting to mixed media and more. Selected works will be displayed throughout the Banff Centre campus during the 2026 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival (October 31–November 8).

📅Entry Deadline: June 1, 2026

We can’t wait to see what you've created! Apply now: https://www.banffcentre.ca/festival-exhibit-call-entries

Have an outdoor film idea? Take it from pitch to premiere.Moonlighter Film Camp – From Concept to Completion is a four-d...
05/12/2026

Have an outdoor film idea? Take it from pitch to premiere.

Moonlighter Film Camp – From Concept to Completion is a four-day workshop designed for creatives who identify as women and want to deepen their understanding of crafting content for the adventure film genre. Presented in partnership with the Well Travelled Collective, this program combines mentorship from faculty and industry professionals with opportunities to build lasting creative connections.

In this program, you will:
✅ Build your narrative and strengthen your storytelling.
✅ Develop pitch decks and producing skills.
✅ Learn about fundraising, marketing, and film distribution.
✅ Receive faculty feedback on works-in-progress.
✅ Collaborate and connect with a community of filmmakers.

Filmmakers will also benefit from immersive on-campus lodging and meals, plus shared production spaces designed to encourage collaboration and creativity.

📅 Program Dates: October 23-26, 2026
⏳ Application Deadline: July 22, 2026

Applicants are encouraged to apply with a specific project they would like to develop during the residency. Bring your next film to life and apply:
https://www.banffcentre.ca/programs/mountain-culture/moonlighter-film-camp-concept-completion

This is the kind of night you don’t plan—you just get lucky enough to be there. At the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festiv...
05/07/2026

This is the kind of night you don’t plan—you just get lucky enough to be there. At the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour stop in Breckenridge, the crowd didn’t just watch Best Day Ever—they met one of the stars. Greg Durso, one of the film’s featured riders, was there in person, bringing the story off the screen and into the room.

Fresh off winning both Audience Choice and Best Film: Mountain Sports at the at the 2025 festival in Banff, Best Day Ever tracks Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi, adaptive mountain bikers who ride hard, laugh harder, and refuse to let anything define their limits. Along the way, it tells the story of how the first adaptive trail network in the world came to life.

And in Breckenridge, that story lands differently. Hosted by the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (), this stop directs proceeds straight into adaptive recreation programs—turning what you see on screen into something actively happening in the community.

Greg mentioned he was in town and, as a longtime member of the BOEC community, he was glad to come out and join them for the film screening—especially with the launch of their adaptive MTB program this summer.

Sometimes our World Tour screenings turn into full-circle moments. The World Tour is still on the road. Check the link in bio to find a stop near you.

📸Boec_Adaptive

05/05/2026

Passes for the 2026 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival are now on sale!

Be part of the 51st festival in Banff (Oct. 31 - Nov. 8, 2026) and secure your all-access experience early. With a Festival Pass, you’ll enjoy preferred seating, exclusive perks, and the chance to fully immerse yourself in the festival.

There are three pass options: Opening Weekend, Closing Weekend, or the Chomolungma Festival Pass for the ultimate VIP experience which includes a VIP social reception, gift bag, parking, and more! All passes include an Online Film Pass and festival poster.

Passholders also get first access to a special rate for Banff Centre hotel bookings!

This year’s program will feature over 80 films, along with guest speakers, authors, and adventurers bringing powerful stories to the stage. Beyond the screenings, enjoy free events and activities throughout the week—including the Festival Marketplace.

Individual tickets will be available when the full schedule is announced on July 28, 2026.

Secure your film pass now: https://www.banffcentre.ca/film-fest/passes-tickets

📸1: Jordan Manoukian
📸3: Christian Pondella
📸6: Victoria Kohner-Flanagan

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Will Stanhope, a remarkable Canadian climber and a familiar voice within the ...
04/30/2026

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Will Stanhope, a remarkable Canadian climber and a familiar voice within the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival community.

Will was an extraordinary Canadian climber, and someone whose presence left a lasting impression on our Festival. Will’s story was shared with audiences in 2016 through two films: Boys in the Bugs and Sonnie Trotter vs the Totem Pole. In Boys in the Bugs, Will and Matt Segal embodied a raw, instinct-driven approach to climbing—one grounded in passion and trust. Their partnership also led to the first free ascent of the Tom Egan Memorial Route (5.14) in British Columbia’s Bugaboos. In Sonnie Trotter vs the Totem Pole, Will joined Sonnie Trotter on an ambitious attempt to free climb one of Australia’s most iconic sea stacks.

These films struck a chord at the Festival. Boys in the Bugs received the award for Best Film: Climbing, with juror Doug Bailey noting it was “a masterful job of juxtaposing the lighter aspects of the lifestyle with the determination it takes to achieve your goals… a joy to watch and laugh.” While Sonnie Trotter vs the Totem Pole continued its journey with the World Tour, reaching audiences around the world.

In 2017, Will returned to Banff to host the Dirtbag Café, where he connected with audiences through his stories—honest, thoughtful, and often laced with humour.

Will’s impact goes beyond the climbs and the films. He will be remembered for the way he moved through the world—with curiosity and a passion for climbing. He will be greatly missed.

1,4: Will Stanhope
2: Sonnie Trotter vs the Totem Pole
3: Boys in the Bugs

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107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, AB
T1L1H5

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+14037626100

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