Posted: Oct 18, 2005 12:02 am EDT
Preparations are speeding up for the 30th edition of Banff Mountain Film Festival, taking place from October 27th to November 6th, 2005.

Patrick Bérhault's story is among the finalists. March 1, 2004, French mountaineers Patrick Bérhault and Philippe Magnin embarked on the challenge of climbing all 82 of the Alpine peaks above 4,000 meters in 82 days. On day 65, Bérhault fell to his death from a cornice, putting an end to a life devoted to climbing. “Sur le fil des 4000” will be released on Saturday, November 5th.

“Unconquerable Summit”, is a film focused on the life of Kazakh Anatoly Boukreev, one of the best altitude climbers ever who died on Annapurna in the winter of 1997.

Vertical Clint Eastwood

For those nostalgic of the good old climbing films, the Retro Reels series celebrates the 30th anniversary of ”The Eiger Sanction” (a cult film starring Clint Eastwood) with vintage slides and film clips from mountaineer, guide, and writer Chic Scott.

In addition to films, you might enjoy the 12th annual Banff Mountain Book Festival, seminars, an adventure trade show, an art and craft market and, of course, lectures and slide-shows by some well-known climbers.

Fiennes and Prezelj, guest stars

This year guests stars are Slovenian alpinist Marko Prezelj, an alpine-style purist with a number of impressive new routes, and - Ranulph Fiennes!

British Fiennes’s is mostly famous as the Guinness Book of Records "greatest explorer." The polar skier attempted Everest last spring at 61 years old after suffering a heart attack. He has also written 16 books and was knighted by the Queen. Sir Fiennes will open the 30th Banff Mountain Film Festival on Friday, November 4th.

Slovenian ace Marko Prezelj is focused on highly difficult routes in pure alpine style. Born in 1965, he describes himself as an “old school” alpinist. Among other climbs, Prezelj has accomplished Kapura Peak in Pakistan, the North Face of North Twin in the Canadian Rockies, the South-Southwest Pillar of Nuptse, the first ascent of Menlungtse, and the first ascent of the Southwest Ridge of Kangchenjunga South.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international film competition featuring the world’s best footage on mountain subjects. The festival began in 1976 and is held annually on the first weekend in November in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The year 2005 marks the 30th anniversary of the festival.

56 films from more than 300 international entries will be screened at the festival, in three independent sections: A series of feature-length films, to be released during the opening weekend (October 29 and 30), a collection of high-adrenaline sports films to be shown on November 1st under the name “Radical Reels”, and the main Festival program - from the 4th to the 6th of November.

An international jury will announce the Best of the Festival awards and most of the winners will be screened (time allowing) on Sunday, November 6.

This year’s film festival begins with the Feature-Length Films Weekend on Saturday, October 29, and Sunday, October 30. Regular programming runs Friday, November 4, through Sunday, November 6. On Sunday evening, the international jury will announce the Best of the Festival award winners.

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