January 25, 2005
Contact: George Yatchisin
(805) 893-3494
e-mail: yatchisin-g@ sa.ucsb.edu
Best of the 29th Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival—two nights of adventure screen at UCSB Campbell Hall
Summary Facts:
- Best of the 29th Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival
- Two programs of the world’s best mountain and outdoor adventure films
- Enduring favorite sells out yearly
- Entirely different programs, except for one film, screen each evening
- Wednesday & Thursday, March 2 & 3
- 7:30 pm / UCSB Campbell Hall
- General public $12 / UCSB students & youth 18 and under $10
- Tickets/Information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535
Always inspiring and captivating, the Best of the 29th Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival will screen on Wednesday & Thursday, March 2 & 3 at 7:30 pm in UCSB Campbell Hall. UCSB Arts & Lectures will present a completely different program except for the one film each night. The show’s wide variety of film subjects—from extreme sports to mountain culture—will amaze and thrill audiences. Wednesday night’s slate of films includes Alone across Australia, a multiple Banff Festival Award winner for the People’s Choice and Best Film on Mountain Environment. Thursday night’s program includes the Special Jury Mention Award winner Soul Purpose.
For the past 29 years, The Banff Mountain Film Festival has been celebrating the spirit of adventure and the mountain environment. Each November, the world’s best films on mountain themes draw an international audience to Banff, Canada. This year the Festival pre-screened over 3000 entries from 38 countries to discover the gems that are part of the tour. For the past 18 years, immediately following the festival, selected films hit the road in a “Best of” touring package and have been coming to UCSB since 1992. Over 1,500 people attended the UCSB screenings in 2004.
The films at UCSB for Wednesday, March 2 are:
Psicobloc—Climbers on the island of Mallorca establish spectacular routes on overhanging limestone up to 60 feet high—without safety ropes. (8 min.)
Weekend Warrior—Depicts the hapless pursuits of a male snowboarder trying his hardest to cruise the mountain for female companionship. (5 min.)
Last Stunt—British stuntman Terry Forrestal relaxes by BASE jumping from a 1000-metre-high mountain in Norway. When one of the jumps goes wrong, a difficult rescue begins. (53 min.)
The Collective—Filmmakers, photographers and mountain bikers have created this film that contains the newest cutting-edge images of the freeride mountain-biking progression. (15 min.)
Alone across Australia—The inspirational story of adventurer Jon Muir’s 2500-kilometre, 128 day solo odyssey to cross Australia from the south coast to the north on foot with his dog. (51 min.)
The films at UCSB for Thursday, March 3 are:
Ouray Ice—Captures the breathtaking performances of amazing athletes at Colorado’s infamously challenging mixed (rock and ice) climbing competition. (13 min.)
Weekend Warrior—Depicts the hapless pursuits of a male snowboarder trying his hardest to cruise the mountain for female companionship. (5 min.)
Tom Crean: Antarctica’s Forgotten Hero—This historical film recounts the adventurous life of Irishman Tom Crean, one of the most indestructible heroes of Antarctic exploration. (53 min.)
Soul Purpose—Captures the best of big mountain skiing and snowboarding with trips to the far-off reaches of the planet including peaks in Italy, Alaska and Canada. (14 min.)
At the Ends of the Earth—The story of a delicately balanced house, perched on top of a mountain, rocking from right to left, to the great displeasure of its occupants. (8 min.)
Realization—Leading climber Chris Sharma struggles to overcome a 5.14c route topped by a bouldering move on a dangerous cliff in southern France. (26 min.)
One World—Presents thrilling kayak action, athletes and lifestyles on rivers around the globe, featuring huge whitewater in China and Uganda. (16 min.)
This event is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is presented by National Geographic and Dunham Bootmakers and sponsored by Patagonia, MSR and Air Canada with assistance from Lake Louise Ski Area and PETZL.
Tickets, $12 for the general public and $10 for UCSB students and youth 18 and under, are available now at the Arts & Lectures Ticket Office and will be sold at the door the night of the films, beginning at 6:30 p.m., if available.
For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.
Editor: For photos, please call
George Yatchisin at (805) 893-3494.