The Oscars for Adventurers

This year’s BANFF Mountain Film Festival will be the 19th year that Cape Union Mart brings one of the biggest mountain festivals in the world to South African shores. The festival is being hosted in partnership with some biggest names in outdoor adventure, including K-Way, Hi-Tec, GoPro, Garmin & Black Diamond.

As one of the largest mountain festivals in the world, the festival attracts adventure filmmakers, outdoor heroes, athletes, and thrill-seekers of all stripes. This year’s event spotlights some of the best mountain films and exceptional filmmaking talent from around the globe, offering something for everyone with a mix of topics and cinematic styles that will both inspire and entertain.

As usual, there is the WOW factor - the high adrenalin adventures that will have you marvelling at the audacity of the athletes and the magnificence of the remote wilderness areas that are their playgrounds. In The Slabs, Danny Macaskall is up to his usual death-defying tricks on his mountain bike; ace alpine skier Markus Eder soars over ice cliffs and carves elegant turns in deep powder snow in The Ultimate Run and, in order to reduce their environmental impact, three female BASE jumpers forgo motorised transport for human power, biking to and then climbing high, precipitous desert cliffs before Jumping to Zero.

But what makes this year’s BANFF Mountain Film Festival different and so incredibly inspiring is that the majority of the short films are about small-scale, DIY journeys and environmentally friendly adventures that ANYONE who wants to get into the outdoors can do. Emily Ford borrows a sled and a dog named Diggins to complete Wisconsin’s 1900km Ice Age Trail in the depths of winter while, inspired by Laurie Lee’s classic book ‘As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning’ Alistair Lee busks (rather badly) on his violin to feed himself as he walks across Spain. Both are humbled by the warmth and generosity of the people they meet along the way.

What this film programme clearly shows us is that where ever you live, whatever your budget, fitness and time available, if you dream, YOU can have the adventure of a lifetime. COVID changed the demographic of adventure: it has never been so accessible.

Marketing manager at Cape Union Mart, Odile Hufkie, says, “It is a pleasure to give viewers access to the highest calibre of inspirational and authentic stories that showcase the full breadth and diversity of everyday sports and adventure heroes.”                     

So go on. Watch the BANFF Mountain Festival and be inspired to get out and realise your dreams.

Attendees at this year’s film festival will get the opportunity to see the winning submission from the annual Cape Union Mart Adventure Film Challenge. The competition, an initiative created by Cape Union Mart 9 years ago, provides aspiring and professional filmmakers with the opportunity to showcase their videography and filmmaking skills while embracing their love for South Africa’s outdoor culture. This year it was won by Richard Schnitter’s film “9 to 5”. 

Aside from winning the right to show his film at the festival, Schitter also won a R10 000 cash prize, K-Way gear to the value of R5000 and a Mini SE drone and Fly More Combo with additional accessories, all from DJI.

Schnitter says, “I have been going to watch the Banff film festival since I was a small child. It has always inspired me. Winning this competition and being able to showcase my film at this festival is an absolute dream come true.”

The BANFF Centre Mountain Film Festival will be airing at the following Nu Metro cinemas in Cape Town, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape until November 6^th.

1. Canal Walk, Cape Town
2. Boardwalk Mall, Gqeberha
3. Cornubia Mall, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal
4. Ballito Junction, Ballito, Kwa-Zulu Natal
5. Hyde Park Corner, Johannesburg
6. Emperors Palace, Johannesburg

Click here to book your ticket now. Follow www.capeunionmart.co.za for more details.