Like the clouds parting and a ray of sunshine falling down from the heavens, the Vancouver International Mountain Film is less than two weeks away! The VIMFF will take place from Feb. 9th to 17th, 2018 in Vancouver and North Vancouver, BC .
Each year, the festival continues to renew our psych for adventure in a multitude of mountain disciplines. Here at Squamish Climbing Magazine, we have scanned every film and checked out every speaker looking for what the festival offers in our favourite mountain category, rock climbing. Below is a Climber’s Guide to the 2018 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. Be sure to purchase your tickets soon as last years event sold out completely!
For tickets to these shows and others, please visit the official website of the 2018 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
OPENING NIGHT
Fri, Feb 9, 7:30, Centennial Theatre
Kicking off the festival this year is Cory Richards, the 2012 Nat Geo Adventurer of the Year and renowned climbing photographer.
A climber and visual storyteller, Cory Richards was named National Geographic Adventurer of the year in 2012. Cory’s camera has taken him from the controlled and complex studio to the wild and remote corners of the world, from the unclimbed peaks of Antarctica to the Himalayas of Nepal and Pakistan-all in the attempt to capture not only the soul of adventure and exploration, but also the beauty inherent in our modern society.
Cory Richards will be followed by four films, including a film shot by climber Renan Ozturk that should not be missed. See the whole schedule for opening night here.
Best of Climbing
Sun, Feb 11, 7:30, Intlet Theatre / Mon, Feb 12, 2:00, Rio Theatre / Fri, Feb 16, 7:30, ROX Theatre
The Best of Climbing will be shown three different times during the festival this year and includes the following films.
Hold Fast
This film follows Conrad Anker as he heads to Yosemite Valley with friend and cancer survivor Alex Wildman as they attempt to summit El Capitan together.
The Land Of Maybe
Three of the world’s best rock climbers Cedar Wright, James Pearson and Yuji Hirayama, head to the remote country of the Faroe Islands to attempt a first ascent on the world’s highest sea cliff.
Above The Fray
Beth Rodden is one of the greatest climbers in history. ‘Above the Fray’ tells her story from being kidnapped by terrorists to discovering a new-found community of mothers and the ability to open up to a balanced life defined by love rather than fear.
Stumped
From directors Taylor Keating & Cedar Wright comes a film about not just being a on armed climber but being a climber first and foremost!
“I don’t want to be known as just a one-armed climber,” says Maureen Beck, “I want to be a good climber.” Maureen Beck may have been born missing her lower left arm, but that hasn’t stopped her from going hard. She takes whippers on 5.12 and crushes overhanging boulders, while shot-gunning beers. But she is not here to be your inspiration. “People say, ‘Look, a one-armed climber, now I have no excuses.’ I’m like, dude, you never had any excuses in the first place.” Maureen is here to crush the gnar — with one bloody stump helping her get to the top.
BCMC presents ‘Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey’
Tues, Feb 13, 7:30, Centennial Theatre
If you missed the last showing of this film in Vancouver, you certainly do not want to miss this opportunity again. On the heels of his passing, Dirtbag features the life of climbing legend Fred Beckey who climbed well into his 90’s.
Hailed as one of the most influential climbers of all time, Fred Beckey was the original American “Dirtbag” one who abandons societal norms and material comforts in pursuit of a nomadic mountaineering lifestyle.This rebel athlete’s lifetime of accomplishments set the bar for the entire sport. He shattered records with an unparalleled string of superhuman first ascents, bushwhacking trails and pioneering direct routes thought previously impassable. Beckey burned bridges, eschewed fame and thrived as a loner so that his only obligation would remain conquering the next summit. He kept meticulous personal journals where he mused on everything from arcane geology to his romantic life, to the myriad sunrises he witnessed from vantages not seen by anyone else on Earth. An environmentalist before there was such a term, Beckey’s legacy includes 13 essential books that act as blueprints for new generations. Fred passed away in October 2017 aged 94, climbing until the very end.
The night also features speaker Jim Herrington and proceeds to the night go to the BC Mountain Club.
The Arc’teryx Climbing Show
Thurs, Feb 15, 7:30, Rio Theatre
This year, the Arc’teryx Climbing Show features Arc’teryx athlete Craig Demartino and how his climbing evolved after surviving a 100 foot groundfall in 2002.
After surviving a 100 foot groundfall in 2002, Craig went back to life on very uncertain terms.“My body and mind were so different, I didn’t know if I could, or wanted to ever climb again.” After moving past the feelings of just being happy to be alive, the rebuilding process began. Surges followed which screwed and plated his body back to a new “normal” but the mental game of deciding who this new person was, was just beginning.
The night also features the following films:
Ephemera
When you think of ice climbing, the sunny Okanagan Valley is probably one of the last places you would consider. Ephemera is a short film about ice climbing in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia Canada. Ice climbs have a dichotomous strength and delicacy, and the people that attempt to ascend them are resilient and determined. Though the ice climbing is unreliable, scarce, and fleeting due to the mild winters in the Okanagan, it does exist… it all depends on how badly you want to find it.
Coconut Connection
Having previously explored the coast of Baffin on board the famous Dodo’s Delight Nicolas Favresse & Sean Villanueva decide to return on a big wall free climbing expedition in the month of July which is rumoured to have better weather. However with the sea ice breaking up access is close to impossible. Joined by three Italian climbers ( Matteo Della Bordella, Matteo De Zaiacomo & Luca Schiera) they approach with skis on the frozen sea in June and find themselves voluntarily stranded for almost two months in a Yosemite like valley full of unbelievable big walls where everything is there for the taking. Nico and Sean are renowned musicians, but what instruments can the Italians bring to the concert? And how good is their singing?
Uruca II
Hugo and Lipe are back on the wall (a remote spire, actually, in the middle of the glaciers) to face all challenges of alpine climbing—frozen and wet rock, poor communication with each other, inner demons, selfies, and the frigid, ever-changing weather.
Sweat Lodge
Paul Mcsorley and Kieran Brownie(two pasty Canadians); leave the dark winter of South West BC to delve into a deep corner of the Colombian Amazon after stumbling across images of remarkable granite domes in Colombian Director Cuerro Guerra’s film, “Embrace the Serpent”.
VIMFF Finale
Saving the best for last, the final night at the Vancouver International Film Festival features National Geographic Explorer Mike Libecki.
National Geographic Explorer/National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Mike Libecki can define his life in two ways:
1) Diagnosed with OECD – Obsessive Expedition Climbing Disorder: exploring the worlds most remote and untouched corners of the planet to find and climb huge, world-class first-ascents, so far more than 75 expeditions around the world…
2) Being a dedicated father to his daughter that wants to help save the world and explore in her own way…
Libecki has completed more than 75 expeditions all over the planet with a goal of 100 expeditions, from Afghanistan to Antarctica, to Greenland to Guyana, to Siberia to Socotra Island Yemen and everywhere in between… His pride and joy is being a father to his daughter Lilliana. And, Lilliana, at the age of 14, has already been to 25 countries and all 7 continents, and has been on four expeditions, including a ski expedition to Antarctica, ascent of Kilimanjaro in Africa, a 150-mile trek through the Himalaya of Nepal, and alpine climbing in the Cordillera Blanca in Peru. All of Lilliana’s expeditions have all focused on humanitarian and conservation work. Mike and his daughter Lilliana just founded a nonprofit 501c3 organization that will focus on conservation and humanitarian work around the world.
Mike Libecki will also be showing his film Unexplored Earth.
For tickets to these shows and others, please visit the official website of the 2018 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival