With the 2017 Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival starting this Saturday (Feb. 10th) we thought it would be a good idea to point out a few our favourite films in the festival and some of the nights that may really appeal to our readers. The festival is always a great time to sit back and get psyched while you catch up with friends and family in the greater outdoor community. Here are a few nights that stick out!
The festival kicks off with an awesome night featuring local climber Marc Andre Leclerc. Marc is one of the humblest guys around and perhaps one of the best alpinists in Canada! His stories will leave you wondering if he is sane but Marc always seems to have a level head about his adventures, both home in the Rockies and BC Coastal Mountains, as well as Patagonia. For a harrowing story, please see Marc’s blog post around this time last year as well as a few interviews we have done with him over the years.
Also on opening night is one of our favourite films of the festival. The Fledglings is a film about paragliding and trying something new but it stars two of the greatest personalities in climbing today, Cedar Wright and Matt Segal, as they venture into the new world of flight with their old style of putting it all on the line. This 30 minute film is one of the best of the festival and will make you feel like a kid all over again!
(This is a smaller version of this film – Go watch the whole thing!)
The second day of the festival is dedicated to the international climbing scene and features films from China, United Kingdom, and New Zealand. The feature on this night is a film called Blocheads directed by Alistair Lee. This 58 minute film will weave you into the world of British bouldering, where Lee provides a great look into the history of bouldering on the island as well as a few good characters along the way. Worth a watch!
On this afternoon, attendants will also be treated to a few great films featuring traditional climbing in China, putting up new routes on Sandstone, and Sonnie Trotter’s trip to New Zealand.
For all climbers, the show on Thursday night is not one to miss. Jonathan Siegrist and Nina Caprez, both professional climbers, will be talking about their lives and presenting on some of their latest adventures.
Orbayu featuring Nina Caprez
Jonathan Siegrist on Spectrum outside of Las Vegas
One of our favourite films for this night is The Triple 14, featuring Carlos Traversi as he tries to climbing v14, a 5.14, and 14,000 peak all in the same day. The other films of the night are also not to dissappoint. Tickets for this show will sell out fast so get them as soon as you can!
With the night hosted by Lakpa Rita Sherpa, this night will be one to remember, as he will host a question and answer period after presenting the film ‘Sherpa’ that explores the relationship between sherpa and client in the wake of the 2014 tragedy on the tallest mountain in the world . Filmed and directed by Renan Ozturk, this 96 minute film is absolutely sobering and tragic in both its cinematography and its story.
At 6.45am on 18th April, 2014, a 14 million ton block of ice crashed down onto the climbing route through the Khumbu Icefall, killing 16 Sherpas. It was the worst tragedy in the history of Everest.
The disaster provoked a drastic reappraisal about the role of the Sherpas in the Everest industry. SHERPA, tells the story of how, in the face of fierce opposition, the Sherpas united in grief and anger to reclaim the mountain they call Chomolungma.
The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival will close their curtains with local-climbing and soloist Brette Harrington. Brette is one of the most unassuming climbers you will meet, only to be blown away by her tales of soloing in Patagonia.
This night will also treat climbers to an adrenaline packed film featuring one of the strongest guys on this planet, as Gavin McClurg and Dave Turner attempt an unsupported traverse of the Alaska Range by foot and paraglider in the film North of Known.
For tickets, please visit the VIMFF website.
Peter Winter / Leavenworth WA / Grand Wall Boulders / 25 V4 Circuit / Home Campus Board
Hope BC / Jeremy Smith / Scrub your Face / Godman Creek / Ring Workouts / Wiretap