Cracking night earlier this week at the downtown Joburg launch of the Banff International Mountain Film Festival.
I had no idea what to expect, but came away feeling invigorated and in awe, and, I must confess, a little inadequate.
There are tons of people out there who do extreme stuff in and around adventure sport and the festival tells their stories, whether it be through mountain biking (at ridiculous speeds and along insane routes), kayaking, speed flying, slack-lining, skiing, rowing, paragliding and climbing.
You know the types, off-the-wall individuals who always seem a little off-centre and have a crazy yearning to push the boundaries. Too bad I’m a wuss. I’m not a biking, skiing or rowing fan, but the action is so spectacular, the pictures so riveting, that it’s impossible not to be blown away.
There were 11 award-winning films and you watch them back to back (just over two hours in total). It’s fun and undemanding – they range from two minutes to 37 minutes. This duration places a premium on sharp editing and demands the very best backdrops. None of the entries disappoint. Many are jaw-dropping.
The Ridge, featuring world-renowned mountain trails rider Danny MacAskill, is staggering for its breadth of beauty across Scotland’s Isle of Skye (and MacAskill’s extraordinary riding skills).
Afterglow, about nighttime skiing, is a surreal race through British Columbia in glorious technicolour.
For sheer adventure and drama, And Then We Swam, the story of two inexperienced British mates who row across the Indian Ocean, is a thrill ride laced with humour and drama. It’s a harrowing and happy film and draws you into their mad challenge from beginning to end.
Every film is a gem of its own and it’s encouraging to see the SA trail running film, Karine, get a run too after winning the Cape Union Mart Adventure Film Challenge.
Arctic Swell.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, hosted by Cape Union Mart, screens at select Ster-Kinekor cinemas:
There will be one screening per day at 8pm.
- Cape Town
- Cavendish Square 23 Oct – 2 Nov | Tygervalley 23 Oct – 2 Nov
- Johannesburg
- Sandton 23 Oct – 2 Nov
- Pretoria
- Brooklyn 23 Oct – 2 Nov
- Durban
- Gateway 30 – 31 October
- Port Elizabeth
- Baywest Mall 31 October
You should check it out. I did, and it was a thrilling surprise.