BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

29 October - 3 November, Canada

The film "The Russian Eight-thousander", Director: Nikolai Zhidkov; Producers:
Victor Kozlov, Pavel Kadoushin (Russia), devoted to the first ascent of Lhotse Middle (May, 2001) is in the list of finalists on the Banff Festival. (45 finalist films that will be screened during the festival.) Good luck in final!

263 films representing 31 countries were received for the 2002 competition. "The mountain film industry has never been stronger — and this year’s entries reflect that fact," says Bernadette McDonald, vice-president, Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre. "From a 15-year-old novice filmmaker to some of the most respected directors and producers in the business, the story-telling is first-class. I don't think I've ever seen such variety — there is everything from Ethiopia to Patagonia, from mixed climbing in the Canadian Rockies to Lhotse Middle Peak, from an incredible portrait of Massoud the Afghan to an equally compelling depiction of the legendary characters of Yosemite’s Camp 4."

The Banff Mountain Film Festival, presented by Eagle Creek Travel Gear and National Geographic, brings you the world’s best mountain films, videos, and speakers.

Experience the adventure of climbing, mountain expeditions, remote cultures, and the world’s last great wild places – all brought to life on the big screen.

For twenty-seven years the mountain community has celebrated the spirit of adventure at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. This year, the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festivals will feature a week-long series of events, with a projected attendance of approximately 10,000. The film festival World Tour will travel to over 29 countries on every continent bringing the festival films to a total audience of over 100,000.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international competition featuring the world's best films and videos on mountain and adventure subjects. It is held annually on the first weekend in November.
During festival week an international jury determines the best films and awards prizes in eight categories: Grand Prize, Climbing, Mountain Sports, Mountain Environment, Mountain Culture, Short Mountain Film and Feature-Length Mountain Fiction. Audience members decide the winner of the People's Choice Award.

Past festival speakers have included Reinhold Messner, Sir Edmund Hillary, Henrich Harrer, Catherine Destivelle, Kurt Diemberger, Sir Christian Bonington, Alex Lowe, Alison Hargreaves, Lynn Hill, Ed Viesturs, Goran Kropp and Carlos Carsolio.

On the 3rd of November the jury will announce the Best of the Festival winners. Winning films are screened on Sunday evening and The Bill March Summit of Excellence Award is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the mountain world.

The 2002 jury includes Jean Afanassieff (France), Gerhard Baur (Germany), Piers Handling (Canada), Roger Payne (U.K.) and Valeriana Rosso (Italy).

Every year, the best films from the festival go on tour immediately following the event in Banff. Beginning in mid-November, the tour winds its way through North America as well as Europe, South Africa, South America, Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Japan. World Tour

This year’s special guest speaker is Erik Weihenmayer. Erik has summited Mount McKinley, scaled El Capitan and reached the top of Everest - despite the fact he has been blind since the age of 13. A compelling speaker, Erik will recount how he has overcome physical and societal

The Banff Mountain Book Festival,

presented by Canadian Mountain Holidays, runs
October 30 – November 1 in conjunction with 2002 Banff Mountain Summit (October 27—29) and the 27th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival (November 1 – November 3).

Winners of the following awards will be announced at the book festival during the evening presentation on Thursday, October 31:

Grand Prize: Phyllis and Don Munday Award
Jon Whyte Award for Mountain Literature
Best Book — Mountain Exposition
Best Book — Mountain Image
Best Book — Adventure Travel

"Above the Clouds" : The Diaries of a High-Altitude Mountaineer by Anatoli Boukreev, Linda Wylie (Editor), Galen Rowell - this book is in the list of the finalists in nomination "Mountain literature"