Every day, people from all over the world arrive in Banff. But once a year, visitors come for the one-of-a-kind Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Now in its 48th year, the festival celebrates mountain culture and shares the extraordinary stories of adventurers, authors and filmmakers. From October 28 to November 5, the festival will feature films from around the world, inspiring guest speakers, art exhibitions, a marketplace, downtown events and more. With more than 60 live events and 84 film finalists being screened in Banff and Canmore, this year’s rendition is sure to be a hit.
Here are some things you can expect from the 2023 edition. For more information and to buy tickets, visit banffcentre.ca/film-fest.
The Festival Marketplace will be bigger and better than ever
The Festival Marketplace is where attendees can browse and purchase outdoor gear, apparel, top-selling mountain books and hand-crafted goods from local artisans. This year, it’s coming back in even greater fashion, offering more exhibitors and a new grab-and-go food and beverage option from November 3 to 5. There will also be lounge spaces to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. You can enter exciting draws and contests, enjoy tasty treats and, of course, do tons of shopping.
The new Rab Stage features more fun and free events
This year, the festival has a new addition: the Rab Stage. It’s the new free events venue where you can enjoy a wide range of fun experiences without an extra cost. Events range from talks and presentations with authors and athletes to annual events such as the festival’s Indigenous Dialogue panel.
More than 80 films will be available to watch in-person or online
This year’s festival features epic films from all over the world. With a selection of 84 movies from 13 countries, the films follow the incredible lives of mountain climbers, fly-fishers, surfers and waterfall hunters, and how they, among several other inspiring thrill-seekers, are surmounting unimaginable obstacles. Whether you watch them on the big screen during a day out on the town or stay in and enjoy them from the comfort of your own home, the choice is yours. Browse the guide, choose your films, buy the tickets and enjoy the adventure-packed selection.
You can hear from incredible snowboarders and climbers at speaker events
The festival features an impressive guest speaker lineup, including celebrated snowboarders Jeremy Jones and Jess Kimura. One of the events you won’t want to miss is a conversation with two of the world’s most prolific climbers, Sonnie Trotter and Ashima Shiraishi, where they will discuss life, family and climbing. You can also expect a large variety of different climbers, authors and poets to share stories and passages from their books.