The 2019 Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival Wrap Up
Editor’s Note - The Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival has always been one of our favourite events of the year, where we get to join together with other outdoor enthusiasts from around the world and celebrate mountain culture in one place.
We’ve been a partner of the festival for quite some time now (since the beginning), and helped to fund awards like the Grand Prize (The Phyllis & Don Munday Award) for the Banff Mountain Book Competition, and Best Film on Climbing, so it’s always a blast to see who wins those.
See below for the full list of category winners, along with some other festival highlights!
Awards, grants and prizes
We’re proud to sponsor and present the following awards every year:
Book Festival Grand Prize - The Phyllis & Don Munday Award: Bryce Andrews for “Down from the Mountain”
Best Climbing Film: Dariusz Zaluski for “The Last Mountain”
Best Mountaineering Article: Jayme Moye for “Thirteen Feet Under”
John Lauchlan Memorial Award: Niall Hamill & Ryan Richardson (Cordillera Blanca), Nat Bailey & Co (Valle Cochamo)
Mountain Idol: Jack Menzies
Book Festival Grand Prize - The Phyllis & Don Munday Award: “Down from the Mountain”
"It’s hard to believe that a book on conservation can be a chilling page turner but that’s what Down from the Mountain is. It is a cry to save the grizzly, to save the forest that is home to the grizzly, to reverse the changing climate that is destroying its habitat and finally a cry against the enormous cruelty that we are capable of. This book will haunt you." - Nandini Purandare, 2019 Book Competition Jury
ACC Communications Specialist Peter Hoang presents the Book Fest Grand Prize award to Bryce Andrews, who accepted the award on screen.
“Knowing how we have misused land and wildlife, I have precious little faith in humankind. I think it likely that we will go on wrecking the beautiful world. But, I put my hope in bears of Baptiste’s sort —-hardy, seeking, adaptable creatures. They will find a way around or through our constructions to places that once belonged to them. Given the merest chance, they will live.”
The Mountaineering Article Award: “Thirteen Feet Under”
"Part analysis, part thriller, Jayme Moye’s account of a remarkable avalanche rescue is completely immersive. This is an amazing story, but it’s also an uncanny and sombre reflection on the line between life and death, an insight into the imagination of those who risk their lives in the mountains. Moye’s writing is deft, compassionate and extremely compelling." - Helen Mort, 2019 Book Competition Jury
Jayme Moye, author of mountaineering article “Thirteen Feet Under”.
“Kadatz would have collapsed into tears had she not been mummified. Sadness overwhelmed her, consumed her in a deep, heavy darkness she could neither fight nor escape. She knew what it felt like to lose someone to the mountains—the grief, the bewilderment, the betrayal—and she knew she’d soon inflict that arsenal of misery onto her friends. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, she whispered over and over in her mind.”
The Best Film on Climbing: “The Last Mountain”
“In this film, we can find almost everything that can happen during a high altitude expedition. Avalanche, injury, teamwork, ego and conflict. The director captures these unexpected and dramatic moments with a sharp yet dispassionate eye. This allows the audience to make their own judgement with calming distance.” — Billie Choi, jury member
ACC Marketing Manager Keith Haberl presents the “Best Film on Climbing” award.
“The Last Mountain” movie synopsis:
The true story of the climbing attempt on K2, the last Himalayan peak unconquered in winter. The expedition led in 2018 by mountaineering veterans and legends – Krzysztof Wielicki, Adam Bielecki and Denis Urubko had successfully rescued Elisabeth Revol, French climber who was trapped on nearby Nanga Parbat along with Tomasz Mackiewicz. It was one of the most extraordinary successful rescue operation performed in history of mountaineering.
-Dariusz Załuski
The Mountain Idol award: Jack Menzies
BMFF Manager Laurie Harvey presents the Mountain Idol Award to enduro racer Jack Menzies.
The Mountain Idol Award was announced during the Radical Reels event - full of energy!
The John Lauchlan Award: Niall Hamill, Ryan Richardson and Nat Bailey and Co
Niall Hamill, up to accept the JLA to head into Peru’s Cordillera Blanca range with Ryan Richardson.
Nat Bailey accepts the JLA on behalf of his entire team - heading down south as well to Valle Cochamo for some new routing on big walls.
ACC in the Mountain Marketplace
The Mountain Marketplace is the “meet & greet” for those wishing to learn more about the various companies and organizations within the mountain community. We had some show specials on hats and CAJs as well as a draw for a hut trip. The special edition of the winter Gazette, featuring the artwork of Tami Knight was a big hit. A big thanks to everyone who stopped by, it was great to see so many keen ACC friends and supporters!
Environment Fund Happy Hour
On Saturday we ran our annual “Environment Fund Happy Hour” with our good friends MEC, YETI, Sierra Nevada and Deuter. Like last year, we offered a beautiful 20z Rambler Tumbler from YETI, a ticket for a delicious Sierra Nevada beer, and a raffle ticket! The good people at Deuter Packs also dropped by with a contribution to the festivities in the way of gourmet pretzels that were sold by donation.
As we weren’t selling the mugs ahead of time this year at the Mountain Marketplace, the line that formed was quite long! A big thanks to everyone who came out to grab their mugs and get in on the fun. We hope you enjoyed yourselves and hope you enjoy your souvenir mug.
Our biggest cheers to MEC, YETI, Sierra Nevada and Deuter who donated their time and product to make this Happy Hour rock. Everything was in support of the ACC’s Environment Fund and together we raised over $4,500!
Tunes for Happy Hour.
Some very snazzy mugs this year from YETI.
ACC Ambassador Gordon McArthur stopped by our Happy Hour booth to sign posters.
Deuter helped us raise over $500 for the ACC Environment Fund this year with pretzel sales!
See you next year!
Our involvement at the 2019 BMFF was successful thanks to all the volunteers and staff who came out to help run all the events and booths. We’d like to thank those who contributed, along with everyone who came out to say ‘hi’!
If there’s anything you’d like to see the ACC take part in for next year, feel free to reach out to [email protected] with your ideas.
We’re excited to see you there next year.