Nov 19, 2009
Media contact: Patty Wellborn
Office: 604-795-2819
patty.wellborn@ufv.ca
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Adventurer James Pearson climbs a 48-metre cliff in North Devon, England in the mini-documentary titled Committed. It won top prize in its category at the Banff festival, with reviewer Daniel du Lac stating “This film is about a very British climbing ethic. The photography and music maintain tension without being manipulative, making it an outstanding film about the climbing community.”
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UFV brings award-winning outdoor films to the Fraser Valley
It has become an annual rite of passage: a way to mark the beginning of our damp and dark winters. The Best of Banff Film Festival is on its way to the Fraser Valley on December 1.
Each fall, mountain climbers, environmentalists, adventure racers, film producers, documentarians, and lovers of the great outdoors gather in Banff to celebrate some of the best adventure and outdoor films made this year. The Best of Banff is a long-standing tradition that celebrates film-making, nature, adventure, and the wildness of this planet.
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A cyclist hurls through the
air. This is a scene from Cranked. |
UFV kinesiology instructor Roger Friesen is a true fan of the Banff festival and each year he brings a little bit of the festival back to the Fraser Valley to share some of the remarkable films previewed at the Banff Mountain Film Festival.
“The panel in Banff selects the winning films from many diverse categories,” explains Friesen. “These films are then packaged and shipped around the world on what is called the Best of the Festival World Tour. Each host then selects films from this group that will be shown, so I’m now in the process of picking the ones for the Clarke Theatre in Mission.”
Friesen, a sport psychology instructor and instructor of UFV’s wilderness-based field courses, explains there are several types of films at Banff: some high adventure, some longer documentary-style, many thought-provoking, some quite short, and some with a strong environmental message. This is the 11th year he has brought the festival to Mission.
“I have always loved adventure, and I am passionate about raising global awareness and raising awareness regarding this beautiful earth we all share,” he says. “Hosting the Best of the Banff World Tour in the Fraser Valley is just one small way I can do my part.”
Friesen is hoping to book some of the very best films and documentaries from the week-long celebration of the great outdoors. The winners from categories such as best adventure, best climbing movie, and best environmental movie go on the road so people across the Canada can get a taste of the action.
This year’s Best of Banff takes place on Tuesday, December 1 at the Clarke Foundation Theatre in Mission. Again this year, Friesen has organized a mini outdoor adventure trade show to take place in the theatre lobby and number of local outdoor tourism or adventure-based companies will be on hand to promote their businesses.
Last year’s event sold out early and Friesen cautions that people should get their tickets early to avoid disappointment. All tickets, which cost $15, are pre-sold and are available at a number of locations throughout the Fraser Valley including Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Western Canoe and Kayak, Wentings Cycle and Mountain Shop in Mission, Lifecycles, UFV’s Mission campus at Heritage Park, the UFV Theatre box office in Chilliwack, and the UFV Hope Centre.
“Anyone who enjoys films about mountain culture, people engaged in wilderness sport, and remarkable expeditions need to come and take a look,” he adds. “Generally, once people have attended the evening they will never miss the show again. It becomes an annual event on people’s calendar.”
The Best of Banff begins at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) and Friesen promises almost three hours of amazing outdoor adventure. To get tickets or more information, people can contact Friesen at
roger.friesen@ufv.ca or call him at 1-888-504-7441, local 4297.
To catch a glimpse of some the films that might be highlighted at the Best of Banff Film Festival in Mission, go to
www.banffmountainfestivals.ca
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