Whether you like to climb every mountain or prefer to scale your peaks vicariously, the Banff Festival of Mountain Films always comes through with thrilling visuals and exciting adventures for Fraser Valley audiences.

The University College of the Fraser Valley Adventure Tourism program will once again be hosting the “Best of Banff” presentation at the Clarke Foundation Theatre in Mission . Show time is 7:30 pm on Friday, November 29.

From scaling buildings in Boulder , Colorado to traversing the East Ridge of Annapurna; from breaking down barriers of language and custom in the Karakoram, to a young disabled athlete raising the limits of human achievement on the ski slopes, mountain adventure has many avenues, and this year’s Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour captures them all.

Films in this year’s tour bring the spirit of adventure to life on the screen. A wide variety of stories — from mountain sports, mountain culture and the environment — will entice and inspire viewers. Get a taste of mountain adventure from around the world; the tour's lineup includes films from Canada , the United States , Poland , Norway , Slovakia , the United Kingdom , Europe , and Australia .

Tour highlights are plentiful. In Front Range Freaks — Urban Ape, renowned climber Timmy O’Neill turns his hometown into a playground where he scales buildings, leaps across walls, and hassles locals… all in the name of fun. A Matter of Doubt is a personal recount of Jean-Christophe Lafaille’s quest for the summit of Annapurna , despite his haunting past on the mountain, and the complex route he and partner Alberto Inurrategi have to negotiate to reach their goal. Shepherd Women of Shambala is a story about the spirit of a people and the power of kindness as one woman journeys into the lives of a small group of Ismaili Muslim shepherd women in the rugged passes of the Karakoram mountains in northern Pakistan . And in Anomaly, meet Kevin Connolly, a 16-year-old champion ski racer who was born with no legs. His positive attitude, strong goals and commitment to prepare for the U.S. Disabled Alpine Championships make for an extraordinary tale about a truly unique individual.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is produced by Mountain Culture at the Banff Centre. The tour includes award-winning films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival, an annual event held in early November at the Banff Centre in Banff , Alberta , Canada . This year 263 entries from 31 countries were in competition.  

Hosting the festival is a natural fit for UCFV's Adventure Tourism program, offered at the Career Technical Centre. Students in the program prepare for leadership careers in adventure and ecotourism while also completing secondary school courses, immersing themselves in experiences such as kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, and mountaineering.  

“The students are excited about presenting the festival because it highlights the type of activities many of them want to build their professional lives around,” says program instructor Roger Friesen.  

Tickets for the UCFV presentation of the Banff Mountain Film Festival on Friday, November 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the Clarke Foundation Theatre ( 33700 Prentis Avenue , Mission ) cost $13. They are available at: Abbotsford: Little Mountain Outdoor, Valhalla Pure, Western Canoe, UCFV Bookstore. Mission : Pharmasave, Chilliwack : UCFV Theatre Box Office. Hope: UCFV Centre.

Local contact: UCFV Adventure Tourism instructor Roger Friesen: 604-504-7441, local 4297 or friesenro@ucfv.ca                     

Banff media contact:
Debra Hornsby, Marketing and Communications Manager
Mountain Culture, The Banff Centre
Box 1020 , Banff , Alberta T1L 1H5 , Canada
Phone: (403) 762-6446
Fax: (403) 762-6277
e-mail: debra_hornsby@banffcentre.ca
Website: www.banffmountainfestivals.ca