Banff film festival showcases the bold outdoors at Music Farm

From mountain peaks to churning rapids, a traveling film festival is bringing the best and boldest of the outdoors to the big screen in Columbia.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is stopping by Columbia’s Music Farm on Wednesday, March 16.

The traveling festival shows a selection of films, ranging from two to 53 minutes, originally shown at the Banff Moutain Film Festival in Alberta, Canada.

Katie Chitty, manager at Half-Moon Outfitters, which is hosting the event in Columbia for the ninth year, said due to time constraints, the Columbia festival will only be able to play about six to 10 films, depending on the allotted time and feedback from attendees. She said the organizers pick the films the day of the event, though they do try to focus on mountain biking, rock climbing and kayaking.

“It’s like playing Tetris,” Chitty said of picking movies. “… Nothing is set in stone.”

Banff’s stop in Columbia comes late in the tour, which allows those heading it up to have a better sense of what audiences have liked, Chitty said.

“The tour host, when she comes in, will see what’s been doing really well in other cities,” she said.

Chitty said proceeds from the event will benefit the Nature Conservancy of South Carolina.

“Purchasing a ticket really is improving our outdoor playgrounds here,” she said. “It is a great cause. Come watch outdoor films, and protect the outdoors at the same time.”

To view trailers for each of the films, visit www.banffcentre.ca/node/6478.

Some of the films on the world tour include:

“Chasing Niagara” (tour edit)

The film follows pro kayaker Rafa Ortiz in his quest to paddle over Niagara Falls. Ortiz and his team started the two-year journey from rivers in Mexican rainforests to waterfalls in the U.S. Northwest before taking on the mighty Niagara. (53 minutes)

Quotable: “It was a personal challenge. It was something we just wanted to try and see if it was possible, and it turns out that it was.”

“The Important Places”

A son uses old 16mm footage to learn more about his father’s time exploring the Colorado River, and the film documents their special bond. This film won Banff’s Best Short Mountain Film Award. (9 minutes)

Quotable: “If I can bring back together these two things that were young once – my father and the Colorado River – I can somehow travel back in time to learn something of who my father was.”

“Reel Rock 10: A Line Across the Sky”

South America’s Patagonia region is home to the Fitz Traverse, which climbers long considered impossible to conquer. The film follows Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnald trekking, climbing and rappelling through miles of snow and ice to become the first ones to complete the journey. This film won Banff’s Best Climbing Film Award. (40 minutes)

Quotable: “I don’t know how to use ice tools. I don’t like being cold. But if Tommy says that we can do it, I’m willing to go with him. How bad can it be?”

“Unbranded” (tour edit)

Four men travel more than 3,100 miles with 16 wild mustangs across the American West from Mexico to Canada to help save wild horses from roaming on public lands. The film follows the group through adventure, tests of friendship and tragedy. This film won Banff’s People’s Choice Award. (45 minutes)

Quotable: “We couldn’t find anyone who had taken horses roaming around.”

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 5:24 PM.