Banff Centre Film Festival will take place at the Wexner Center for the Arts this week. Credit: Courtesy of Melissa Starker
The Wexner Center for the Arts is hosting screenings of outdoor adventure films from around the world for the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival this week.
The festival is a subset of the Banff Centre Mountain Film + Book Festival, which showcases the best mountain culture films, photography and books. The film festival world tour will travel throughout the year to different cities, states and countries across the U.S., Canada and numerous South American and European countries.
The event proved to be popular with audiences since 2006 as the festival has attracted many new faces to the Wexner Center for the three-night showings and all upcoming dates are currently all sold out, David Filipi, director of film and video at the Wexner Center, said.
Filipi said the partnership between Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival and the Wexner Center is one that has benefited both sides. Banff picks the films and works closely with the Wexner Center to make sure the three-day festival can present the films in the best way possible.
Ray Schmidt, onsite coordinator for Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival, said the size and accessibility of the Wexner Center is an added benefit.
Schmidt said the committee has more than 200 films from around the world that it chooses from and has to narrow the selection down to 30 to 40 films every show on tour.
“Because we do multiple shows a night, we usually pick our films based on the locals and what would best interest them,” Schmidt said.
They also take film submissions as most of the films played during the tour are short films, airing for less than 30 minutes.
Schmidt said the festival is a celebration of filmmaking in all forms and serves as an appreciation for films that aren’t usually showcased like this.
“If you like adventure, nature, sports, or are a spring person, it is truly something to see… real people living their lives and telling their story,” Schmidt said.
All exhibitions will be open until 7 p.m. on the days of the festival. The festival is from April 2 to 4. Screening times for all films will begin at 7 p.m.
