That Lily – she’s so tough she chews on rocks. She’s also so awesome that she almost got a standing ovation at the media screening of the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival. Watch Lily shred Trailside and I bet you’ll be clapping at the end, even if you aren’t a huge fan of dogs like I am.
Lily Shreds Trailside from Crawnight on Vimeo.
Apart from dogs, I am also a huge fan of the Banff movies. Every year they just seem to get better and better. And every year I sit in my cinema seat, clutch my popcorn to my chest and stare wide-eyed at the screen – half in terror and half in awe. There are some crazy people out there – people who like to fling themselves off mountains, people who fly through the air in a suit resembling a flying squirrel, people who squeeze themselves between cracks in rocks and people who zoom down mountain roads at a death-defying speed while wearing a futuristic body suit covered with wheels. There are inspirational people out there – like the disabled friends who completed the first all-disabled ascent of Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan. Between the three of them, The Gimp Monkeys had four legs, five arms, and three heads, but they did it. As Craig De Martino said, “You’ll get a lot further in life with one arm and a good attitude than with two arms and a bad attitude”.
The Gimp Monkeys are climbers first, disabled second. Photo from Vimeo.
Then there are people out there who start something amazing, like the first ski competition in Afghanistan. Who would’ve thought? Talking of snow (Banff likes snow and mountains) you can get up close and personal with Australian adventurers, James Castrission and Justin Jones as they take on a journey from Antarctica to the South Pole and back again, dragging their food and shelter across 1 140 kilometres of barren ice. There’s tears, near-starvation, chafing, Christmas presents and victory. It’s both edge-of-your seat and heartwarming viewing.
Australians, Cas and Jonesy at the South Pole. Photo from World Youth Adventures.
Above all of this, the Banff Mountain Movie Festival just makes me want to get out there and explore and DO stuff! I am not about to fling myself off a mountain or half starve myself to get to the North Pole and back, but I think I could manage a hike on Table Mountain, perhaps a kayak trip from Simons Town to see the penguins at Boulders Beach or even sign up for paragliding. I could also simply pump up the tyres on my bicycle and take my dog for run. He’d love that!
You are going to love this year’s Banff Mountain Movie Festival selection and if you’ve never been before, you will get hooked. Get your tickets before they sell out – it’s only on for a week at selected Ster Kinekor cinemas. You’ll escape to a world where people dare to live their dreams and you may be encouraged to live yours too.
Read more about the 2013 Banff Mountain Movie Festival screenings
Cape Union Mart Adventure Film Challenge 2014
Now South African film-makers and adventurers can take part too! Submit a five minute short film on South African outdoor culture to Cape Union Mart by 30 June 2014 and if you win, your movie will be screened in South Africa in connection with the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour 2014. The winning film-maker will also receive a R10 000 cash prize and K-Way gear to the value of R2000.
Read more about the Cape Union Mart Adventure Film Challenge 2014
Using abandoned ironworks as a playground. Photo from Calvin - Minds in the Making.
