Last year, the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival celebrated its 49th year of operation. This event, based out of Banff, Alberta from Oct. 26-Nov. 3, 2024, featured 90 films and over 80 events, bringing in stories of adventure and exploration from all around the world.
For those unfamiliar with the festival, it is similar to Utah’s own Sundance Film Festival, only the films are more focused on mountains and mountain-based activities.
There are various categories in which a film can be entered: adrenaline films, adventure films and films to educate the audience, to name a few. These films can range in length from three minutes to a whole hour.
For about 25 years, the Banff Film Festival has included Orem, Utah as one of its stops on the World Tour aspect of the festival.
Every year, the festival only licenses 30 or so films to be featured on this tour. With the help of UVU’s own Kimberly Reynolds from the Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC), a Road Warrior commissioned by the festival selects which of these 30 films will be shown. The Road Warrior then acts as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
These films, announced during the second week of this semester, are tailored to the student community at Utah Valley University and the larger Orem and Utah Valley communities.
Apart from providing fun and entertainment for the masses, this event also helps to build energy and establish comradery in and between our communities.
During an interview with Kimberly Reynolds, she stated that the OAC often sells out of all the tickets available.
Tickets can be found through the link in the OAC’s Instagram bio, or through uvu.universitytickets.com. Tickets cost $12 for students and $15 for non-students.
Proceeds from ticket sales go toward funding different scholarships offered through the OAC. UVU will be hosting the film festival from Feb. 10 – 11. The shows begin at 7pm exactly and doors open at 6 p.m.
Prizes provided by local businesses will be drawn during intermission. The film festival is for everyone who enjoys mountains and the outdoors, whether you consider yourself athletic or not.
For more information, please visit @uvuoac on Instagram
https://uvu.universitytickets.com
https://www.banffcentre.ca/banffmountainfestival/tour
Or visit the Outdoor Adventure Center located at SL216.
