2007 FILMS
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Across the Atlas
Andes Bicycle Expedition
Asiemut
Back to the Wall
Benedictus
Best of Jo
Beyond the Horizon
Bike Compilation
Bill Briggs in his Footsteps
Birthplace of the Winds
Brother
Caribou and Wolves: The Endless Dance
Casa de Milagros
Cayesh: The Calling
Cerro Torre el Arca de los Vientos
Cobra Crack
Conflict Tiger
Conversing with Aotearoa
Crazy Quebec
Devil's Teeth
Dist Urban Behavior
E 11
First Ascent: Thailand
First Ascent: Tombstone
Harvest Moon
Huck'D
Knowing Andy
LaoLao
Le Beatnik
Looking for a Time without Master FIBI
Madagascar
Marco - the Shooting Star
Mountains without Barriers
Ne Pofa
Next Season
Pinturas Buldestres
Pure
Rubicon
Set in Stone
Sickline
Sky's the Limit
Snacking with Shaun
Snake River
Speed Riding
Tea for Three
The Abyss
University Wall
Ursa Dream
Visioning Tibet
Yes to the No
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Across the Atlas
USA, 2006, 23 min
Directed by Michael Brown, Produced by Dave D‘Angelo
Screening:
Wed Feb 21 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
What began as a search for the ultimate adventure becomes an epic exploration full of misadventures. A humorous take on the ‚hero’s journey‘ narrated by Timmy O‘Neall, this film will take audiences to Morocco to follow an expedition to ski North Africa’s highest peak.
Director Michael Brown
Three-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Brown is the director of 25 films that have garnered over 30 industry and international film festival awards. A pioneer of adventure storytelling, Michael brought the first high-definition (HD) video camera to the summit of Mount Everest in 2001 and is the Mountain Unit Director of Photography on MacGillivray Freeman Films' upcoming IMAX release, "Alps: Giants of Nature." He has also worked as a cameraman on a number of feature films, as well as on A&E's "Touch the Top" and on the critically acclaimed show "Blindsight." He founded Serac Adventure Films in 1992.
But for Michael, making films is about more than winning awards and exploring uncharted territories. His real passion is earth science, with an expertise in weather forecasting and climate. From 1988 to 1990 Michael worked for the National Snow and Ice Data Center. He has since put his knowledge of weather, climate, and geography to use in productions for National Geographic Television, NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN, OLN, the BBC, Rush HD, and the Discovery Channel. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in geography (emphasis on climate science), from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Tenacious and upbeat, Michael is committed to "giving back" to the people of the world. And whether they document free life-changing surgeries in Nepal, disabled athletes in Italy, or blind children in Tibet, his films always include moving stories inspiring each of us can make a difference.
Andes Bicycle Expedition
Canada, 2006, 52 min
Directed and Produced by by Yannick Daoudi & Kathleen Mullin
Screening:
Fri Feb 23 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Unassisted by support vehicles, GPS, or communication devices two travellers cross the Bolivian Altiplano by bicycle. Their expedition takes them across one of the world's most remote and forbidding areas. Set high in the Bolivian Andes at roughly 4000 meters in altitude, the Altiplano is known for its extreme climate and harsh living conditions. It is also home to the Aymara people, whose fascinating culture is rooted in ancient tradition. Like the landscape of the Andes itself, the peaks and valleys of Yannick's and Kathleen's experience reveal a journey that is truly unique and unforgettable.
Directors Yannick Daoudi & Kathleen Mullin
Kathleen Mullin was born in 1974 in Quebec's Eastern Townships, where she lived before moving to Montreal in 1997. She has also lived briefly in Halifax and Vancouver. After "flitting about" for a few years as a painter, guitar-sander, head-masseuse, tree-planter and kitchen slave, Kathleen finally buckled down to her BA in English, and went on to complete an MA in Creative Writing at Concordia University. She is now a freelance writer and English teacher, and counts herself blessed to have a schedule that accommodates travelling for a few months every year.
Yannick Daoudi was born in 1978 in Morocco, spent his teenage years in the United States and now resides in Montreal, Canada. His passion for travel and adventure is only matched by his passion for his wife, Kathleen. A life-long student, Yannick is now in his 11th year of full time studies, ever-hopeful of completing a Ph.D. in Education. He applies his student philosophy to all aspects of life, always looking for something new to learn from a stranger in an unfamiliar land.
Yannick and Kathleen met in the spring of 2000; two months later, they were off on a 4-month bike trip from Beijing to Bangkok. They have been travelling together ever since, and have now visited over 20 countries on 4 continents. Their complementary interests provide them with a well-rounded experience of places and cultures, and keeps the home fires burning. ‘Andes Bicycle Expedition’ is their first documentary.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asiemut
Canada, 2006, 56 min
Directed by Olivier Higgins & Mélanie Carrier, Produced by IDEM
Screening:
Tues Feb 20 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
So many choices in everyday life! Everyone has his own direction, his own azimuth. Olivier Higgins and Mélanie Carrier have chosen to ride on their bicycles from Mongolia to Culcutta at the mouth of the Ganges in India, passing through Xinjiang, the Taklamakan Desert, Tibet and Nepal for the total of more than 8000 kms. For sure, they are going to discover the world, but above all, they are going to discover themselves. Who are they? What do they want? What is their place in this world? Maybe, between some encounters, an obstacles and a discovery, this daring journey will bring them to a reflection… Do we not all have a common ‘Asiemut’?
Directors Olivier Higgins & Mélanie Carrier
Olivier Higgins and Mélanie Carrier met each other at the age of 14. Both are biologists and their passion for the world and other cultures brought them around the world. Over the past 6 years, they have been away from home for studies, for work, for climbing, for environmental projects, always carrying a camera with them. That was where their passion for film started. Recently they decided to unify their passions and use adventure and video to share their values. That’s how their first film ‘Asiemut’ was born.
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Back to the Wall
Canada, 2006, 23 min
Directed by Ivan Hughes, produced by Angela Heck (Fringe Filmworks)
Screening:
Fri Feb 16 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
BACK TO THE WALL chronicles the 10-year journey of a quadriplegic rock-climber, Brad Zdanivsky, as he pursues his dream of climbing the 1700-foot vertical wall of the Squamish Chief. But sheer desire it not enough. An epic attempt like this also needs passionate support and a strong team to make it happen, and for Brad, it’s his dad that leads the pack. With the support of professional mountain guide and friend Chris Geisler, and a cast of volunteers, the effort will be Herculean in many ways. Strongly character-driven with stunning footage shot over a thousand feet off the ground, this film shows what is possible for those with severe injuries. www.fringefilmworks.com
Director Ivan Hughes
A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Ivan Hughes is the director of the award-winning documentary“In the Shadow of the Chief” which marked his directorial debut. He studied cinematography at George Brown College (Toronto) and photographic techniques at Toronto Image Works. Ivan lives and works in Squamish, BC, where he is an event organizer, filmmaker and father who enjoys working and playing in the great outdoors.
Producer Angela Heck
Angela has more than 20 years experience as a producer, special event coordinator, publicist, and writer who's credits include work with CBC, CTV, National Film Board of Canada and the Guardian. She was the producer of "In the Shadow of the Chief" and is currently in development on the feature comedy "Saddlebags".
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Benedictus
USA, 2007, 27 min
Directed by Jennifer Tennican and William Clack, Produced by Jennifer Tennican, JenTen Productions LLC
Screening:
Sat Feb 17 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
As Tom Callaghan puts it, "there is only one opportunity for someone to have a grand adventure" on a particular section of rock. ‘Benedictu’s is the story of Tom's grand adventure on the 'Big Wall' section of Cannon Cliff in New Hampshire. Using an old aid climbing route as a starting point, Tom sets out to forge a new free climb to the top of the cliff. This turns out to take seven years, but a sense of humor helps Tom keep things in perspective as partners drop out, injuries crop up, weather won't cooperate and bad luck just happens.
Directors Jennifer Tennican and William Clack- JenTen Productions LLC
Jennifer Tennican and William Clack work as freelance filmmakers. Benedictus is their first collaboration on a documentary. Both are rock climbers and passionate about New England's rock climbing history.
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Best of Jo
Canada, 2006, 4 min
Directed & Produced by Logan Carlstrom / Car Storm Productions
Screening:
Fri Feb 23 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Jo is a coffee addicted Lego Character. He is keen to try all sorts of outdoor sports. As you will see the coffee does not help in his athletic abilities. Animated stop-action techniques are used to bring Jo to life.
Director Logan Carlstrom
“I am a 12 year old boy from Nelson, B.C. I have always loved to play with Lego and have been experimenting with film making since I was 6 years old. The freedom of home schooling has allowed me the time to work on many aspects. I have been playing the guitar for two years and like to come up with tunes for my movies. My film "The Best of Jo" is a 2006 Banff Mt. Film Festival Finalist and is currently on their World Tour. Another movie "Jo in Space" won Best U19 Animation film at the Rossland Mt. Film Festival in 2006.”
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Beyond the Horizon
Canada, 2006, 55 min.
Directed by Colin Angus & Julie Angus-Wafaei, Produced by Angus Adventure Productions
Screening:
Wed Feb 21 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
In June, 2004, a team of three, including Colin Angus and his fiancée, Julie Wafaei, left Vancouver on their bicycles. Nearly two years later, they rolled back in, looking like castaways, and having completed the first human-powered circumnavigation of the globe – a feat involving rowing unsupported across two oceans and trekking through 17 countries.
The team cycled, skiied, canoed hiked and rowed a route that took them to Alaska, across the Bering Sea and the Siberian winter, across Europe from Moscow to Portugal, then across the Atlantic to Costa Rica–a 156-day rowing odyssey. From there it was a short 8,300 kilometre ride back to Vancouver. Along the way they burned through 4,000 chocolate bars, 72 inner tubes, 250 kgs of freeze-dried foods, 31 dorado fish (caught from the sea), 2 offshore rowboats, 4 bicycles, 80 kgs of clothing. And they showed the world that if he can travel 43,000 kilometres without polluting the planet, then the rest of us can get off our butts, and clean up our own acts. Julie completed most of the journey including a ten thousand km unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first woman to row the complete Atlantic from mainland to mainland.
Directors Colin Angus & Julie Angus-Wafaei
Colin is a best selling author who has penned three books for Random House and written for many publications including the Globe and Mail, Reader’s Digest, and Cruising World. He has co-produced two documentaries for National Geographic that have collectively won eight awards at international festivals including the Dijon and Telluride Festivals of Adventure Films. Julie is a molecular biologist, adventurer, writer, and filmmaker. She has two undergraduate degrees with honours from McMaster University (Biology and Psychology) and a graduate degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Victoria. She spent over a decade studying and developing treatments for heart disease, cancer and genetic ailments, before focusing completely on examining the natural world through exploration. Colin and Julie are currently producing a television series and preparing for their next adventure.
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Bike Compilation
Canada, 2007, 9 min
Directed by A.Lias and produced by Alexander Lavigne
Screening:
Tues Feb 20 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
This short clip Features the woman freeriders of the newly released full length film ‘The Bike Compilation’. Riders include: Katrina Strand (Canada) Hannah Steffens (USA) & Sari Joergensen (Germany).
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Bill Briggs in his Footsteps
USA, 2006, 11 min.
Directed by Derek Weiss, Produced by Piton Productions
Screening:
Mon Feb 19 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
Bill Briggs is considered by many to be the father of ski mountaineering in the United States. ‘Bill Briggs – In His Footsteps’ is a story of his ground breaking descent of the Grand Teton and its affects on the ski mountaineering community. This ski descent of the Grand Teton in 1971 was considered by many of his peers to be a turning point in American ski mountaineering, making others realize what was possible to ski.
Director Derek Weiss
Derek Weiss is a climber, skier, and alpinist living in Salt Lake City, Utah with a focus on outdoor imagery and media. His focus for the past five years has been media covering skiing and climbing, but he is now venturing into filming other outdoor activities such as surfing, kayaking, and sailing. In all of his pursuits, he adds a human interest element, to bring the audience into the thoughts of the subjects.
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Birthplace of the Winds
USA, 2006, 26 min.
Directed by Jon Bowermaster, Produced by Jon Bowermaster/Oceans 8 Films
Screening:
Wed Feb 21 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
A three-week long journey - from California, through British Columbia and Alaska - delivered the team of Jon Bowermaster, Sean Farrell, Barry Tessman, andScott McGuire to one of the loneliest and least known spots on Earth (halfway between Russia and Alaska), where the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea collide at what the Aleuts called 'the birthplace of the winds.' Their goal was to kayak among five volcanic islands rising straight out of the seas, and climb their snowcapped peaks. Weather and tides would dictate their itinerary. Two 21-foot kayaks carried everything the four would need for five weeks: food, fuel, paddling and climbing gear, emergency and first aid kits, and a small mountain of camera equipment. Success was far from assured in a region where it is common for gales to exceed a hundred miles an hour and strong currents, ten-foot standing tidal rips and constant winds churn the channels separating the islands.
Director Jon Bowermaster
Writer and filmmaker Jon Bowermaster has made a career out of exploring the remote corners of the world. His 10-year-long OCEANS 8 project -- sea kayaking around the world, one continent at a time studying the health of the seas and the lives of people who depend on them -- is nearly completed. A six-time grantee of the National Geographic Expedition’s Council, 7 of the 8 expeditions are now finished with only Antarctica to go (January 2008). JB lives in Stone Ridge, New York.
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Brother
Canada, 2006, 13 min.
Directed & Produced by Syd Woodward
Screening:
Tues Feb 20 7:30pm , Pacific Cinematheque
High up in the mountains of Gold River on the Vancouver Island two brothers have come together. In the midst of flying wood chips and pounding nails, an inseparable bond has been made through their love for mountain biking. Meet The Fawbert Brothers.
Director Syd Woodward
Syd Woodward has been making films from the time he was 15. Now at the age of 20 he is producing his work: From short docs to a travel TV show based on hostels around the world and the people you meet on you journeys.
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Caribou and Wolves: The Endless Dance
UK, 2006, 49 min
Directed & Produced by Jeff Turner and Sue Turner
Screening:
Sat Feb. 17 3pm, Centennial Theatre
In the “Endless Dance Across the top of North America", millions of caribou are led on their never-ending journey by the mothers of the herd. Driven by the demands of motherhood they travel 5,000 kms on a trek from their winter range to calving grounds and back again. Their journey is fraught with so many obstacles and dangers like grizzly bears, raging rivers, insect hordes, deep snow and extreme cold that many of them do not survive.
But their most significant threat comes from wolves that follow the herds on their journey. Wolves kill and eat caribou wherever they can but the journey of the caribou puts the wolf families at risk when they move away from the wolf pack’s den site and there’s nothing left to eat.
It truly is a never-ending journey. The caribou are such strong powerful animals that this cycle of motherhood has been going on unbroken since the last ice-age.
Directors Jeff Turner and Sue Turner
Jeff and Sue Turner are a Canadian husband and wife film-making team based in British Columbia that have been producing documentary films for the past 17 years. They have directed, shot, written and produced more than 20 documentary films for the BBC, CBC, PBS, Discovery and Animal Planet Channels in settings throughout the world. They have won numerous awards for their work and their films have been seen around the world in more than 40 countries. Jeff and Sue have a strong connection to bears and wolves producing six different films on bears and 3 on wolves since 1991. For the past 15 years Jeff and Sue have been working exclusively for the BBC.
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Casa de Milagros
USA, 2006, 6 min
Directed by Michael Schoenfeld, Produced by Channel G
Screening:
Fri Feb 16 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
‘Casa de Milagros” is the story of one woman's work to create a dream for orphans in Peru by building and maintaining an orphanage called "The House of Miracles" – “Casa de Milagros”.
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Cayesh: The Calling
USA, 2006, 17 min.
Directed and produced by Steve House
Screening:
Thurs Feb 22 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Join Steve House (USA) and Marko Prezelj (Slovenia) as they open a new route on the west face of the beautiful Mount Cayesh in the Peruvian Andes. This documentary was shot by the climbers and from the hip during their 16 hour climb. The film gives the viewer a true taste of modern alpinism as practiced by two of the best alpinists in the world today.
Director Steve House
Steve House lives in Terrebonne, Oregon and ‘Cayesh: The Calling’ is his first film. Steve is known for his cutting edge alpine ascents in Alaska, Canada, and the Himalaya. In February 2006 he and partner Vince Anderson became the first North Americans to win the Piolet d'Or, the golden ice axe award given to the most important climb of the year for their ascent of the Central Pillar of Nanga Parbat's Rupal Face. Steve is also an outspoken advocate for low-impact climbing and adventuring.
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Cerro Torre el Arca de los Vientos
Italy, 2006, 20 min
Directed by Ermanno Salvatera
Screening:
Thurs Feb 22 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Italian climbers Ermanno Salvaterra, Rolando Garibotti and Alessandro Beltrami return for the fifth time to the mythical Cerro Torre in Patagonia. They are here again to climb a route that was defined by Lionel Terray as the most important ascent in the history of mountaineering, a historical and highly controversial climb by Maestri from 1959 that is still a challenge today. After five attempts, using particular techniques, climbing with very little weight and not finding any traces of the would-be climb by Maestri above the triangular snowfield in the lower part of the wall, the trio succeeded in opening a new route in two days.
Director Ermanno Salvatera
Ermanno Salvaterra is an alpine guide and ski instructor. His name is linked to some of the most extraordinary climbs in the Patagonia Mountains, including the third repetition of the Maestri Route to Cerro Torre and the first winter climb of the same route in 1985. He started as a video camera amateur during those expeditions. After his first short film, ‘Jonathan set at Cerro Torre’ in 1985, he made his second film ‘Magico Est’ on the expedition to the Paine Towers. In 1992 he directed ‘Blu Patagonia’, a report from an expedition to Cerro Standhard and to Punta Herron.
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Cobra Crack
Canada, 200, 12 min
Directed by Sonnie Trotter and Paul Bride, produced by Ivan Hughes
Screening:
Sat Feb 24 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Cobra Crack, at Squamish’s “Cirque of the Uncrackables”, is described as “the most awesome last great problem in Squamish.” Peter Croft first attempted the thin overhanging 30m crack in 1981 and since then by almost every hard climber in Squamish as well as international athletes like Swiss trad-master Dider Berthod. After 30-40 attempts over three years, Canada’s Sonnie Trotter finally sent it on June 23, grading it about 5.14a/b, but acknowledging that for some it could seem like 5.14c/d. “It’s certainly the hardest pure crack climb in the world,” says Trotter. For those who want to give it a try, Trotter offers the following beta: “The crux is pulling over the lip around the 2/3 mark. It involves huge dynamic throws between one and two finger locks, pain is ever-present and the mental crux is overlooking the pain move after move. The redpoint crux comes over the lip on a slippery side pull, the feet are next to nothing and it takes momentum and a huge throw to latch the final edge, at which point you’re about fifteen to twenty feet above your last piece of gear; it’s really exciting.”
Director/Climber Sonnie Trotter
A professional climber for the past six years, Sonnie has a passion for hard rock and the outdoor life. Today he is recognized as one of Canada 's most prolific rock climbers. He is equally at home on traditional and sport routes. He was the first Canadian to win a US national climbing title, the first Canadian to Climb 5.14c and the third person in North America to establish 5.13d. Sonnie is also a hardcore boulderer, having climbed both “The Proposal” and “The Phoenix”, both rated V12. In addition to climbing Sonnie thrives of travel and meeting new people in obscure places.
Director/Camera Paul Bride
Paul Bride is a travel and adventure photographer based out of Squamish BC, Canada. Possessing the skills to take photographs is only a small part of his job. Climbing, skiing, traveling long distances with heavy packs, and being in the right position while remaining safe is all part of a day’s work. Paul’s work has appeared in many publications including editorial, advertisement, and commercial. He also enjoys showing his work though galleries and slide presentations where he has the opportunity to interact with viewers.
Producer Ivan Hughes
A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Ivan Hughes is the director of the award-winning documentary“In the Shadow of the Chief” which marked his directorial debut. He studied cinematography at George Brown College (Toronto) and photographic techniques at Toronto Image Works. Ivan lives and works in Squamish, BC, where he is an event organizer, filmmaker and father who enjoys working and playing in the great outdoors.
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Conflict Tiger
UK, 2005, 61 min
Directed & Produced by Sasha Snow
Screening:
Sat Feb. 24 3pm, Centennial Theatre
In the forests of the Russian Far East, an inexperienced and foolhardy poacher triggers an infamous series of tiger attacks on people. The authorities call upon the services of Yuri Trush, a specialist in tracking and eliminating tigers that have lost their fear of man.
‘Conflict Tiger’ takes Yuri’s most notorious pursuit of a ‘man-eating’ tiger as the basis for a documentary thriller. The film combines dramatic reconstruction with extraordinary archive footage shot by Yuri himself as events unfolded.
From the aftermath of this epic confrontation, the film emerges as a parable which challenges the cozy illusions of the traditional ‘big cat’ natural history by setting the animal’s precarious situation against the pressing needs of human survival. More info about the film at; www.sashasnow.com
Director Sasha Snow
Sasha Snow was an architectural photographer before joining the BBC as a film editor in 1991. In 1997 he won the BAFTA/Post Office Scholarship for Best Student Film while studying documentary direction at The National Film & Television School. In 2000 he graduated with his first film in Russia, ‘A St. Petersburg Symphony’. In 2002 he completed his first major international co-production, ‘Arctic Crime & Punishment’, a film which followed a police murder investigation and trial in a remote Greenlandic village. ‘Conflict Tiger’ is his most recent film. He also works as a documentary cameraman, photographer and teacher.
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Conversing with Aotearoa
USA, 2006, 14 min
Directed & Produced by Corrie Francis
Screening:
Sat Feb. 24 3pm, Centennial Theatre
In an age of technological integration and urban life, people turn to the natural world for a wilderness experience. What draws us to the remote corners of land and sea when we realize something in our lives is missing?
In this animated documentary, New Zealanders attempt to fathom their deep, personal connection with their land. Among the interviewees are hunters, fishermen, farmers, trampers, mountaineers, adventurer-racers, conservationists, ecologists, artists, urban and rural dwellers, Pakeha, Maori and tourists, young, old and in between. The thread that ties them all together is a passion and love for the wild places in New Zealand. Their experiences reflect the wildernesses we find within ourselves.
Director Corrie Francis
Corrie Francis is completing a Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. A classically trained animator, she has recently shifted her focus to documentary and is exploring how drawn images can imaginatively complement documented reality. Corrie’s animation emphasizes the integration of digital and traditional mediums and a dialogue between technique and mediums. She has worked with sand, paint on glass, cut-outs and hand-drawn mediums. She recently spent 15 months in New Zealand as a Fulbright Fellow while working on her 5th film, ‘Conversing with Aotearoa/New Zealand’ and enjoys wandering in and out of the world’s beautiful landscapes as she creates her films.
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Crazy Quebec
France, 2006, 27 min
Directed by Sam Beaugey, Erwan Le Lann, Produced by Séverine Gauci
Screening:
Fri Feb 23 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
A team of crazy ice climbers called “Les Givrés” head into the depth of Quebec in search of a mythical ice route that would be great to climb and would also allow for a BASE jump from its top. Along the way, in the midst of their performances, encounters and laughs, they end up getting caught off guard by two brutal accidents. Their approach will change. What is dangerous is not the risks you take but forgetting you’re taking them. And then they find the treasure they’ve been seeking, and a few seconds of eternity where the dreams become reality.
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Devil's Teeth
USA, 2006, 10 min
Directed and produced by Roger Teich
Screening:
Sat Feb. 24 3pm, Centennial Theatre
‘Devil's Teeth’ is a short documentary film about the only sea urchin diver at the Farallon Islands off the coast of California, his dreams and frequent encounters with Great White Sharks, his past shooting downers and getting Hepatitis C, his ecstatic moments at the margin of grace and terror.
Director Roger Teich
“I have tried to make a parable about finding freedom when your insides are messed up, how to deal with illness and fear, a child's tale about staring into the monster's yellow eyes. I know from my own life that chronic illness and pain aren't choices that we make, but jumping into black water with big white sharks is a choice Ron Elliott (the urchin diver) makes, and I find great beauty in that.”
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Dist Urban Behavior
Canada, 2005, 10 min
Directed & Produced by Antoine Seguin
Screening:
Fri Feb. 23 7:30pm , Centennial Theatre
Our cities and buildings provide for every living moment in our lives. We have adapted their architecture to our activities and movements. We work in offices, shop in malls and live in condos. ‘Dist Urban Behaviour’ explores the potential to do much more than walking and driving in our cities. Montreal urban climbers create their own city experience, and the city skyscrapers and buildings are turned into infinite climbing and Parkour possibilities.
Director Antoine Seguin
Antoine Seguin is passionate about climbing, design and cinema. ‘Dist urban Behaviour’ is his first film.
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E 11
UK, 2006, 41 min
Directed by Paul Diffley, Produced by Dave Brown
Screening:
Sat Feb 17 7:30pm
Centennial Theatre
The ‘E11’ offbeat dramdoc tells the story of Dave MacLeod’s ascent of ‘Rhapsody’, the world’s first climb graded at E11 (French 8c+ or US 5.14d). There are no bolts in the route and it has a 22 meter fall potential. And not only potential.
One of the best all-round climbers in the world seeks to take traditional rock climbing to the next level of difficulty and inevitably danger. The steep and intimidating rock face protecting the seaward flanks of the historic Dumbarton Castle in Scotland is the scene of Dave MacLeod’s very personal battle.
The film reveals the dedication, frustrations and shear physical and mental effort that goes into MacLeod’s climbing. We see him take a series of terrifying, massive, gut wrenching falls. Relationships become strained as he struggles to cope with the difficulty and seriousness of the endeavour. Doggedly, even obsessively, he keeps returning to his ‘ultimate’ project.
Director Paul Diffley
Paul directs, produces and shoots camera and is the main creative editor. To keep his creative juices lubricated he gets to hang out with the assorted musicians and show business people, as well as getting hanging out for increasingly long hours in the editing suit. ‘Diff’, to his mates, has also been climbing for donkey’s years but is definitely no longer improving. He does still think he is better than Dave though. Diff also mountain bikes, usually across Edinburgh with a camera or hard drive on his back as he commutes between the Leith and Haymarket studios. He claims that he goes further afield and gets his tires muddy occasionally. His former career in IT has been left behind for a life of glamour and success.
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First Ascent: Thailand
USA, 2006, 7 min
Directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen; Produced by Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen and Timmy O’Neill
Screening:
Sat Feb. 17 7:30pm
Centennial Theatre
David Lama and friends explore deep water soloing potential of Thailand, throwing long thrilling dynos more than 20 m above the sea level.
Director Peter Mortimer
Peter and his company, Sender Films, created the multi-award winning Return2Sender (2005, Best Climbing Film at Banff, Kendal, Taos, Telluride and Boulder Mountain Film Festivals) and Front Range Freaks (2003, multiple award winner at Banff, Telluride, Kendal, Taos, and Vancouver). Peter lives in Boulder, CO.
Director Nick Rosen
Nick Rosen is a journalist, consultant and avid rock climber living in New York City. Nick's work has covered a broad spectrum of subjects, including civil war, international economic policy, yoga, professional wrestling and the esoterica of Welsh Corgis. Nick received his BA in political science from Colorado College, and his MFA from Columbia's School of international Political Affairs. First Ascent is Nick’s first project with Sender Films.
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First Ascent: Tombstone
USA, 2006, 6 min
Directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen; Produced by Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen and Timmy O’Neill
Screening:
Fri Feb 16 7:30pm
Centennial Theatre
Sat Feb 17 3:00pm
Centennial Theatre
‘Tombstone’ documents Dean Potter and Steph Davis climbing scary first ascent in the desert near Moab.
Director Peter Mortimer
Peter and his company, Sender Films, created the multi-award winning Return2Sender (2005, Best Climbing Film at Banff, Kendal, Taos, Telluride and Boulder Mountain Film Festivals) and Front Range Freaks (2003, multiple award winner at Banff, Telluride, Kendal, Taos, and Vancouver). Peter lives in Boulder, CO.
Director Nick Rosen
Nick Rosen is a journalist, consultant and avid rock climber living in New York City. Nick's work has covered a broad spectrum of subjects, including civil war, international economic policy, yoga, professional wrestling and the esoterica of Welsh Corgis. Nick received his BA in political science from Colorado College, and his MFA from Columbia's School of international Political Affairs. First Ascent is Nick’s first project with Sender Films.
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Harvest Moon
USA, 2005, 45 min
Directed by Rob Frost, Produced by Stephan Siegrist and Rob Frost
Screening:
Thur Feb. 22 7:30pm,
Centennial Theatre
‘Harvest Moon’ documents a Swiss expedition to climb a new route on 6,900 m Thalay Sagar in the Garwhal Himalaya of Northern India. The filmmaker follows four men—Stephan Siegrist, Denis Burdet, Thomas Senf and Ralph Weber—as they set out to tackle the ominous Northwest ridge of the mountain’s 1,400 m North face and includes interviews with first ascentionist John Thackray (1979), north face first ascentionist Andy Lindblade (1997), and Americans Jay Smith and Kitty Calhoun.
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Huck'D
Screening:
Thur Feb 22 7:30pm
ANZA Club
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Knowing Andy
UK, 2006, 33 min
Directed by Richard Heap, Produced by Slackjaw Film
Screening:
Thur Feb. 22 7:30pm
Centennial Theatre
Knowing Andy’ is the story of a winter week spent in the company of the suffer-miester Andy Kirkpatrick. Touring Scotland with his slide show series Andy uses his time to put the film makers through the wringer whilst dragging them up slush piles in the Cairngorms and on Lochnagar and the Ben. Funny and insightful this film looks at a climber’s need for introspection while at the same time providing a master class in climbing snow and ice in marginal conditions.
Director Richard Heap
Richard’s last documentary for Channel 4, about a mile high climb in the USA, won five awards on the World Mountain Film Festival Circuit. So too have three other films he has been involved in. He is a top climber with 8 years experience of filming and producing climbing and mountaineering films. He has great expertise in working in extremely difficult and hazardous environments. He has filmed in the Alps, Himalaya, Iceland, on Africa’s highest mountain Kilimanjaro and in the Scottish Winter Mountains. He has climbed to 6000m three times in the last four years – twice whilst filming.
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LaoLao
Poland, 2006, 30 min
Directed by Slawek Slawatecki, Produced by Hybryda Film Studio
Screening:
Sun Feb 18, 7:30pm,
Pacific Cinematheque
In ‘LaoLao’ Polish climber expedition went to Laos in order to climb up the limestone walls hidden in the Laos jungle. In addition to the tropical climate and administration difficulties in this still communistic country, the access to the wall is protected by mine fields – the remains from the Vietnam War.
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Le Beatnik
UK, 2006, 9 min
Directed by David Cawley, Produced by Pip Piper
Screening:
Sat Feb 17, 7:30pm,
Centennial Theatre
A contemporary exploration of the events of August 1966 when a bold rescue on the Petit Dru in the French Alps propelled acclaimed alpinist Gary Hemming onto the front pages of the press across the whole of Europe.
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Looking for a Time without Master FIBI
Poland, 2006, 50 min
Directed & Produced by Marek Klonowski
Screening:
Sun Feb 18, 7:30pm,
Pacific Cinematheque
‘Looking for a Time Without Master FIBI’ tracks the incredible young Polish film maker and climber Marek Klonowski on his 6-month solo no-budget travel across North America. Klonowski hitchhikes on his own all the way from New York to Alaska, makes the first solo climbing traverse of the Denali range, hikes in the Denali Park, salmon fishes in Bristol Bay, hikes the valley of 10000 Smokes, hitchhikes all the way down to California, hops on a train back to New York, and finally flies home to Poland. Talented Klonowski travels with no companion, takes pictures and films himself wherever the traveling spirits happen to take him.
Director Marek Klonowski
Marek Klonowski is a man of action and of many talents. Traveling, taking still images and shooting films is his passion; and climbing mountains, hitchhiking, cycling long distances and sailing is his way of traveling. Marek climbed in the Tatra Mountains, in the Dolomites in Italy, in the Kackar Mountains in Turkey, the Caucasus Mountains, and in Alaska (first solo Denali traverse in history - from Wonder Lade to Base Camp). He traveled solo by bicycle from Poland to the Adriatic Sea (3000 km), around the Black Sea by bicycle (6700 km), and around the Baltic Sea with 45 kg dog on the trailer (5600 km). He raced in the Olympic class 470, sailed to Svalbard twice, worked on the biggest sailing ship in the world. Last year he spent in Ireland working as an engineer.
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Madagascar
France, 2005, 14 min
Directed by Dominique Janiszewski, Produced by Ride the Planets
Screening:
Wed Feb 21 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
In October 2004, Ride The Planets/Salomon team is going to Madagascar to discover a new playground and another culture. Kite-surfing, climbing, biking and base-jumping will fill the days of road-tripping between live music and people.
Director Dominique Janiszewski
Dominique Janiszewski and his partner Claude Adam created the Ride The Planets company in 2001. They are based in Annecy, France, in the vicinity of the French Alps. Their goal is to organize trips all over the world to bring some incredible footage of extreme and alternative sports.
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Marco - the Shooting Star
France, 2004, 52 min
Directed by Bertrand Delapierre, Produced Séverine Gauci
Screening:
Mon Feb 19, 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
Marco Siffredi was the first man to snowboard from Everest via Normal Route. Highly talented, charismatic and somewhat reckless, he quickly made his way to French outdoor media stardom but managed to remain true to his own self, honest and unassuming. He returned to Mount Events to attempt the even more demanding route: Hornbein Colouir on the North side of the mountain.
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Mountains without barriers
USA, 2006, 24 min
Directed by Michael Brown, Produced by Mark Wellman and David D’Angelo
Screening:
Sat Feb. 17 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Two blind men and a man with no legs tackle a 300 meter rock tower in Italy. They are here as part of a festival called No Barriers, whose principal aim is to facilitate knowledge exchange between people with disabilities and those who create assistive technologies, thus fostering co-operation between them and improving the efficacy of current rehabilitation approaches.
Director Michael Brown
Three-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Brown is the director of 25 films that have garnered over 30 industry and international film festival awards. A pioneer of adventure storytelling, Michael brought the first high-definition (HD) video camera to the summit of Mount Everest in 2001 and is the Mountain Unit Director of Photography on MacGillivray Freeman Films' upcoming IMAX release, "Alps: Giants of Nature."
He has also worked as a cameraman on a number of feature films, as well as on A&E's "Touch the Top" and on the critically acclaimed show "Blindsight." He founded Serac Adventure Films in 1992.
But for Michael, making films is about more than winning awards and exploring uncharted territories. His real passion is earth science, with an expertise in weather forecasting and climate.
From 1988 to 1990 Michael worked for the National Snow and Ice Data Center. He has since put his knowledge of weather, climate, and geography to use in productions for National Geographic Television, NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN, OLN, the BBC, Rush HD, and the Discovery Channel. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in geography (emphasis on climate science), from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Tenacious and upbeat, Michael is committed to "giving back" to the people of the world. And whether they document free life-changing surgeries in Nepal, disabled athletes in Italy, or blind children in Tibet, his films always include moving stories inspiring each of us can make a difference.
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Ne Pofa
France, 2006, 30 min
Directed & Produced by Xavier Leonti
Screening:
Mon Feb. 19 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
Xavier is a skier is search of deep powder. He travels the world, looking for new spots. His trips lead him to meet new places, new people with new cultures and of course new scenery. He travels to Russia, in the Caucasus mountain where snow falls non stop, and then to Kashmir in India, to one of the highest ski resorts on earth. He completes his world ski road trip in the mountains of British Columbia. ‘Ne Pofa’ is a real travel invitation that will make the audience want to join the skiers.
Director Xavier Leonti
Xavier Leonti is the ‘most published skier in France’ for the third consecutive year, with over 100 published images and more than 20 written features. Since 2005, while still going on with his work as a still photographer, he has been also ‘driving a third man who holds the motion’! His goal is to continue skiing and making new movies.
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Next Season
USA, 2005, 26 min
Directed & Produced by Jason Manders and Chris Marr
Screening:
Mon Feb. 19 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
A day in the life of a telemark ski addicted who can’t wait for the next ski season. He makes an impulse buy of a tele ski movie collection he ends up regretting.
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Pinturas Búldestres
France, 2006, 21 min
Directed and Produced by Luc Percival
Screening:
Sat Feb. 24 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Pinturas Bouldestres is an unique bouldering movie edited tightly to an incredible soundtrack. This music brings the authentic Spanish sounds of Flamenco fused with Hip Hop and rap which drive the movie thrugh a myriad of classic problems to it conclusion and names sake - Pinturas Bouldestres – mooted to be the most beautiful problem in the forest.
Albarracin is Spain’s premier bouldering venue and one of the best bouldering areas in the whole of Europe. Upon first acquaintances it will have your head spinning and you’ll be struggling to cathc your breath as you run madly around the thousands virgin sandstone boulders and you climb everything in sight.
Director Luc Percival
Born in Kingston Upon Thames in 1969, Luc was schooled in Basingstoke, where he developed a passion for sport; cycling, swimming and running and eventually climbing. He then went to De Montfort University in Leicester where he studied Industrial and Business Systems. He was already climbing before he went to university but his passion for it grew out of all proportion when he did a placement year at DMM International in North Wales. Today, he lives in France with his wife, Virginie, and 21month old son Rafael. Have taken the opportunity for a career change., he is working with a clean slate and no distractions and developing a number of ambitious projects including a climbing centre to his next documentary.
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Pure
Canada, 2006, 4 min
Directed & Produced by Judith Robertson
Screening:
Fri Feb. 23 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Inspired by the landscape, the shared experiences, and the simple lifestyle, ‘Pure’ is a ski film that captures friends on backcountry trips in the mountains of British Columbia.
Director Judith Robertson
Judith Robertson has a passion for exploring natural landscapes and has dedicated her life to spending time with people in the wilderness. Film making and photography have allowed her to capture the places, people, and adventure that inspires her. Her love for the mountains and being creative is reflected in her work as an art therapist and as a long time Outward Bound instructor in Canada and Colorado. ‘Pure’ is Judith’s first film.
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Rubicon
Russia, 2003, 29 min
Directed by Alexander Klenov, Produced by Studio “Master”
Screening:
Sat Feb. 24 3:00pm, Centennial Theatre
In May 2002, a team of Russian climbers established a new unique route on the vertical wall of the Great Sail Peak (Baffin Island, Canada). The would-be spirits of the Baffin Island gang up with the singer-songwriter in the style of Vladimir Vysotskij (here played by the director/main character Alexander Klenov himself) to recount the weird twisted story of this adventurous expedition.
Director Alexander Klenov
Alexander Klenov is a reknowned rock climber and mountain climber. He has been chasing summits and hard routes for more than two decades.
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Set in Stone
UK, 2006, 48 min
Directed & Produced by Alastair Lee
Screening:
Sat Feb. 24 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Set in Stone, a film charting the cutting-edge routes of Cumbrian climber Dave Birkett. Despite his status as one of the world’s great athletes, few people are aware of the enigmatic Birkett and his stunning exploits on his home crags in the beautiful English Lake District. The film features exciting and historically important footage, in total nine of Birkett’s hardest routes are featured. In addition, Dave recounts the story of how he made the hardest traditional-style ‘on-sight’ ascent in the world on Dove Crag: the aptly-named Fear of Failure (E8 6c).
The profile also features a Brief History of Birkett, an animation telling the 70-year history of the Birkett family climbing ‘dynasty’ that began with Dave’s grandfather, the leading inter-war climber Jim Birkett. Dave’s more unusual extra-mural activities – such as his unofficial role as a one-man sheep mountain rescue service – are also showcased.
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Sickline
information on this film will be available soon.
Screening:
xxx Feb. xx 7:30pm
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Sky's the Limit
Canada, 2005, 52 min
Directed by Simon Christian-Vaillancourt, Produced by Yves Lafontaine
Screening:
Sat Feb. 24 3:00pm, Centennial Theatre
From time immemorial, humans have yearned to fly. Those who have come close are the hang-gliding enthusiasts you’ll meet in ‘Sky’s the Limit’. Filmed mostly in the majestic setting of Mont Saint-Pierre on the Gaspé Peninsula, this intimate portrait captures the lives of Quebec hang-gliders who do nothing by halves. After all, life is about taking risks. Including thoughts by anthropologist Serge Bouchard, this film takes a philosophical and poetic look at a unique lifestyle and reflects on how a group of people confront their fears, seek new challenges and live life to the fullest.
Director Simon Christian-Vaillancourt
Simon Christian-Vaillancourt was born in Quebec, studied film at UQAM, worked as editor for Musique Plus and then as a director for Radio Canada.
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Snacking with Shaun
Canada, 2006, 3 min
Directed & Produced by Shaun Johanneson
Screening:
Tues Feb. 20 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
Snacking with Shaun is a short street unicycling film. Street unicycling is tricks. Tricks are for kids. Shaun is a kid. And he’s very, very good at street unicycling tricks, and snacking.
Director Shaun Johanneson
Shaun is one of the best street unicyclists right now (think skateboarding type riding on a unicycle). He has pioneered combo/tech grinds and flip tricks in the new sport of Street Unicycling. He is the first person to land a double flip, triple flip, trey flip (360 unispin crankflip), fifth flip (540 unispin crankflip), and inward smallflip (180 unispin with reverse body varial crankflip). In other words, he does what really wouldn’t occur to most people. He rides street with a little bit of freestyle and flatland.
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Snake River
Czech Republic, 2006, 26 min
Directed by Jiri Kabatek, Produced by Ondej Kotas
Screening:
Sun Feb. 18 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
"Water will always find its way – follow it and you will find yours". The first Czech expedition manages to canoe 600 km downstream the Snake and Peel rivers in Northern Canada spending the whole month on the water.
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Speed Riding
France, 2006, 10 min
Directed by Produced by director Antoine Boisselier
Screening:
Mon Feb. 19 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
French new-wave speed riders explore the boundaries of the emerging sport, combing the advantages of skiing and paragliding in one.
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Tea for Three
South Africa, 45 min
Directed by Nic Good and Produced by Brian Valentine
Screening:
Sat Feb. 17 3:00pm, Centennial Theatre
A cabinet-maker, an orthopedic surgeon and a retired geologist make for interesting fireside and narrow ledge company. With a cumulative age of about 145 years the down-side of middle age is not all that these three characters share. On any given weekend you will generally find them roped together on the immaculate sun soaked rock of South Africa. They will be trying to open a new route, styling up an old one, looking for a new project . . . or drinking tea. These are three middle-aged men who are attempting to grow old gracefully, they might not be world-class climbers, but they are world-class buddies.
This is an honest insight into their lives, their friendships, the cycles of life and the glue of rock climbing. Their failures (put down to old age), and their successes take the cameras from their backyard rock on Table Mountain in Cape Town, to lichen covered walls of Blouberg in the Limpopo Province, with a few stops in between.
Cameo appearances by other (sometimes more youthful) inspirational boulderers, trad and sport climbers are not only welcome eye candy. They represent the various elements of life as perceived by the three main characters. With character interviews and the narrative guidance of Andrew de Klerk (probably the countries most respected rock climber and alpinist), the lessons of climbing are woven into a metaphor of the greatest project of all . . . the journey and continuum of life itself.
Director Nic Good
Nic Good and the Fresh Air Crew have been creating, recording and producing reality adventure documentaries for a decade. Their exploits and projects have taken them to the tropics, cities, glaciers, wastelands, depths and heights of approximately 54 countries and resulted in a colorful collection of award winning productions and co-productions.
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The Abyss
Italy, 2005, 60 min
Directed by Alessandro Anderloni, Produced by Accademia de la Lessinia
Screening:
Sat Feb. 17 3:00pm, Centennial Theatre
Spluga della Preta is one of the most famous pits in the world: a deep emptiness inside Corno d’ Aquillo in the Lessini Mountains, near Verona. It is considered one of the most difficult caves in the world and it is a myth for the international speleologists.
‘The Abyss’ film shows the impressive environment of the pits in Spluga della Preta. For the first time in history a video camera goes down to the Black Room, 800 meters below the surface into the hardest zone of the abyss. A group of young speleologists is also trying to find new ways inside the cave and a second exit from the abyss.
Director Alessandro Anderloni
Alessandro Anderloni lives in Velo Veronese in the mountains of Lessinia. He has a degree in literature and he wrote more than 20 theatrical comedies about the history, the traditions and the life in the mountains. He is a member of the Italian Group of Mountain Writers. He made many documentaries for the APS Video of Verona. He cooperates with RAI (Italian television) for the program ‘La storia siamo noi’ (We are the History). He is a musician and writes musical comedies and soundtracks for films. He is the artisitic director of Filmfestival Premio Lessinia, international festival about life, history and traditions in the mountains.
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University Wall
Canada, 2006, 12min
Directed by Ivan Hughes, produced by Angela Heck
Screening:
Fri Feb. 23 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
In 1965, four university students, Glenn Woodsworth, Hamish Mutch, Tim Auger and Dan Tate, began cutting classes so that they could attempt a new route up the Squamish Chief, each day they would push the route higher and at the end of each adventure they would return to their books. In a time of youthful rebellion and enthusiasm they also began to climb the walls of the university. University Wall is a magical musical ride through the archives and an entertaining look at the historical exploits that inspired the young lads to take their academic studies to new heights. www.fringefilmworks.com
Director Ivan Hughes
A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Ivan Hughes is the director of the award-winning documentary“In the Shadow of the Chief” which marked his directorial debut. He studied cinematography at George Brown College (Toronto) and photographic techniques at Toronto Image Works. Ivan lives and works in Squamish, BC, where he is an event organizer, filmmaker and father who enjoys working and playing in the great outdoors.
Producer Angela Heck
Angela has more than 20 years experience as a producer, special event coordinator, publicist, and writer who's credits include work with CBC, CTV, National Film Board of Canada and the Guardian. She was the producer of "In the Shadow of the Chief" and is currently in development on the feature comedy "Saddlebags".
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Ursa Dream
USA, 2005, 6 min
Directed by Kate Brown, Produced by Michael Mideke
Screening:
Fri Feb. 16 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
“The powerful story of my first film, ‘Ursa Dream’, did come to me in a dream. I was pregnant with a child and in no position to be a mother. The dream quite possibly saved my life, and put me on a path to raise the daughter I named Ursa.” [filmmaker Kate Brown]
A young girl in an unnamed tribe is suddenly taken to a circle where a ceremony is underway. There is a large bear in the center of the circle. She is handed a pouch by the old high priest and told to dance. She begins to dance and becomes wild with her first taste of autonomy and self-expression. She knows she is shocking people, but this doesn't faze her. She begins to spin out of control and drops the pouch, spilling its contents: pieces of blue turquoise and kernels of yellow corn. She stops, realizing she has made a terrible mistake. The old priest becomes enraged, has a heart attack and dies immediately. The girl is aware this event may end with her death as well: she may be stoned to death or die of her shame. As she sits in the circles alone in her terror, she becomes aware of the presence of the bear. She senses a communication although the bear is not looking at her. From the bear she learns "This is not about you, you're fine". She knows then she will survive, but that she will live her life in exile.
The story is told in animated and still images, all drawn and painted by Kate Brown, then captured with a digital still camera, entered onto timeline in Final Cut Pro and edited into the version completed in May 2005.
Director Kate Brown
Kate Brown has worked for 40 years as a potter, producing a dnging from dinnerware and serving pieces to large tile murals and burial urns. After a work-study job through Antioch College’s coop job program, she devoted herself to learning her trade at a number of different potteries. Following her apprenticeship at Jugtown Pottery in Seagrove, NC, she began a search to create for herself the rural lifestyle of the potters there.
In 1980, she settled in an intentional community in southwestern New Mexico. She has now lived there for 25 years, raising two daughters, Ursa and Rosaruby, running her one-woman business, Kate Brown Pottery & Tile, and being an active member in her home community and in the nearby town of Silver City.
In 2001, she gave herself a one-year sabbatical and enrolled as an undergraduate at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. She soon discovered her passion to study animation. She graduated in June 2002 with a BA in media studies.
‘Ursa Dream’ is her first film. She plans to continue to work in both clay and animation. She ponders whether the eventual outcome will be her own form of claymation.
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Visioning Tibet
USA, 2005, 56 min
Directed and produced by Isaac Solotaroff and The Tibet Vision Project
Screening:
Fri Feb. 16 7:30pm, Centennial Theatre
Visioning Tibet chronicles the passion of ophthalmologist Marc Lieberman, founder of the Tibet Vision Project. His mission: to end preventable blindness in Tibet – which has the highest rate of untreated cataract blindness in the world – by 2020. Bringing light where there was once darkness, Liebermann’s work has been recognized by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, which named him 2003 Humanitarian of the Year. The film is built around the stories of two of Tibetans – Karma, a farmer from a small village in Northern Tibet, and Lhasang, patriarch of a nomadic family from the Tibetan plains – who make the arduous journey to a remote clinic in the hopes of having their sight restored by Tibetan doctors trained by Lieberman.
Director Isaac Solotaroff
”My career highlights include a 2002 Emmy Nomination for Los Romeros: The Royal Family of the Guitar (Best Biography) and a special commendation from the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences for Jews and Buddhism: Belief Amended, Faith Revealed (chosen as "one of the outstanding documentaries of 1999"). In 2005-6, Visioning Tibet screened at over 30 international film festivals, winning top awards at seven festivals including the Audience Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival and is slated for a PBS broadcast in May 2007.Additionally, I have edited several award-winning documentaries for broadcast and theatrical release.”
”I see the world as an infinitely fascinating place filled with stories which deserve to tell themselves. Since 1998 I have pursued this passion by producing three independent feature-length documentaries for PBS and partnering with other talented producers to edit and manage post-production on a range of documentary projects. I have also had the pleasure of producing a number of commissioned documentaries and marketing films for a group of inspiring non-profits as well as corporate clients who are looking for new and innovative ways to tell their stories. My approach is simple: partner with talented people, find creative ways to make the most out of my often limited budgets, identify great subjects and then let them tell you their stories. The magic of documentary lies in their truth and as a documentary filmmaker I place my faith in the power of reality. However, recognizing that every story is different, I am meticulous in adapting the look and feel of each film I work on to suit its particular subject.”
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Yes to the No
Canada, 2006, 10 min
Directed by Dave Mossop, Produced Spencer Francey, Rocky Mountain Sherpas Productions
Screening:
Mon Feb. 19 7:30pm, Pacific Cinematheque
‘Yes to the No’ is a story of invention; of breaking down traditional ways of thinking and advancing technology by making it simpler. When professional snowboarder Greg Todds ripped the bindings off his snowboard and surfed down the mountain without them in 2001, he began a movement. They call it a NoBoard, and it’s simply a snowboard with only a rubber stomp pad and rope instead of bindings. Greg’s core group of followers is now riding powder on their NoBoards everyday of winter: ripping big mountain lines, stomping huge cliffs and jumps, and discovering daily what’s possible when you think outside the box.
Director Dave Mossop
Dave Mossop is an award winning filmmaker and published action sports photographer. While earning his B.A. with distinction from the University of Victoria in Film and Anthropology 2004, Dave also became an experienced backcountry skier, climber, and photographer. His still images can now be found in, and on covers of numerous North American skiing publications including Skier, Powder, Ski Canada and Backcountry. Dave has directed over 40 short films, many of which can be found on his feature compilation “Bulletins from a Colder Planet” - 2005. Dave is the co-owner and director of Rocky Mountain Sherpas Productions, whose next project is a comprehensive and modernistic Avalanche Education DVD package designed for curriculum integration and recreational use.
FILM COMPETITION JURY
The majority of the films at this year's festival will be judged by a panel of experienced filmmakers, writers and adventurers.
Michaelin McDermott, BA is self-employed as an independent Producer / Writer / Director of features and documentaries varying in topic from nature to social commentary to art. The winner of several awards, she also acts as a researcher, consultant and film industry volunteer, drawing on more than 25years experience in the photography and film businesses. Michaelin currently has three works under development, including Pyramids – a feature based on the 2002 winner of the Female Eye Film Festival Screenwriting contest, and Art Force – a feature documentary about the healing power of music. Michaelin will be joining the VIMFF jury from her Vancouver, BC residence.
Geoff Powter has been the editor of the Canadian Alpine Journal for 13 years, is the past president of the Canadian Himalayan Foundation, and is a founding member of the National Mountain Centre. He has lived in Canmore, Alberta for 20 years, where he has many first ascents to his credit, and is a veteran of 13 Himalayan expeditions. He is also most recently the author of Strange and Dangerous Dreams: The Fine Line Between Madness and Adventure. His outdoor writing earned him a National Magazine Award in 2003.
Sue Frohlick (PhD) is faculty in the Anthropology Department at the University of Manitoba, and has a breadth of academic experience studying mountaineering culture. In 2002, she received her Ph.D. in cultural anthropology for her ethnographic research conducted in Nepal and Canada on gender and race in Himalayan mountaineering. She has written about such subjects as Lhakpa Sherpa and the Nepalese Women’s Millennium Everest Expedition in 2000, mothers and high-altitude mountaineering. In 2003-2004 she carried out a small-scale study in Vancouver, Banff and Winnipeg on Canadian women’s experiences of watching mountain films at international mountain film festivals. Her academic publications appear in such journals as the Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, the Journal of Social and Cultural Geography, the Michigan Feminist Review, and Tourist Studies. Sue will be joining the VIMFF jury from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Lisa Hoffe is a formally trained journalist and communicator with over 10 years experience in the Canadian broadcast industry. She has worked as a television and radio reporter for the CBC, and as a current affairs producer for The Women's Television Network and CTV. She is passionate about women-centered film and consciousness-raising, and is committed to women's empowerment across the globe. Her first film Trailblazing: The Women of Nepal's Trekking Industry was given the “Official Selection” title at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, South Asian International Film Festival in New York and St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, and is in the shortlist of films to be screened at the International Mountain Film Festival in Domzale, Slovenia. Lisa joins the VIMFF jury from her Vancouver, BC residence.
Megan Long, MA is a freelance writer and mountain film aficionado based in Vancouver, BC. She has long been involved in filmmaking, as a writer, producer and editor. In 2002, she received her Master’s degree in Film Studies from York University, focusing on mountain film – her thesis traced the history of filmmaking on Mt. Everest. Megan joins the VIMFF jury for the first time, building on many years of involvement with the festival.