[Chief Guide]

Info just in on this years Banff Film Festival….
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The Banff Film Festival is back!

The NZ Alpine Club presents the worlds premier film festival for outdoor sports.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is back for another great year and it is bigger and better than ever. Banff 2006 now spans two nights starting with Sunday April 30th and concluding Tuesday May 2nd
The format will be the same as always, starting at 6:30 pm at the Paramount theatre, with 150 minutes of film each night, spot prizes and an MC to present each of the movies.
Each Session will have its own distinct program, so if you want to see all the great movies you will have to go to both. The individual programs won’t be published, so it will be pot luck if there is a particular film you are interested in. Some highlights from this years festival are:

Sur le fille des 4000 (Grand Prize Winner)
On March 1, 2004, Patrick B?rhault and Philippe Magnin set out to climb all 82 summits above 4000 metres in the Alps. Well-known for their solid experience and purist approach to climbing, they brave changing weather and strong emotions as they proceed on their long journey. On April 28, they are making their way along Nadelgrat, an interminable ridge leading up to their 67th summit, when destiny steps in.

Proszacur (Best film on Mountain Sports)
79 year-old Janusz Orlowski is full of energy and zeal. There is nothing special about this ? except that he flies. He is a paraglider. The paraglider?s environment is always changing, but young people dominate the sport. The frail, old man doesn?t really ?fit? into this environment, but the youngsters have accepted him. Flying is Janusz?s passion and requires health, agility, and stamina. Consequently, he must overcome all the limitations that come with age. He gets help from his younger friends and sometimes falters, but he never gives up. Janusz says he will always fly.

Magic Mountain (Peoples Choice Award)
This film recounts the offbeat story of educator Cynthia Hunt, the founder of HEALTH (Health, Environment and Literacy in the Himalayas) in Ladakh, northwest India. Her often theatrical efforts to empower illiterate women propel viewers on a rare and exhilarating journey as she hikes over 5000-metre (16,000-foot) passes and through a frozen river gorge deeper than the Grand Canyon.

Parralelojams (Best film on Climbing)
An award-winning look at the challenges and characters of modern desert crack climbing, featuring hilarious commentary by Timmy O?Neill. Includes Didier Berthod?s first ascent of ?From Switzerland, With Love? (probably the hardest crack in the desert at 5.13+R), Eric Decaria?s inspiring repeat of the hairball ar?te ?Air Swedin? (5.13R), Timmy O?Neill?s traverse of the Bridger-Jacks highline (slack lining) and much, much more.

Harvest Moon
A Swiss expedition climbs a technically challenging new route on Thalay Sagar (22,650 feet, 6903 metres) in the Garwhal Himalaya of northern India. Stephan Siegrist, Denis Burdet, Thomas Senf, and Ralph Weber tackle the northwest ridge, on the right side of the mountain?s 4600-foot (1400-metre) north face. Interviews with noted climbers give background and perspective on the mountain?s challenges.

The full festival details (including venues and dates for ticket purchases) are available on the club website at http://www.nzalpine.wellington.net.nz/banff

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