Video: VIMFF Photo Contest Winners

Way back in December I posted a story about the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival photo competition that was being sponsored by Climb For Change. At the time, organizers for the contest were looking for submissions, but now the competition has wrapped up, and they've released a great video showing off the best entries. The video, which can be seen below, features some great photos and is a salute to not only the photographers who took them, but also adventurers across the planet as well. Enjoy!

World on Wheels Cycling Film Festival Call For Entries

The third annual Ciclismo Classico Bike Travel Film Festival will take place on May 17th of this year at the Regent Theater in Arlington, Massachusetts. This event is sponsored by travel company Ciclismo Classico, which specializes in cycling tours around the globe, and is the only film festival in the U.S. that is dedicated solely to bike travel.

Organizers of the festival have put out a Call for Entries and are currently looking for great cycling films to host at the event. Entries can range in length from 3 to 60 minutes and should focus on any type of cycling travel from short organized tours to extended solo expeditions. The featured destinations can be either domestic or international.

Submissions are already being accepted with an official entry deadline set for March 1st. The entry fee is just $25 (Very inexpensive by film-fest standards!), but if you submit your film before February 1st, you'll get the early-bird rate of just $20. Films selected for screening will announced by early April.

At the event in May, a jury will select their favorite film, which will earn the filmmaker a spot on one of the great cycling tours offered by Ciclismo Classico. A second prize will be given to someone in attendance in the audience as well.

If you're an aspiring filmmaker who loves to ride, this seems like a great opportunity. Put together your best film and send it on over to the organizers of this event. You may earn your self a great trip and get some recognition for your work in the process.

Video: Trailer For Sheffield Adventure Film Fest

Over the last couple of years, the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival has grown into one of the premiere outdoor film events in the world. It is a top notch experience that skillfully blends adventure, travel, and extreme outdoor pursuits in a seamless fashion. This year's ShAFF will take place on March 9-12 in the U.K. and will feature more than 75 films. For a taste of what to expect at the event, check out the trailer video below.

Climb For Change Launches VIMFF Photo Contest

Climb For Change, a website that serves as a hub for climbers who are undertaking expeditions for charity, is sponsoring the Mountain Photography Competition for the 15th annual Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival, which takes place in February of 2012. Submissions are being accepted now through January 15th, with the finalists, which will be selected by a jury of professionals, being put on display at the festival.

The grand prize winner of the competition will earn a two week guided expedition through Northern Pakistan and the "People's Choice" Winner, which is decided by an online vote, will win a Venta SV jacket from Arcteryx.

You'll find more details on the Climb For Change Facebook page, including a submission form and a gallery of entries to the competition so far. Judging from the entries on that page, you'd better bring your A-game, as there are some great photos already in the competition.

This is an opportunity for aspiring photographers to really show their stuff, and get your images displayed at a world-class mountain film festival. Who knows, you may even earn yourself a trip to Pakistan as well.

Video: SPOIL Film Trailer

This past weekend, the Banff Mountain Film Festival took place, with a number of great outdoor and adventure related films being shown. One of those films is called SPOIL, and it was made by Trip Jennings and Andy Maser. The movie focuses on the threat of a new oil pipeline through a remote region of British Columbia known as the Great Bear Rainforest. The pipeline could have devastating effects on the environment there, which is one of the last great wildernesses on the planet.

The video below is the trailer for SPOIL, and it not only demonstrates what the film is about, it also gives us a glimpse at the amazing lands that are endangered. It looks beautiful.


SPOIL Film Trailer from EP Films on Vimeo.

FEAT Comes To Canada!

For the past year you've heard me mention FEAT on multiple occasions. It's the adventure version of TED Talks during which speakers get just seven minutes to share some aspect of their expeditions, giving them a limited time to convey their message. To date, there have been three editions of FEAT, all of which have taken place in South Africa. That's about to change however, as FEAT Canada is scheduled to take place at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival.

FEAT Canada will take place on Tuesday November 15 and will feature nine top Canadian adventurers and athletes. The line-up includes Gary Robbins, Jen Olson, Kevin Vallely, Megan Rose, Nicki Rehn, Paul Gleeson, Philip McKernan, Scott Frandsen and Sebastian Salas. They'll speak on topics that will include mountain climbing, long distance running, cycling, mountain biking, and more.

Tickets are now available for the event, which will take place at The Centennial Theatre in Lonsdale, North Vancouver, BC. The price of admission is just $15 and can be obtained by calling (604) 984-4484.

If you're interested in attending, I'd suggest ordering tickets soon. FEAT Canada is only two weeks off and it will make a perfect opening for the film festival itself. Demand is likely to be high and $15 is a pretty inexpensive night out. Especially considering you'll have the opportunity to have some great adventurers share their wisdom with you.

Hopefully FEAT Canada is just the start for this concept to go international.