On Saturday, the best films, pictures and artwork of the Vancouver International Mountain Film Fest will be shown in Kelowna.
This will be the 15th year in a row selections from February’s festival in Vancouver will be brought to Kelowna, and this year it will also feature a multimedia presentation by Tim Emmett, a world-class athlete living in BC.
“Every year we try to keep a bit of local content,” explained Jonathan Urness, a coordinator of the Kelowna festival. “Then we bring in speakers that are local if we can.”
Urness noted Emmett is very accomplished, and will be bringing stories and enthusiasm beyond belief to those in attendance. That enthusiasm makes up the main intent of the festival, as it isn’t just about watching grassroots films about paddling, mountaineering, ice climbing and mountain biking. The films are about ordinary people doing extraordinary things by following their passions and not only inspire people to pursue their own interests, but also show off the beauty of the landscapes.
“At the end of the day, we want to provide a format for people to dream,” Urness described. “This is a very grassroots festival, so what that means is ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
The films often show that high adrenaline activities aren’t just for the elite, but for everyone. Additionally, Urness described the festival isn’t just for people pursuing high-energy activities, but it’s for all walks of life. The festival will also have artwork and representations on culture.
The festival will be held at 7pm on Saturday, October 24th at the Kelowna Community Theatre. Many of the tickets have already sold, and Urness said they have failed to sell out only two or three times in 15 years. Tickets can be found at Fresh Air Experience, Fresh Air Concept, Beyond the Crux, Kelowna Cycle, True Outdoors, Wild Mountain, Mosaic Books, Leo’s Video, Cyclepath, and North Face.
