FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHICH FILMS WILL I SEE ON THE 2023 THEATRE TOUR?
In the 2023 theatre tour we are showing two new collections of films from the latest Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, called the Red Film Programme and the Blue Film Programme.
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I CAN'T COME TO A LIVE SHOW - HOW ELSE CAN I WATCH THE FILMS?
There are a wide range of Banff collections available to watch from home. The Encore Channel features a range of film collections from the Banff, Ocean and Top Dog Film Festivals, available to watch at any time. We are so excited to be able to deliver inspirational Banff adventure into your living room!
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WHAT IS THE BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL?
The Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world. It has been held at the start of November each year since 1975 in Banff, Canada. The festival draws some of the world’s best filmmakers and adventurers to celebrate adventure, the environment, mountain culture and the outdoors through film, photography, books and more.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE BANFF WORLD TOUR?
Hot on the heels of the festival each year, the best films head off on the Banff Mountain Festival World Tour with stops in around 40 countries across the globe. The Banff films toured the UK for the first time in 2010, and Ireland in 2013, and the tour now has more than 80 screenings annually across the UK and Ireland.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AT A SCREENING?
Banff screenings bring together like-minded outdoor enthusiasts with a love of film and a passion for the outdoors. When you arrive at the screening you can expect a lively atmosphere, with time to enter our competitions, pick up some goodies and perhaps enjoy a drink before the show. The film programme will be split in two, with an interval and live prize draw (with awesome gear from our sponsors to be won) in the middle.
WHAT TIME DOES THE EVENING START AND FINISH?
Most screenings start at 7:30pm, have a 15 to 20 minute interval at around 8:50pm and finish at 10:15pm (so the screening runs for a little under 3 hours). Some shows have different start times so please check your local screening for more details of start times.
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IS THE BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL CHILD FRIENDLY?
Our screenings generally carry a 12A rating – under 12s are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult, but as always it is down to the parent/guardian's discretion. We try to make the evenings as family friendly as possible, though there may be some strong language in some of the films.
CAN I BRING MY BABY?
While we love Banff fans of all ages, some of our Banff Tour venues have specific policies regarding babies, so please check this on their website (or give them a call) to find out more. If you bring your baby to a screening, we kindly request that if your baby starts crying or becoming disruptive to other customers, that you pop out of the auditorium until he or she is settled.
HOW DO I BUY TICKETS?
Select the DATES & TICKETS page from the menu above and then click on Book Tickets for the appropriate location and date. If there is a problem with the ticket booking process for any show, please let us know and we will seek to resolve it with the relevant box office as quickly as possible.
CAN YOU BRING THE BANFF TOUR TO MY HOME TOWN?
We are always looking for new venues and locations for the Banff Tour in the UK and Ireland. There are many factors that dictate where we take the Tour and which locations are suitable, but if you have a suggestion for a new location with a capacity of at least 350 people (or a better venue in an existing location that we visit), then it would be great if you could get in touch and we will consider your suggestions.
THE FILMS
HOW MANY FILMS ARE SHOWN AT EACH SCREENING?
At each screening you can expect to see around 6 to 8 films, featuring inspirational tales from across the globe, high-adrenaline action films and everything in between.
WHICH FILMS WILL I SEE AT MY LOCAL SCREENING?
We try and choose the best films for each location, so the films may vary depending on the screening location and audience feedback. To check out the films showing at your nearest screening select the FILMS page from the menu above. There are two entirely different film programmes in 2023 so you can come along on two nights for double the adventure!
WHY AREN’T THERE MORE WOMEN IN THE FILMS? WHY ISN'T THERE MORE DIVERSITY?
This is an ongoing interest for both audiences and the Banff team, so we actively look for films that feature women and adventurers of all ethnicities. However, there are some years when the Banff Film Festival receives very few appropriate film entries featuring or made by women, or athletes from a wider range of backgrounds. We encourage filmmakers and athletes to submit films featuring more diversity, and we hope to see more in the future. If you know of a film you would like to see in the Banff tour, please contact us, or see below for how to submit a film.
We also work with a number of charities local to the Banff screenings that work to make the outdoors more accessible and inclusive. For the 2023 Banff tour these include:
The Outdoor Partnership - working to support the people of Wales and other UK areas to take up outdoor activities as a life-long pursuit.
Manchester Outdoor Education Trust - a charity that works to give young people more access to the outdoors, to adventurous activities and to challenge.
Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre - offering adventurous outdoor activity experiences designed to stimulate, educate and motivate young people.
Urban Uprising - Elevating and inspiring young people through climbing.
WHY DON’T YOU SHOW MORE HIGH-ADRENALINE ACTION FILMS? WHY AREN'T THERE MORE THOUGHT-PROVOKING FILMS ABOUT MOUNTAIN CULTURE?
Experience has shown that most audience members prefer programmes that include a mix of film styles, from intense action films to longer documentary films. However, some people have strong preferences for particular styles. This year we are running a People’s Choice award in the UK and Ireland to better understand what films audiences want to see. You can vote for your favourite films by selecting the VOTE page from the menu above.
I’VE MADE AN ADVENTURE / MOUNTAIN FILM. HOW DO I ENTER IT INTO THE BANFF FESTIVAL?
If you have a film and think it is suitable for the Banff Mountain Film Festival, then there are more details about entering it in to the festival HERE. The competition opens for entries into the Banff Mountain Film Festival in spring every year. As well as the prestige of having your film shown at the festival in Banff (and perhaps on the World Tour that visits over 40 countries) there are lots of great prizes to be won.