Grand Prize: Sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op ($4000)

Conflict Tiger

“Direction, photography, editing, sound, and music are combined in this film to achieve a masterpiece,” says jury member Emmanuel Priou. “The strong and personal vision of the director allows us to understand the complicated relationship between man and nature.” “Conflict Tiger is a parable,” adds fellow jury member Bill Noble, “in which man becomes the hunted.”

Best Short Mountain Film: Sponsored by GORE-TEX ($2000)

Cobra Crack

“This film records an historic first ascent of the world’s hardest traditional climb,” says jury member Bill Noble. “It succeeds in putting you in the place of the climber, capturing both the excitement of the attempt and his dedication to the sport.”

Best Film on Mountain Environment: Sponsored by Patagonia ($2000)

Cherub of the Mist

“This film is a technical tour de force by two eminent filmmakers working in extremely challenging conditions,” says jury member John Beatty. “It tells an important story about the struggle for survival of the red panda, a critical indicator species threatened by deforestation in the eastern Himalaya.”

Best Film on Mountain Sports: Sponsored by Big Rock Brewery ($2000)

Fatima’s Hand

“Rarely does elegant filmmaking combine with a world-class extreme expedition and a passionate social conscience to produce a film with the mesmerizing power of Fatima’s Hand,” says jury member Les Guthman.

Alpine Club of Canada Award for Best Film on Climbing: Sponsored by the Alpine Club of Canada ($2000)

L’homme qui revient de haut (Return from the Heights)

“This film tells a very personal story with a universal theme,” says jury member Bill Noble. “It provides profound insight into the motivation that drives people to climb big peaks.”

Best Feature-Length Mountain Film: Sponsored by Lowepro ($2000)

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

“The simplicity and beauty of this film — telling a story of the everyday life and of good and bad choices and their consequences — is very moving,” says jury member Emmanuel Priou.

Best Film on Mountain Culture: Sponsored by Petzl ($2000)

Balapan — Wings of Altai

“With spectacular imagery, Hamid Sardar takes us to Mongolia to witness a dying cultural practice driven by a background of necessity,” says jury member John Beatty.

People’s Choice Award: Sponsored by Ortovox ($2000)

Asiemut

“Despite limited resources and budgets,” says jury member Edurne Pasaban, “these first-time filmmakers have created a film and story that we can all identify with.” Asiemut also won a Special Jury Mention.

Special Jury Mention

Aweberg

“This short film represents in a microcosm the spectacular, the audacious, and the pure play that is at the essence of mountain sports,” say jury member John Beatty.

Special Jury Mention

The Giant Buddhas

“There is no more important film at the festival this year,” says jury member Les Guthman. “The Giant Buddhas is a chilling meditation on the destruction of sacred art and culture by religious fundamentalists; a crime against humanity, of course, that is not limited to Afghanistan.”

Audio Post-Production Award: Sponsored by The Banff Centre

Cherub of the Mist

(This award provides up to $10,000 in audio post-production resources at The Banff Centre for a future film production.)