Friday, November 6 — 8:00 p.m.
Margaret Greenham Theatre — $32

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Sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op and the Consulate General of Switzerland.

8:00 p.m.

Official Welcome and Opening Address

Sarah Iley, Vice-President, Programming, The Banff Centre, and Shannon O’Donoghue, Festival Director.

Guest Speaker

Ueli Steck

9:30 p.m.

Break

9:45 p.m.

Africa’s Dragon Mountains

Austria, 2009, 49 minutes
Directed by Lynne and Philip Richardson
Produced by Walter Köhler

Cresting the jagged peaks of a massive mountain range, a lammergeyer soars over the spectacular 3200-metre plateau of the Drakensberg. It’s spring and chilly, but the verdant hillsides are alive with feasting herds of eland antelopes, while a troop of baboons stuff themselves with sweet, fresh grass. Summer brings not only warmth but the highest rainfall in the region. Drakensberg is the source of South Africa’s major rivers. As the winter snow melts, mountain streams swell and every trickle blooms into a waterfall. The sheer cliffs are awash with rainbows.

Finalist in: Best Film on Mountain Environment

10:37 p.m.

Single-handed

UK, 2009, 20 minutes
Directed and produced by Paul Diffley
Appearing in person: Kevin Shields

Kevin Shields is known as “the one-handed climber.” Despite being born with most of his left hand missing, Shields has made some impressive and bold climbing ascents. The film examines his motivations and follows his progression through the climbing grades, culminating in a terrifying attempt to solo an E6 in Glen Nevis, Scotland. Contains some coarse language.

Finalist in: Best Film on Climbing

Program subject to change