October 12, 2001

As the U.S.-led war on terrorism continues in response to the tragic events of September 11, portions of this year’s Banff Mountain Film Festival program will contain chilling reminders of the gravity of conflict in mountain regions around the world.

During a free noon-hour seminar on Sunday, November 4, entitled "War and Peace in the Mountains", audience members will hear from panelists who have personal experience in turbulent mountain regions, including Afghanistan and surrounding areas.

Scheduled participants are: Harish Kapadia, a mountaineer and author from India whose son was killed in an India/Pakistan border skirmish; Larry Hamilton, an American expert on the world’s mountain areas who has worked with the World Conservation Unions since 1990; Ian Carrick of Edmonton, Alberta, who has worked in Afghanistan and Cambodia, helping local groups provide rehab for land mine victims; and Vance Culbert, who works with the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Médecins sans Frontières, most recently in Afghanistan and the Congo.

"Throughout history, mountain areas have been the sites of war, the refuge of brigands and guerillas," says Bernadette McDonald, Director of Mountain Culture programming at The Banff Centre. "Today the focus is on Afghanistan, but hostility in mountain areas exists around the globe."

In addition, prior to the seminar, festival ticket holders will have an opportunity to watch Frontline Diaries: Into the Forbidden Zone. Filmed in November 2000, this National Geographic documentary follows journalist Sebastian Junger (author of The Perfect Storm) and world-renowned photographer Reza as they are smuggled into the only section of battle-ravaged Afghanistan not controlled by the Taliban.

They meet and travel with legendary guerilla leader Ahmad Shah Masoud, who led his troops to victory over the Soviet Union in the 1980s against overwhelming odds. Masoud was assassinated on September 9, 2001, just two days before the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

"Despite these difficult and uncertain times, we hope the mountain stories and films presented at this year’s event will move, inspire and educate audiences," says McDonald.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival runs October 29 and 30, and November 1 to 4 in Banff, Alberta. At the heart of the festival are the world’s best mountain films and videos, entered annually in the festival’s internationally juried competition. Between 30 and 40 of the best films entered into competition are selected for screening throughout the festival week. In addition to speakers and films, the festival also features seminars on current mountain issues, an adventure trade show, an art and craft sale, and a climbing wall. A complete schedule can be found at www.banffmountainfestivals.ca.

Great tickets are still available for all events. To order, phone 403-762-6301, call toll-free 1-800-413-8368.