Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is coming to Maine

The 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, a show of award-winning films on mountain sports and culture, is showing at four locations throughout Maine from Jan.

From the film "Loslassen" in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

From the film “Loslassen” in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

31 to Feb. 10, and it’s not too late to buy tickets (I hope … depending on when you read this).

I’ve attended this event in Bangor for several years, and believe me, it’s amazing. These recently produced films not only entertain, they inspire. They may make you laugh and cry and cringe.

Here’s some information about Banff in Maine:

  • Jan. 31 and Feb. 1-2 (Friday-Sunday), the show will play at the Grand Auditorium in Ellsworth, hosted by Cadillac Mountain Sports. Different films will be shown each night\afternoon. On Friday, the show will begin at 7 p.m. and will be a lineup of mountain culture films; On Saturday, the show will begin at 7 p.m. and will be a lineup of extreme sports films; And on Sunday, the show will begin at 2 p.m. and will be a lineup of the “Best of Banff.” Tickets are available at Cadillac Mountain Sports in Ellsworth. For information, contact Cadillac Mountain Sports at 667-7819 or the Grand at 667-9500.
  • A view of Black Island Station, from the film "Antarctica: A Year in Ice," in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

    A view of Black Island Station, from the film “Antarctica: A Year in Ice,” in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

    Feb. 3-4 (Tuesday-Wednesday), the show will play at 7 p.m. at the Gracie Theatre at Husson University in Bangor, hosted by Epic Sports. Different films will be shown each night. Tickets are $12 each and available at Epic Sports. For information, call Epic Sports at 941-5670 or find Epic Sports on Facebook.

  • Feb. 7-8 (Friday-Saturday), the show will play at 7 p.m. at the Camden Hills High School Strom Auditorium in Rockport, hosted by Maine Sport Outfitters. Different films will be shown each night. Tickets are available at Maine Sport Outfitters stores in Rockport and Camden. Adults $12 ($10 in advance) and Students $5. For information, call Maine Sport Outfitters at 207-236-7120 or email jeff@mainesport.com.
  • From the film "Down the Line," in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

    From the film “Down the Line,” in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

    Feb. 9-10 (Sunday-Monday), at 7 p.m. at State Theatre at 609 Congress St. in Portland, hosted by Chestnut Mountain Productions in Portland. Different films will be shown each night. Film festival tickets, $17 in advance (students $14 with school ID) or $20 at the door (students $17). Tickets are available at two Eastern Mountain Sports stores in Portland — one at 87 Marginal Way and one at 301 Maine Mall Road — as well as *Nomads at 100 Commercial Street in Portland and through the Cumberland County Civic Center Box Office at 800-745-3000 or online at www.statetheatreportland.comFor information, call 215-923-9161 or 215-206-0753.

Here’s some more information about this event, directly from the Banff Centre website:

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings Banff to audiences around the globe. Immediately after the Festival ends in November, a selection of the best films go on tour across Canada, the United States, and internationally from Scotland to South Africa to China, Lebanon, Chile, New Zealand, Antarctica, and points in between. Each year, the films travel to 40 countries reaching more than 390,000 people at over 840 screenings.

From the film "Return of the Eagles," in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

From the film “Return of the Eagles,” in the 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.

Host organizations in each tour location choose a program that reflects the interests of their local audiences from a selection of films on exploration and adventure, culture and environment, and mountain sports.

The proceeds of many tour screenings benefit a local outdoor program, community cause, or a nonprofit such as youth adventure and outdoor pursuit programs, search and rescue operations, climbing clubs, adaptive sport programs, conservation groups, and trail maintenance organizations.

To see promotional clips of some of the films on tour, visit http://www.banffcentre.ca/mountainfestival/worldtour/films/

Aislinn Sarnacki

About Aislinn Sarnacki

Aislinn is a Bangor Daily News reporter for the Outdoors pages, focusing on outdoor recreation and Maine wildlife. Visit her main blog at actoutwithaislinn.bangordailynews.com.