By Marie-Renee Goulet
A true COVID Silver Lining
Each year, I have tried to attend the Banff Centre Mountain Film & Book Festival. If you are on a budget, it is not easy. Banff hotel rates tend to jump to high season, and eating out a few times a day adds up quickly. I would usually make it a day trip and would buy a full day program for the opening weekend. Driving to Banff from Calgary in winter can take 90 minutes, which means you have to get up at an ungodly hour to make it to the first screening. There is minimal parking around the Banff Centre, which is located partway up Tunnel Mountain, so you would usually have to hike up a while as well. I am making it sound hard to ensure you understand just how much value there is to this festival going virtual this year! https://www.banffcentre.ca/virtual-festival.
In reality, I go through this each year without even thinking of it because I really appreciate the unique and fascinating films from all over the world you get to discover. There is also a lot of Canadian content, and I particularly look forward to seeing this series of shorts: https://www.banffcentre.ca/events/mixed-film-program-live-your-dream. Over the years, other favorites are the Radical Reels, this year: 2 hours, 26 minutes – 8 Mixed Films – Mountain Sports. Some people are just beautiful crazy! These are usually jaw dropping in cinematography and accomplishments.
So let’s all celebrate that this year, no matter where you are in the world, you can attend this wonderful festival from your living room!
The Basics:
Screening are from October 31-November 8, 2020.
75 films to watch and 40 events including curated film programs, author events, and guest speakers.
Early Bird Festival Passes Now on Sale! (Oct 1-15)
Early Bird: $125 CAD (including taxes) Purchase between Oct. 1 – 15.
Regular: $150 CAD (including taxes) Purchase Oct. 16-Nov. 3.
Single screenings on sale October 31. Between $10 -$20
Details on how to watch: https://www.banffcentre.ca/faq-how-to
Please Note the START and END DATES of screenings – not all content is available at all times due to licensing.
I can’t tell you how happy this announcement made me, and I hope you will take this opportunity to participate this year. All the best – Marie.
Marie’s appreciation for movies & TV began early in life as it offered escapes, laughter, and often an education. It sparked a love of photography, travel, and a general curiosity for the world and everything in it. Originally from Quebec City, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Trebas Institute in 1998 where John H. Foote was her Film History professor. The winds pushed her into a different professional field and on a few adventures around the world. The passion for film and storytelling in all forms continues. Marie lives in the Canadian Rockies.
