Lawrence.com

Doors open at 6:15 p.m.For a fourth consecutive year, a world renowned festival of films will find its way to the plains of Kansas. The Banff Mountain Film Festival, a collection of the best films involving mountain sports, will be shown on Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10 at Liberty Hall in Downtown Lawrence. The festival, hosted by Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, will encompass 14 films spread over the two evenings and is a benefit event for the KU Rock Climbing Club and the Kansas City Climbing Club. Tickets are $7.50 for each night.The Banff Mountain Film Festival, a presentation of The Banff Centre (of Banff, Canada) was originally started in 1976 and featured 10 films with approximately 450 people in attendance. This year, the festival attracted a crowd of thousands with over 300 films entered in the contest. Last year, the Lawrence showing had approximately 600 attendees. Among the 14 films selected to be shown in Lawrence (film topics include rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, and more), will be four particularly noteworthy films:Alone Across Australia is the inspiring story of Jon Muir and his 128 day, 1500 mile trek across Australia completely unsupported. Accompained only by his dog, Seraphine, Muir survived on (among other things) dried lizard, termites, and spit-roasted snake. The root of Muir's motivation:to reconnect with the land. "We've lost sight of what it is to be human," he says. "When I filmed Alone across Australia, I was the closest I ever got to our long history. And our long history stretches back several hundred thousand years. For most of that time, we've survived by travelling simply and purely across the landscape, and treading lightly." This film was voted the People's Choice Award Winner and Best Film On Mountain Environment at the festival. In Psicobloc, Austrian climber Klem Loskot travels to a remote cliff off the coast of Spain to tackle 60ft. limestone cliffs with only the ocean to catch his fall. Loskot's dynamic moves on the rock and spectacular falls are set against the beautiful backdrop of the Mediterrean Sea. Psicobloc (Spanish for "deep-water soloing") showcases an exceptional climber in a pure climbing environment. Soul Purpose follows skiers Sage Cattabriga-Alosa and Erik Roner, as well as snowboarder Jeremy Jones as they travel from Utah to the Italian Dolomites to British Columbia in search of the most exceptional big mountain skiing available. Soul Purpose caught the attention of the jury at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. It was presented a Special Jury Award "for a film that represents the cutting edge or mountain sport, from big mountain skiing, snowboarding and BASE-skiing, around the world".With vivid photography and breathtaking mountain bike freeriding action, The Collective explores the limits of what's possible on a mountain bike. From freeriding the depths of the woods of British Columbia to trials riding in the concrete jungle, it's immediately apparent that these riders and filmmakers are tied directly to the soul of the sport. Film List for 2005Friday, September 9Soul Purpose, USA, 2004, 14 minutesShot entirely on 16mm film, Soul Purpose takes the viewer deep into the minds and abilities of the athletes. With trips to the far-off reaches of the planet including Italy, Alaska and Canada, this film captures the best of big mountain skiing and snowboarding.Out of Ophirica, USA, 2004, 6 minutesIn February of 2004, a classic San Juan snow cycle set loose a series of avalanches which reminds us why property values in Ophir, Colorado have always been a little behind those in Telluride, and why kids from that valley don't make it to school everyday in the winter.Alone Across Australia, Australia, 2003, 51 minutesIn 2001, climber and adventurer Jon Muir began a 2500-kilometre odyssey to cross Australia from the south coast to the north coast on foot. For 128 days, Jon and his dog, Seraphine, survived entirely off the land, hunting and gathering along the way. Jon was taxed to the limit physically and emotionally. Often close to despair, he drew on his instinct for survival, his deep understanding of the land and his remarkable inner strength.One World, USA, 2004, 16 minutesThe latest paddling film from the team that made "Nurpu" and "Wehyakin", "One World" steps up the adventure as well as the production quality (filmed in HD). The film presents kayak action, athletes, and lifestyles on rivers around the globe. Edited specifically for the World Tour, this special version of "One World" features huge whitewater in China and Uganda.Weekend Warrior, Canada, 2003, 5 minutesThis humorous film depicts the hapless pursuits of a male snowboarder who tries his hardest to cruise the mountain for female companionship.The Man Who Jumped Beneath the Earth, Wales, 2003, 29 minutesFive years after becoming the oldest person to BASE jump off Venezuela's Angel Falls, 66-year-old Eric Jones sets off for Mexico, to BASE jump the Cave of the Swallows. What makes a father of two teenage daughters risk everything to tackle the world's toughest BASE jump in the 1400-foot-deep cave, and will this novice jumper achieve his dream?Heavy Fork, Canada, 2004, 3 minutesThis video diary documents an enthusiastic 12-year-old's bruising attempts to create his own distinctive, unorthodox mountain-biking style.Psicobloc, USA, 2004, 8 minutesOn the island of Mallorca, Klem Loskot and his friends establish spectacular routes on overhanging limestone up to 60 feet or 20 meters high. With no ropes and with the ocean as a crash pad, the climbing is unencumbered and the falls magnificent.Saturday, September 10The Collective, Canada, 2004, 15 minutesThe Collective is a group of filmmakers, photographers and mountain bikers. By drawing on the experience, expertise and creative energy of every member of the team, the Collective has created a film that portrays the newest cutting-edge images of the freeride mountain-biking progression.Daughters of Everest, USA, 2004, 55 minutesIn 2000, the first-ever expedition of Sherpa women to climb Everest was organized. This documentary gives a close-up account of the expedition. Although the Sherpa people are legendary for their unmatched skill in mountaineering, Sherpa women are discouraged from climbing Everest, relegated instead to support roles in the climbing industry of Nepal. Told from a woman's perspective rarely seen on Everest _ or off _ this film is both a dramatic, inspiring Everest story and an absorbing portrait of the Sherpa community.Sinners, Canada, 2003, 23 minutesCoupling the wisdom of 100-year-old physicist A.J. Snow with three years of filmmaking in deep, deep British Columbia snow, Nelson filmmaker Bill Heath created a simple work that speaks to his own love of powder. The music, the joy and the beautifully patient photography make us aware of the exquisiteness of the gasping-forair moments that only come from the deep and the light.At The Ends of the Earth, France, 2003, 8 minutesThe story of a delicately balanced house. Perched on top of a mountain, the house rocks from right to left, much to the displeasure of its occupants.A Russian Wave, Canada, 2004, 27 minutesTwo professional kayakers, athlete Becky Bristow and Dunbar Hardy, hired by the Russian government to assess whitewater rivers and tourism potential in northeastern Russia, arrive expecting an incredible adventure. They soon realize that the Russian idea of whitewater is very different from theirs. "A Russian Wave" is a humorous look at dashed expectations, adventure and cultural differences.Ouray Ice, USA, 2004, 13 minutesThe highlight of Colorado's annual Ouray Ice Festival is the challenging mixed (rock and ice) climbing competition. In 2004, of the 26 international competitors, only two make it to the top. This short film captures the breathtaking performances of these two amazing athletes.