WildrLog

Bryan April 2nd, 2008

I wanted to post this as a follow-up to my Watercooler Wednesday post a few weeks ago. If you’re interested in following culture and the arts, check out Watercooler Wednesdays over at Ethos.

As expected, I had a great time at the Nashville stop of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour over at Montgomery Bell Academy. There were some amazingly talented filmmakers featured covering some really cool athletes and adventure seekers. I thought I’d give a bit of a recap/review of some of the films that caught my attention. I’d encourage everyone to check out the world tour next year.

Badgered, Best Film on Mountain Environment
An animated film depicting a funny day in the life of badgers and birds and their resilience to human impact. Take 7 minutes from your break and watch it. You won’t regret it.

King Lines, Alpine Club of Canada Award for Best Film on Climbing
A young world-traveler/climber always challenging himself with new routes. Imagine trying to climb a route over and over again… sometimes hundreds of times, failing AND falling every time. Now imagine doing this all over the world. King Lines website

20 Seconds of Joy, Best Film on Mountain Sports
This was our feature film for the evening. 20 Seconds of Joy follows the life of Norway’s only professional female base jumper, Karina Hollekim. Define Base Jumping: jumping off of perfectly stable cliffs, bridges, buildings, etc. to experience flying. Somewhat akin to skydiving. Favorite quote: “If you can jump off a building, what else is there to fear?”

Trial & Error, People’s Choice Award for Radical Reels
Mountain biker builds and then learns to ride one of the most challenging courses ever. He compares out treatment of the environment life a hard mountain bike crash.

The official world tour preview for a full taste of the world tour experience.

I’ve attended this Nashville stop twice now and I’ve always been impressed at the quality of films presented. Thanks to Blue Ridge Mountain Sports for bringing this event to Nashville year after year.

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Bryan March 5th, 2008

I’ve decided to link this in with my friend Randy’s Watercooler Wednesday post. Check out the weekly roundtable on culture..

The films from the 2007 Banff Mountain Festival will be stopping in Nashville on Tuesday, March 25, 7pm at the historic Belcourt Theater Montgomery Bell Academy’s Pascall Theater. There are several other stops on the festival tour, so be sure to check out the schedule if you’re not in the Nashville area.

The Mountain Festival celebrates the mountain and outdoor adventure cultures through craft, book, and film festivals each fall in the Canadian Rockies town of Banff.

I attended the Nashville stop last year and I can honestly say it was WELL worth 4 hours of my time. I saw films on rock climbing, extreme mountain biking and kayaking, and touring Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal, China, and India by bike.

Put this on your calendar. Tickets are $10 at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Belle Meade after March 10 and are $12 at the door if there are any left.

UPDATE: Bryan goofed. Toby at the Belcourt pointed out that the festival will be at MBA’s Pascall Theater. Thanks to Toby! Support the Belcourt!

• Environment , Film , Nature
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Bryan March 1st, 2008

Ok, ya’ll know that I try to keep the content here directly related to nature and the outdoors.  But today, as I was reading my friend Randy’s blog Ethos, I found something that really jazzed me up.  It’s the trailer for the new Indiana Jones flick.  I’m not sure I’ve been this stoked about a movie prior to its release since Lord of the Rings or maybe even as far back as Terminator 2.  I hope it lives up to my expectations.  Here’s to the adventure!

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Bryan March 28th, 2007

Last night, I attended the Nashville screening of the Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour 2006/2007. The show was held at the Belcourt, a wonderful old historic theater in Hillsboro Village. Most of the films were edited down to clips to fit them into the 3 hour screening. I came away entertained and inspired. Here are my favorites:
Mission Epicocity

A paddling film shot in North and South America and Africa. The feats these guys pulled off in their kayaks was simply amazing to me. We’re talking some serious whitewater here. And if you’re never seen anyone kayak off 40 foot or more waterfalls, check out the trailer. I’m thinking of buying this one.

Asiemut

Imagine visiting Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and India over a four month period. Now imagine doing it on your bicycle, including over the Himalayas. Now imagine filming the whole thing and editing it into a movie. That’s exactly what this couple did. 4,971 miles from Mongolia to Calcutta. Well, they did ride a bus for about 300 miles because one of them needed a break. Check out the trailer.

Cobra Crack

This entry was edited from a much longer film called First Ascent which chronicles some amazing climbers trying to be the first to climb what is considered unclimbable. Our clip follows Didier, a Swiss climber attempting the first ascent on the Cobra Crack in British Columbia. If you’ve never watched crack climbing, simply imagine trying to wedge whatever you can into a crack for leverage. Arms, legs, feet, fists, fingers. The clip followed Didier (a professing Christian, though by his description a “bad Christian”) over two seasons trying to climb the Cobra Crack. In the end, he gets injured and another climber gets the first ascent. Didier confesses that he had lost his head and was wanting the first ascent for his own glory, not God’s glory.

Check out the trailer.

The Best of Jo

The Best of Jo is a stop action Lego film about an adventurer who loves his coffee. The clip showed Jo climbing and even dropping into belay to grab his dropped coffee mug. The Best of Jo is extremely creative and was written, directed, and produced by 12 year old Logan Carlstrom.

Personal Comments

This event was well worth the $12 and four hours I invested in it. What did I learn? If you’re not doing what you love to do and are passionate about, you’re just dying.

If you’re not in the Nashville area, check HERE to see when the tour is coming to a theater near you.

Did any of your attend? If so, leave your thoughts and comments. What are some of your favorite adventure film festivals and films?

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Bryan February 24th, 2007

The 2006 Film Winners at the Bannf Mountain Festivals are coming to the Belcourt Theater in Nashville, thanks to Blue Ridge Mountain Sports. The awards were given last fall at the Canadian Rockies city of Banff. Check out the trailers HERE. Films categories include Best Short Mountain Film, Best Film on Mountain Environment, Best Film on Mountain Sports and Best Film on Climbing. If you love being outside, take a break, come inside for one night and check this out!

The show is on Tuesday, March 27, 7pm, at the Belcourt Theater in the Hillsboro Village area of Nashville. Tickets will be on sale at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports over in Belle Meade for $10 starting around March 5 (might want to call them first 615-356-2300). If there are any left, you can buy them at the door for $12.

And, if any of you aren’t in the Nashville area, check HERE to find out if the tour is coming to a location near you!

Thanks to the March 2007 newsletter from Tennessee Trails for the heads up.

• Film , Nature
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