The first ever Squamish Mountain Festival (SQUMF) is ready to roll through Squamish this July 13 to 21, featuring an abundance of cliff hanging, heart palpitating and moving films for the adventurer at heart.
A collaboration between the Climber's Festival and the Squamish Mountain Film Festival, which were both held independently last year, the SQUMF combines the best of both worlds to exhibit what Squamish culture has to offer.
"At the end of last year the two groups got together and decided we should put our resources together and voila! We had the Squamish Mountain Festival," said festival publicist Angela Heck.
"Because the two groups came together, the public gets a broader range of speakers and programs."
Above and beyond films, SQUMF offers numerous attractionss such as clinics, competitions, speakers, sport climbs, beer, bouldering, workshops, yoga and pancakes, to name a few.
Festival organizers have also invited some of Western Canada's best climbing photographers to profile their best work. This photographer's exposé will be at the Howe Sound Brew Pub on Wednesday July 18th.
And when it comes to the movies, SQUMF director Ivan Hughes is sure the public will be entranced.
"These films are cinematically spectacular with strong stories and compelling characters such as those seen in Paving Shangri La and Didier vs. the Cobra," he said.
"But I'm especially excited that there's such a strong film presence from Squamish. It's the local stories that I think will really appeal to this community that is just as often involved in the adventure as it is in documenting it."
Not all the films are recent shots - Heck estimates one of the biggest draws will be Deadline, a climbing classic shot in Squamish in the 1980s by director/producer Paul Berntsen, which captures the biggest fall ever filmed in Squamish.
Others include the eloquent dance film Granite Ocean 2 by director/producer Janet Rodden; Code Three, directed by Emma Avery, which takes a look into the North Shore Rescue, one of the most elite search and rescue teams in North America; and No Permanent Address, by director Jean Gamilovskij and producer Aaron Black.
"I think the festival is going to be pretty electric because this is really a unique opportunity for Squamish, it's something that people really crave," said Heck.
"It's over a week long event at the height of climbing season, so I think there will be a lot of interest, not to mention a lot of parties."
In total, an international slate of 21 films from Canada, U.S., United Kingdom, Switzerland, New Zealand, Spain and Bermuda will show over the week-long event presented by outdoor gear company Arc'teryx. For more information and a complete listing of films, speakers, and workshops, call 604-603-2917, email [email protected], or go to www.squamishfilm.com.
