“As a climber,” says Jeff Lowe, “I did the best I could with what I had from wherever I was.”
Over decades of inspiring climbs, from Mount Temple’s first solo ascent in the Banff Rockies to a small team ascent on Latok in the Karakoram, Lowe pushed his limits. Now living with a debilitating terminal illness, he shares the strength with which he embraces his new challenges with the world premiere of his film, Metanoia on Sunday (Nov. 2).
Winner of the Best Film on Mountaineering at the 1985 BMFF (screening Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.) for his film Cloudwalker, Lowe said he’s thrilled to be attending Banff again.
“This is my tribe. I have premiered other films here, but this one is my legacy – the last hurrah, so to speak,” Lowe said.
“In our culture, death and dying are seen as horrible. On the Eiger, I saw what might be on the other side of death and I am honestly curious about that and very interested in what is happening to me as I make my way towards that ultimate transition.
“I don’t spend time wishing things were different than they are. There is always plenty to be grateful for – plenty of beauty and wonder and love – so I focus on that. If people take a little from my experience and find a positive personal resonance, that will make this whole (film) project worthwhile.”
In addition to Metanoia, the BMFF features 83 entertaining, captivating, thought-provoking and awe-inspiring films culled from 372 entries from 32 countries, along with a Mountain Art and Craft Sale, live author readings, wine tasting, guaranteed lively free panel discussions, and adventure photography, writing and filmmaking workshops.
Saturday, Nov. 1
Daytime – From big mountain skiing in Alaska to rock climbing in exotic Africa to surfing in Arctic waters, the opening day’s films also include a BASE jumper who takes his passion to the dogs – literally.
Evening – This evening, featuring David Lama’s film Cerro Torre: A Snowball’s Chance in Hell, followed by climbing films showcasing Myanmar and karst formations of China, will present an exotic journey for those who’ve got tickets to the sold out event.
Sunday, Nov. 2
Daytime – From running South Africa’s stunning Drakensberg Grand Traverse to Yellowstone National Park’s bison herd to a Bhutanese child monk, this afternoon’s cultural journey will be a rewarding one. For the baggy pants set, the afternoon’s second show features an Olympic-level snowboard rivalry.
Evening – Jeff Lowe presenting Metanoia in person promises to be unforgettable.
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Radical Reels – With super-charged Paralympic sit-skier Josh Dueck as MC, Radical Reels is the most energetic and loudest event of the festival. The crowning of this year’s Mountain Idol is icing on the halfpipe for this sold out show.
Wednesday, Nov. 5
The Snow Show – Josh Dueck returns to host the biggest air, bolded lines and deepest powder including a profile of intriguing B.C. ski mountaineer, Ptor Spricenieks. Canadian-made films include The Little Things, The Unrideables: Alaska Range, and Sculpted in Time: The Wiseman, Sherpas Cinema’s ode to the Canadian Rockies’ most loveable and inexhaustible skier, 88-year-old Banffite Eddie Hunter.
Dirtbag Café – Local mountain guide and climber Jen Olson shares stories and stunning images of impressive first ascents from Pakistan to Alaska to stellar ice and mixed lines in the Rockies and the Bugaboos, capped with her 2014 role as a Canadian ice climbing ambassador at the Sochi Olympics.
Thursday, Nov. 6
Daytime – Hosted by Rockies’ mountain writer Chic Scott, Old Style Storytelling is worth rising early. Fill your go-mug and enjoy seat-of-your-pants live tales by Barry Blanchard, Renate Belczyk, Scott Ward, Richard Guy and Margot Talbot. Then journey to exotic southwestern Saskatchewan with award-winning author Candace Savage’s presentation of A Geography of Blood: Unearthing Memory from a Prairie Landscape, and explore Antarctica’s Ross Sea with writer, photographer and filmmaker John Weller through his book The Last Ocean. Blanchard’s presentation of his memoir The Calling: A Life Rocked by Mountains is sold out, but conservationist and photographer Ian McAllister’s Great Bear Wild and Jennifer Kingsley’s 54-day paddling expedition from Great Slave Lake toward the Arctic Ocean via the barely known Back River promise to be outstanding.
Evening – Local authors are well-represented in the Book Festival competition with Blanchard’s The Calling, Kevin Van Tighem’s The Homeward Wolf, photographer Paul Zizka’s Summits and Starlight: The Canadian Rockies, and local publisher Imaginary Mountain Surveyors’ Letters from Chamonix, by David Stevenson, among the finalists culled from 144 entries. Then hang on for a live Q&A with Canmore’s high-octane multi-sport master Will Gadd and the screening of his latest film, Frozen Titans.
Friday, Nov. 7
Daytime – The Book Festival continues with climber, writer and psychologist Geoff Powter’s armchair chat with British climbers Sandy Allan and Rick Allen, credited with the “climb of the century,” an 18-day traverse of Nanga Parbat via the Mazeno Ridge – a superb feat, as they were 57 and 59 at the time. Following that, author Broughton Coburn shares his story of Sherpas – The Next Generation, highlighting the economic, demographic and political shifts of the Everest region. Rockies historian Zac Robinson shares his lovingly edited Letters of Conrad Kain, and John Porter presents his poignant memoir of his friend and extraordinary climbing talent Alex MacIntyre who died in 1982 at just 28. By then you’ll have earned Words and Wine – A Mountain Reading, featuring the short stories of Jerry Auld, the irresistible adventuring felines of children’s author Jocey Asnong, and Rockies writer Chic Scott.
Evening – With Jeremy Collins’ riveting multi-media project, Drawn, and the all-female expedition from Mongolia to Russia down the Amur captured in the film Nobody’s River already sold out, check out Valley Uprising, Sender Films’ portrait of American counterculture that defines 50 years of climbing in Yosemite, accompanied by Hazel Findlay, Mark Synnott and Jimmy Chin’s live presentation of their climbing expedition to Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. For a nightcap there’s Juno-nominated singer-songwriter Matthew Barber at The Club.
Saturday, Nov. 8
Daytime – In addition to all-day film screenings, which include local Joshua Lavigne’s Spirits of Asgard, experience an early morning walk with The North Face athletes, National Geographic grant and exploration workshops, the crowd-favourite Hot Topics: Noon-Hour Seminar, go hiking with world-renowned adventure photographer Jimmy Chin, and take in Mountain Artwalk or a fireside chat with Ian McAllister.
Evening - While legendary adventurer and gear innovator Yvon Chouinard’s DamNation, which explores the environmental, economic and cultural value of a river, as well as Raphael Slawinski’s live presentation and film of his and Ian Welsted’s first ascent of Pakistan’s K6 West are both sold out, film screenings at the Rolston Recital Hall and Margaret Greenham theatres featuring high-risk wingsuit flying, extreme photography, big mountain snow riding and the magical beauty of Haida Gwaii won’t disappoint.
Sunday, Nov. 9
Daytime - The Festival peaks with sunrise photography, National Geographic TV story pitch workshop, training tips from professional Canadian ice climber Gord McArthur, films showcasing long-distance running, paragliding adventures, a 30-day crossing of Chile’s Darwin Cordillera and one more Hot Topics noon seminar. Other showings feature gold mining in Columbia, British cavers and prehistoric spiders, and a retro-screening of Jeff Lowe’s Cloudwalker, 1985 BMFF winner.
Evening - For those who truly haven’t had enough, the Best of the Festival features the Summit of Excellence Award presented to respected Rockies climber and mentor to many, Urs Kallen, followed by a marathon screening of selected film competition winners.
