Film Festival Will Benefit the Schuylkill Canal Association

If you clicked on the above video and want to see more—on a big screen—you're in luck.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival has added a new location for its 16th year of touring: Alumnae Hall at Immaculata University.

The Banff Centre, an arts society based in Canada, has been working with local groups Philadelphia Rock Gym, which has a location in Oaks, and the Schuylkill Canal Association to bring their film festival to our area.

Each year the Banff Centre hosts “an event similar to Sundance,” according to David Rowland of the Philadelphia Rock Gym. This selection of documentaries focuses on mountain sports and other related outdoor recreation. The best of these films are chosen to tour internationally through Canada and the United States.

The event will be open to the public at Immaculata University on March 4 and 5. On both nights, doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and shows will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15.99 in advance, but can be purchased at the door for $18. The cost will only provide access to one evening. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Schuylkill Canal Association.

Eleven films are scheduled to be shown over two nights. Each evening features a two-hour screening of different documentaries.

Friday
- Tibet: Murder in the Snow: Blending original mountain climber footage with reenactments and interviews with witnesses and survivors, Tibet: Murder in the Snow tells of young Tibetans who risk their lives to illegally cross the Himalaya Mountains for spiritual or educational reasons.
- Kranked Kids: "Just down the road": A short parody focusing on children and mountain bike culture.
- WildWater: This kayaking film illustrates how ordinary people can use their passion to create extraordinary adventures.
- The Swiss Machine: Climbing and mountaineering are the focus of this 20-minute film. (Note: coarse language)
- Last Paradise: “Forty-five years in the making, extreme pioneers explore mystical lands” is how this film's Web site describes the footage. Gorgeous shots of surfing and skiing in New Zealand will make this movie memorable.

Saturday
- The Asgard Project: Follow mountain climbers on their strenuous, emotional trek.
- Dream Result: Kayaking and adventure are the focus of this film.
- Into Darkness: A short feature on caving and environment produced in the United States.
- The Longest Way: Follow one man’s adventure in this documentary.
- As It Happens: An attempt to climb Nepal's 6,000 meter Tawoche Himal is the focus of this 16-minute film. (Note: coarse language)
- Chimæra: Blending reality with fantasy, this film was shot with a camera system capable of shooting over 1,000 frames per second. The result is a new vision of skiing.

Tickets can be purchased online.