World tour film festival that took a hiatus from Wichita is returning
.jpg "Aniol Serrasolses paddles an unknown river on Ice cap near Kangerlusuaq, Greenland, in 2022. A film about arctic kayaking is one of eight films that will be shown at the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour when it comes to Wichita next month.")
Following an unexpected hiatus last year, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour will be back in Wichita next month.
“It’s going to be going back for good,” said Josiah Kortje, co-owner of Bliss Climbing & Fitness, which is hosting the event.
“Our goal is to start making this a continuous, ongoing event that we bring back every year,” he said. “It’s been very inconsistent.”
Others have brought or tried to bring the festival in the past. Kortje said last year’s event for Wichita was canceled.
The films, each of which highlight some kind of outdoor sports adventure, go on the road first and then wind up in Banff, Canada, for a festival there.
Though Kortje said the festival “speaks to a lot of people who like the outdoors,” he said you don’t necessarily have to be an outdoor adventurer to enjoy the films, which highlight all kinds of people doing all kinds of adventures outdoors.
For instance, there’s a 72-year-old climber featured in one film, an all-female group of freeride mountain bikers in another and a history-making runner competing in a triple crown of ultra-long races in another.
The event will be at 7 pm. on Sept. 13 at the Mary Jane Teall Theater at Century II.
It’s $25 for eight films, which range from about 15 minutes up to almost an hour. Together, it’s about a three-hour showing.
Tickets are available at Select-A-Seat.
“Our goal is to really grow the program,” Kortje said. “It just kind of creates this big community.”
He said there’s some great storytelling in the films.
“Anybody can come and enjoy these.”
