It’s In Our Nature: Film Festival Gives Voice to Passionate Locals
The 9th annual North Valley Mountain Film Festival the evening of Saturday, March 7 at the Silverton Memorial Hall. Local mountain environments and people come together in video, music and photographs to answer the proverbial question, Why? The films selected are diverse and powerful variations of the simple, but resonating response, It’s In Our Nature.
The images of Jim Lawrence have been celebrated as audience favourites in past festivals for bringing us closer to the world of bears, eagles and other beings living in our local mountains. This year we are thrilled to present Life on Clear Water, an eye-opening, intimate, and sometimes humourous film of the animals and birds Jim observes in their daily lives. Randy Speers can’t help but get metaphysical in the old growth cedars of Sandon with his ski and snowboard (and No Board) film, Big Trees. Carl Jack’s adventures on the steep creeks of the Kootenays are truly jaw-dropping, and his images of kayaking allow us all a glimpse of these dramatic places where few people have ever travelled. Other films from locals Scott Kipkie, Jeff Pilsner, Gary Parkstrom, Nadine Raynolds and Morgan Taylor showcase everything from backpacking to community characters to mountain biking to howling from the mountain tops, rounding out the first 45 minute set.
The second set features the 44 minute film, White Waves, a “powdersurfing documentary” that “explores the history and future of true binding-free powdersurfing from and insider’s perspective”. North Valley Mountain Film Festival veterans will remember fondly our presentation of Yes to the No, one of the first ever films on the grassroots movement of riding snowboards without bindings. Kootenay No Board pioneers are now not only legends locally, but are influential globally for their vision and talent in the realm of experiencing the miracle of deep powder snow.
Tickets are available at Rutabaga’s and Silverton Building Supplies. Please get your tickets early, as this event routinely sells out. The film fest proceeds go to support the work of the North Slocan Trails Society, and food and beverages will be provided by Lucerne School Outdoor Education students as a fundraiser for their trips this year. For more information, please visit NorthValleyFilmFestival.com.
