Sixty-six films, seven world premiers, 11 North American premieres, nine Canadian premieres—that’s what attendees can expect from this year’s mammoth Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. 

It all begins on February 22 at the Centennial Theatre in North Van with speaker Liv Sansoz on her 2017 attempt to climb, ski and paraglide all of the 82 summits above 4,000 meters in the Alps. 

Four shorts follow, including “8000+”, about paraglider Antoine Girard's mile-high attempt to explore Pakistan’s Karakorum mountains.

Of the world premieres, three come straight outta B.C.:

Michael Sousa’s “We’re Going Where?”, which takes four Whistler-based mountain bikers down to Peru’s Rainbow Mountain (Mountain Bike Night, Centennial Theatre, February 23); Heather Mosher’s short “A Social Backcountry” (UBC Ski Night, Frederic Wood Theatre, February 27); and Jon Chiang and Drew Copeland’s Howe Sound exploration “Sound Water” (MEC Canadian Adventures presentation, Rio Theatre, March 1).

Among the full-length features are VIFF favourite Serengeti Rules (Cinemateque, February 24) and director Inna Blokhina’s newest doc, She Is the Ocean (Rio Theatre, February 24)

Visit VIMFF’s website for the full schedule, including its 33 guest speakers and other special events.

The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival runs from February 22 to March 3. Be sure to check Straight.com in the coming weeks for features, news, and reviews.