The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival returns to the Rockies this month with nine days of adventure films, special guests, and events to check out.
The festival will feature over 80 films from 17 different countries, including world premieres and stories about climbing, skiing, wildlife, and the outdoors.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 festival, including the film lineup, special events, tickets, and how to watch it from home.
What to expect at the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival
What is the festival all about?
The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is an annual event that celebrates stories about the outdoors, adventure, and exploration through films, books, and presentations.
What films can I see while I’m there?
According to organizers, this year the festival will showcase 83 films from 17 countries, with stories spanning everything from mountain climbing to conservation and wildlife.
Here are a few standouts from this year’s lineup to add to your watchlist:
- Everest: The Other Side
- Directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, this film follows ski mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson as they pursue a daring goal: climbing and skiing down Everest’s North Face, one of the most challenging routes on the mountain.
- When: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026 and Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
- Directed by Oscar-winning filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, this film follows ski mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson as they pursue a daring goal: climbing and skiing down Everest’s North Face, one of the most challenging routes on the mountain.
- Mountains of the Moon
- Filmed almost entirely at night, Mountains of the Moon follows surfers, skiers, climbers, and other athletes through mountains, oceans and rivers, using glowing costumes, lasers, and animation to create dreamlike visuals.
- When: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
- The Lost Cache
- More than 80 years after explorer Bradford Washburn left equipment behind on a remote Yukon glacier, a team of skiers, scientists, and explorers sets out to find it.
- When: Thursday, Nov. 5 and Friday, Nov. 6, 2026
- More than 80 years after explorer Bradford Washburn left equipment behind on a remote Yukon glacier, a team of skiers, scientists, and explorers sets out to find it.
- Nuisance Bear
- This Canadian documentary follows polar bears along the shores of Hudson Bay as they navigate a world increasingly shaped by tourism and human activity.
- Where: Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026
- This Canadian documentary follows polar bears along the shores of Hudson Bay as they navigate a world increasingly shaped by tourism and human activity.
- Derek vs Derek
- In the English countryside, two farmers named Derek have very different ideas about what should happen to the land around them; one sticks with traditional farming while the other wants to bring nature back through rewilding.
- When: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026
When is the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival?
The 51st annual Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival runs from Saturday, Oct. 31 to Nov. 8, 2026.
If you can’t make it to the festival in person, you’re in luck. The festival’s films will also stream online from Nov. 12 to Nov. 22, 2026.
Where is the festival taking place?
Most of the festival will be held at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, with select screenings at other venues across Banff and Canmore. Be sure to check the schedule before heading out, as the location will depend on which film you’re attending.
How much are tickets?
Tickets for in-person events start at $20, with prices varying by screening or event. If you’re planning to attend the weekend events, you can also grab a festival pass, which covers all eligible events across opening weekend or closing weekend.
If you’re heading up to the mountains later this month, check out the festival schedule and grab tickets for the films you want to see.
When: Saturday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 8, 2027
Time: Times vary based on film
Where: Various locations across Banff, Alta.
Cost: Starting at $20
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Kaiya Williams
Kaiya is a Calgary-based writer and content creator with a background in marketing and digital storytelling. She has a passion for community-driven stories and covering local experiences that connect people.
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