FILM FESTIVALS
The Kendal Mountain Festival is an annual gathering to celebrate and share stories of nature, exploration, adventure, and discovery. It provides a packed program spread over four days - with more than 200 live ticketed sessions including 300+ speakers on stage, 150+ films, 10+ parties, and 60+ activities attracting more than 25,000 visitors (20th - 23rd Nov 2025). Check out the Festival archive.
The Festival showcases over 100 of the world’s leading outdoor and adventure brands, from the established to the start-up, providing a platform for businesses to meet directly with their customers. Each year, the Festival hosts an annual film competition with submissions open between January to September. The film competition attracts 500+ submissions from international filmmakers. Approximately 150 films are selected to be shown during the Festival and nominated for awards across 12 categories, judged by an annually changing roster of five industry experts.
Now moving into its fifth decade, the Festival remains firmly rooted in the spirit of adventure that inspired its beginnings — but it has also grown into something much bigger. Today’s team — climbers, skiers, bikers, runners and paddlers themselves — are as passionate about exploring the outdoors as they are about producing a world-renowned event.
The vision remains clear: to inspire more people to explore, respect and represent mountains, wilderness and their cultures. In today’s world, that mission feels more vital than ever.
Thank you for being part of the Kendal Mountain Festival story — here’s to the next 40+ years!
Rods, Rolls & Reality on the Soča
Swapping paddles for rods, this crew of kayakers attempt to put the hook in the right spot. Under the emerald waters of Slovenia's Soča River hides an endemic trout, creating both a classroom and a playground for misadventure. Runtime: 5:22
Body of a Line
In this animated documentary, Madaleine Sorkin undertakes an intimate and creative journey to climb the most difficult rock climb above 13,500 feet in the world: the Dunn-Westbay Direct (5.14 a/b) on Longs Peak (Neniisoteyou’u) in Colorado. Captured entirely in real life, this film kaleidoscopes 7229 frames of original artwork, music and poetry. It’s a climbing film unlike anything you've seen before. Runtime: 10:12
Darkhorse
In today’s era of outdoor adventure sports, where social media followers, engagement and ‘likes’ have shaped the industry, an important question remains unanswered: If a snowboarder rides a steep, exposed line in the Whistler backcountry and no one sees it or hears it, did it really happen? Joe Lax would put this age-old philosophical debate to rest— “Who cares?” DARKHORSE is an observational documentary following Joe Lax, a 44 year old Pemberton local, who’s created a life defined by snowboarding, family and wildfire. Despite his accolades amongst the mountains over the last two decades, he remains one of the most accomplished backcountry riders you’ve never heard of. And he’s happy to keep it that way. Runtime: 24:45
Elladj
“Elladj" is a short documentary following the remarkable journey of Elladj Balde, a Canadian figure skater who found his voice and fan base through wild ice skating. After facing rejection from competitive figure skating, Elladj embarks on a soul-searching quest to express himself artistically. Exploring the thrilling world of wild ice skating, Elladj defies conventions and pushes the boundaries of his craft. As he captivates audiences with his unique performances, he garners a devoted following and inspires a new generation of artists. The documentary sheds light on the personal struggles Elladj encountered and the societal challenges faced by athletes of color in figure skating. The film celebrates Elladj's resilience, passion, and unwavering spirit, leaving viewers inspired to embrace their uniqueness and pursue their dreams. Runtime: 6:00
Wild Aerial
Blending techniques from the disparate worlds of mountaineering and acrobatics, adventure aerialist Sasha Galitzki performs gravity-defying routines in subzero temperatures, all without being ‘tied in’. Her aerial adventures require immense physicality, sound risk-assessment, and unwavering confidence much like free soloing—only with flips, spins, and occasional splits. Wild Aerial follows Sasha to dramatic ice-bound locations in Banff and Jasper National Parks where she overcomes extreme cold and dizzying heights to draw attention to the beauty and fragility of Canada’s mountain landscapes. The film culminates with Sasha’s most ambitious routine performed outdoors, which she dedicates to all those affected by the Jasper wildfire on July 24, 2024. Runtime: 16:16
Mr. Cato
An elementary school teacher vying for the Olympics in BMX Flatland brings inspiration to his students through the art and perseverance of the sport he loves. Runtime: 23:34
Granny Grommets
Every Friday morning, the Granny Grommets meet at Middleton Beach to catch a wave, turning the tide on what becomes expected of us as we age. Runtime: 8:59