Banff Mountain Film Festival world tour marks 50 years
January 17, 2026
Films to screen at the Panida from Jan. 16-18
By Reader Staff
Celebrating 50 years of the Banff Centre’s adventure and culture films, the 2026 tour Banff Mountain Film Festival will screen Friday, Jan. 16-Sunday, Jan. 18 at the Pania Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).
Screenings begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $57 for a three-day pass, or $22 per night, available at the door and at panida.org.
This year, 18 films will come to the Panida screen, continuing a local tradition that began in 1995. The festival has long offered audiences a mix of mountain sports, humor, and culture, which won’t be available anywhere else.
Among the highlights is Best Day Ever, the 2025 winner of both the Best Film on Mountain Sports and the Audience Choice Award. The film follows mountain bikers Greg Durso and Allie Bianchi as they navigate life’s challenges in Vermont’s Green Mountains, centered on the world’s first fully adaptive trail network. With grit, creativity and community at its heart, the film has won more than a dozen awards worldwide.
A screenshot from the film Beyond Parallels. Courtesy photo
Short, quirky films like Jaunt provide a humorous, thoughtful pause, while Robson, which premiered last November during Banff’s own 50-year celebration, offers intense climbing and adventure. It chronicles Christina Lustenberger and Guillaume Pierrel’s attempt at the daring first descent of Mount Robson’s South Face, highlighting human determination as much as athletic skill.
On Friday, Jeff and Doti Rouleau will offer raffle items supporting the North Idaho Mountain Sports Education Foundation, helping underserved youth experience skiing. Saturday’s raffle, led by Karen Brenner of the Independence Ski Team, features local dining experiences. On Sunday, Friends of Schweitzer Ski Patrol will showcase avalanche dogs while raising funds for their lifesaving program.
The Banff World Tour follows the annual Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, where top films are selected for global travel. The tour reaches more than 550,000 viewers in more than 500 locations across 40 countries — even Antarctica has hosted a screening. From its beginnings in Banff, Alberta, 50 years ago, the festival has grown into a worldwide celebration of adventure, culture, and creativity.
For more information, call 208-661-3857, email [email protected] or visit mountainfever.us.
A full list of films is available at mountainfever.us.
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