Tourism Fernie Home Page
  • Fernie Mountain Film Festival
  • Fernie Mountain Film Festival
  • Friday • February 17, 2023
  • 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm
  • In Town
  • Saturday • February 18, 2023
  • 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm
  • In Town

Dedicated to filmmakers who spark awareness of mountain cultures, fragile environments, and the passion and perseverance of global explorers.

Featuring a diverse selection of the year's best outdoor films with topics ranging from rock climbing to eco-travel, community building in remote communities, to the preservation of our planet's most fragile ecosystems. Films at the Fernie Mountain Film Festival (FMFF) are stunning, informative and entertaining.

The two-night event at the Fernie Community Centre includes over a dozen films! Along with the following three feature films will be ten other short films ranging from solo mountain running, climbing, open water kayaking and blind backcountry skiing to community rebuilding in remote regions. 

Festival Tickets

Tickets are available to purchase in advance online as well as at the door.

Friday Night: $20
Saturday Night: $20
Weekend Pass: $30

Doors at the Fernie Community Centre open at 7pm.


SCHEDULE

FRIDAY 17TH

7PM: FESTIVAL SCREENINGS:

  • TO THE HILLS & BACK, directed by Mike Quigley. 47min. (Avalanches, Utah)
  • WINDWARD, directed by Teegan Neame, Eli Chapman. 5min. (Sailing, BC)
  • SNOW BLIND, by Switchback Entertainment. 14min. (Blind Backcountry Skiing)
  • CERRO TORRE CLIMB & FLY, directed by Mario Heller. 25min. (Paragliding, Patagonia)
  • KUMARI, A FATHERS DREAM, Directed by Sean O'Connor. 30min. (Trekking & Community Building, Nepal)
  • REPURPOSED, directed by Pierre-Luc Arseneau. 7min. (Gravel Riding)
  • THE LONG WALL, directed by Gareth Leah. 20min. (Climbing)

SATURDAY 18TH

4PM: FREE KIDS MOVIE MATINEE

7PM: FESTIVAL SCREENINGS:

  • BEFORE THEY FALL, directed by Cam MacArthur. 43min. (Old Growth Preservation, Fairy Creek, BC)
  • BIG TREES, A conversation with Author Terry Nelson.  15min.
  • A BAFFIN VACATION, directed by Erik Boomer & Sarah McNair-Landry. 12min. (Exploration, Baffin Island)
  • SPINDRIFT, directed by Ivan Hughes. 30min (The Barry Blanchard Story)
  • SOLO, directed by Ellie Green. 35min (Solo Running)
  • SHERI, directed by James Q'Martin. 29min. (Paddle Sports)

SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

To The Hills And Back

Directed by Mike Quigley.

A Sherpas Cinema Film, In Co-Production with the Utah Avalanche Center. Dive into the hearts and minds of those who've faced the mountain's fury firsthand, in this gut-punching exploration of the human cost of adventure.

Before They Fall

Directed by Cam MacArthur. 

Indigenous Peoples, conservation groups, and scientists come together, as a decades-long battle to protect endangered old-growth forests in BC violently escalates at Fairy Creek (the last unprotected, intact valley on southern Vancouver Island) on unceded Pacheedaht Territory.

Sticking with the forest conservation theme, local author and giant tree seeker Terry Nelson will introduce and host a Q & A highlightling his new book BIG TREES of the Inland Temperate Forests of BC.

Spindrift - The Barry Blanchard

Directed by Ivan Hughes

Featuring Canadian alpinist Barry Blanchard reflecting on his adventures and reconciling his life in the mountains.

AND MORE FILMS TO BE ANNOUNCED, PLUS:

  • Free Kids Movie Matinee
    4 pm, Saturday Feb 18th
    A series of short films appropriate for ages 4-12 (45 min)
    Free popcorn and a juice box!

  • Sign up to test drive an all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning with Community Energy Association 

    This year Fernie Mountain Film Festival is pleased to partner with local climate and energy experts from Community Energy Association (CEA) to highlight just some of the people and businesses that are electrifying their mountain lifestyles. The CEA is a member-based, non-profit organization working at the community level to reduce emissions, conserve energy and progressively transition to a low-carbon, resilient economy. We hope this partnership will help all of us passionate outdoor people to be curious about how new technology can protect the places and lifestyles we love from climate change, and keep our economy, jobs and environment stable.

  • Fernie Mountain Film Festival Photo Competition
    See all the current entries online at the Festival's social media pages and view them in person at the event. 

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Mountain Social is an integral part of the festival, featuring a variety of food from local restaurants, plus a bar stocked with plenty of Fernie Brewing Company beer, wine, and water. Enjoy a bag of popcorn with your movie and enter the prize draw to win some amazing prizes.

The festival also incorporates a Photography Contest for professional and amateur shooters, guest speakers and a mountain culture award ceremony. 

The event is held at the Fernie Community Centre, with the whole room decked out to celebrate the environment, films are screened on a large rear-projection screen that was purchased by the festival after several years of fundraising. The event attracts a large crowd of local and visitor outdoor and film enthusiasts and the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming. Experience the spirit of Fernie at the FMFF. 

The FMFF could not function without the generous financial support of so many local organizations and businesses.

2023 Presenting Sponsor: Teck

Feature sponsors: Community Energy Association, Columbia Basin Trust, Fernie Fox Hotel, Island Lake Lodge, Fernie Alpine Resort (RCR Summit Fund), Fernie Wilderness Adventures.

Short Film Sponsors: Big Bang Bagels, Wapiti Music Festival, Edge of the World and Le Bon Pain.

  • Share
  • Contact Information
  • 250-423-1584
  • Contact By Email
    security code
  • ferniefilmfestival.com/
  • Fernie Community Centre, Hwy #3, Fernie