Chilliwack’s annual celebration of outdoor adventure, awe-inspiring cinema and pure adrenaline returns on March 24, when The Best of the Fest Tour - Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival makes a stop at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. Featuring films specially selected from the winning entries at VIMFF 2018, this event is the ultimate display of extreme athleticism, human achievement and jaw-dropping cinematography – not to mention incredible views and vistas from around the world. Throw in the chance to win a bunch of door prizes, and you’ve got a night truly not to be missed.
Over the past six years, The Best of the Fest Tour - Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival has become a cornerstone event for Chilliwack’s outdoor community. It captures the essence of what drives people to head into the backcountry – whether hiking, mountaineering, kayaking, or any other sport – and as the event’s curator, city councillor and owner of Mt. Waddington’s Outdoors, Sam Waddington, highlights, VIMFF’s Best of the Fest Tour offers a route into the wilderness for everyone.
“The Festival’s offerings in Chilliwack provides an opportunity for those who are stoked on the outdoors, at all levels, to get together under one roof and feel the energy of a community in motion,” Waddington says. “Watching people on the big screen push the envelope of what is possible in the outdoors, and to truly see someone who embodies the spirit of adventure, is a really special thing. I think anyone who has been to these events has felt this and knows how inspiring they can be!”
With a raft of winning films from the nine-day Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival to choose from, curating this single evening of cinema is a big hill to climb. Waddington however uses his deep knowledge of the outdoors and passion for promoting the opportunities available in Chilliwack to create an event that, as well as showcasing spectacular films, stories and achievements, offers the audience a taste of what they themselves could experience. “I take a lot of pride in making sure that the films reflect the realities and aspirations of Chilliwack, and what people are up to here… and sometimes perhaps what I think they should be getting up to. Our community is home to so much potential, and so much variety in the outdoor activities that are available. For me that is key to my approach to selecting films for our audience. I try where ever possible to throw in mountain biking films, paragliding films, films on rock climbing and whitewater paddling, as it’s all possible here.”
And of course, underneath the community spirit and motivational energy of this event is a pure appreciation for the very best cinematography. With the offerings Waddington has to choose from filmed everywhere form the arctic to the old growth rainforest, and showing everything from base jumping and cross-continental solo bike journeys, to scaling Canada’s most daunting peaks, you know one thing: these are films to leave you transfixed, on the edge of your seat, and hungry for adventure.
The Best of the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival is coming to the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on March 24, 2018 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased at the Centre Box Office, online at www.chilliwackculturalcentre.ca, or by calling 604-391-SHOW(7469).