Best films awarded at both Calgary and Banff festivals

As one local film festival wraps with audiences choosing their favorites, another fest has whittled down its lengthy competition finalists.

Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) announced its audience choice award winners on Oct. 3 with The Tragically Hip documentary: No Dress Rehearsal named overall top choice winner. This film about the iconic Canadian band was directed by Mike Downie, brother of former frontman Gord Downie who died from cancer in 2017.

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The Audience Choice Award for Alberta Feature went to Lucky Star; Drive Back Home won for Canadian Narrative Feature; and Singing Back the Buffalo was voted Canadian Documentary Feature.

The awards are based on the scores of audience ballots collected throughout the festival which attracted more than 31,000 viewers.

“It’s so exciting to see what resonates with our audiences each year, and it feels extra special this year as we celebrated our 25th anniversary,” said Brian Owens, CIFF’s artistic director.

To see all the festival award winners, go to https://www.ciffcalgary.ca/.

Out in Banff, the annual Mountain Book and Film Festival has announced its 2024 film competition finalists, showcasing some of the world’s best adventure, environmental, and mountain culture filmmakers. The festival runs Oct. 26-Nov. 2 with global guest speakers and film screenings at Lux Cinema Banff and artsPlace Canmore. Tickets are now on sale.

A total of 90 films from 20 countries are finalists in the competition, including 16 world premieres, 11 North American premieres, and 26 Canadian premieres. Selected films include the world premiere of For Winter, which tells the story of scientist Alison Criscitiello as she climbs Canada’s highest peak in search of climate data, and Into the (Un)known, the story of Spanish ultramarathoner Kilian Jornet as he crosses the Pyrenees mountains. Selected films will be celebrated and screened at the festival.

“This year’s program is designed not only to educate but to amaze and entertain,” said Joanna Croston, director of the Banff Center Mountain Film and Book Festival and World Tour.

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All finalists are eligible for the 11 film competition awards, including the grand prize. Award winners are selected by a five-member international jury and announced on Nov. 3 at the Best of the Festival Awards Night.

One award has already been announced, the Summit of Excellence, recognizing an individual who has made a significant contribution to mountain life in the Canadian Rockies. It will be presented on night opening in Banff to Leanne Allison and Karsten Heuer who have committed decades of their lives to the conservation and documentation of both wildlife and the landscape of the Canadian Rockies.

A full listing of the nominees can be found at https://filmfest.banffcentre.ca/films

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