Good news for climbing enthusiasts who didn't get enough with this summer's 10-day 樱桃视频Mountain Festival - two of the world's most prestigious climbers will be featured during the Reel Rock Film Tour 2007 launch at the Eagle Eye Theatre on Saturday (Sept. 1).
This year's Reel Rock Film Tour highlights King Lines: Chris Sharma's Search for the Planet's Greatest Climbs, which will take audiences globetrotting alongside Chris Sharma - the 25-year old climbing phenomenon - as he climbs the world's most outrageously difficult and beautiful rock formations.
But before Sharma's on-screen presence comes a highly-anticipated live presentation by big wall climber Tommy Caldwell.
Caldwell fans disappointed by his 樱桃视频Mountain Festival no-show due to passport problems last month are assured of his appearance - he promises to be here, say organizers.
"Tommy will be presenting short film clips and images showing his life in the vertical world of big walls, speed ascents and multi-wall link-ups," said festival organizer and local Reel Rock liaison Ivan Hughes.
With the 樱桃视频Mountain Festival making on-going efforts to develop year-round entertainment for and from outdoor adventurers, Hughes said he jumped at the chance to showcase the Reel Rock Tour. In its 2006 inaugural year, Reel Rock presented award-winning films to over 10,000 people in over 50 locations. This year, Reel Rock goes on from 樱桃视频to a two-month schedule reaching as many as 60 cities in North America and beyond.
"[Filmmaker] Peter [Mortimer] and I had a chat at the Banff Film Fest last year and, after seeing how well the 樱桃视频Mountain Festival did, Peter asked if I'd be interested in hosting the Reel Rock Tour in Squamish. I've always been a big fan of their films so I jumped at the opportunity," said Hughes.
The economic fallout accompanying the adventure film buzz is making waves. By all accounts, the festival brought new visitors and business to several local shops and services.
"I've had a lot of inquiries from people as far away as Seattle who are driving up for the [King Lines] world premiere and will stay for the weekend to do some climbing," said Hughes. "This film has been eagerly awaited for a long time now and of course word is spreading through the Vancouver climbing community, too, so we should see a lot of familiar faces coming up."
