"... Illuminating the cutting edge... 30 times a second...' Alan Formanek 9th Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival T h e V a n c o u v e r International M o u n t a i n F i l m Festival ( V I M F F ) has been b r i n g i n g f i l m s , multimedia shows a n d special events o n m o u n t a i n sports a n d m o u n t a i n culture to V a n c o u v e r since 1 9 9 8 . O v e r the years, V I M F F has established itself as one o f the key cultural events o n Vancouver's N o r t h Shore. T h e Festival's g o a l is to p r o v i d e the outdoor and film communities of B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a w i t h films a n d slide presentations d e a l i n g w i t h mountain culture and mountain activities such as s k i i n g , m o u n t a i n eering, c l i m b i n g , a n d m o u n t a i n biking in an environmentally respectful w a y . T h e Festival aims to create a p l a t f o r m f o r the exchange of ideas between f i l m m a k e r s , o u t d o o r enthusiasts, athletes a n d the p u b l i c , w h i l e at the same time encourage the m o s t artistic a n d effective f o r m s o f c o m m u n i c a t i n g mountain-related experiences. V I M F F t r a d i t i o n a l l y brings w o r l d celebrities o f m o u n t a i n e e r i n g , climbing, skiing and mountain b i k i n g , a n d pairs t h e m u p w i t h the back y a r d heroes, fringe p e r s o n alities o f the c l i m b i n g w o r l d a n d w i t h f i l m screenings, p h o t o g r a p h i c competition and exhibition, book readings, interactive seminars a n d special events i n a f o r u m intended to b r i n g people together, t o inspire. V I M F F supports y o u n g emerging C a n a d i a n f i l m m a k e r s a n d innovative w a y s o f creating a theatrical m o u n t a i n experience. G u e s t presenters this year i n c l u d e A u s t r a l i a ' s G r e g C h i l d , o n e o f the most a c c o m p l i s h e d a n d versatile mountaineers and climbers, a wellp u b l i s h e d a u t h o r a n d a n empathic a n d engaging presenter. G r e g w i l l screen a C a n a d i a n premiere o f his recent p r e s e n t a t i o n , Friends in High Places: a light-hearted view of the past }o years of climbing. T h e show features the 'superlatives' in his c l i m b i n g career: the coldest c l i m b he ever d i d ; the most scared he ever 22 January | February