A list of 100 outdoor films to watch online for free from the archives of the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the world’s premier adventure film festival
We’re living through extraordinary times and, like most, we’re currently not hiking or travelling anywhere. As such, we’re on the hunt for as much inside-outdoor entertainment as we can find.
Fortunately, a Reddit user has compiled a list of contemporary outdoor films recently showcased at Banff Mountain Film Festival – all available to watch online.
The world-renowned international film competition held every autumn in Banff, Canada, exhibits short films and documentaries focusing on mountain culture, extreme sports, nature and the environment.
We’ve combed the list and streamlined it into the below index of outdoor films to watch online, all for free. Enjoy!
outdoor films to watch online
1. RJ Ripper
(2018, 20 min)
Vimeo
Kids and bikes; wherever you are in the world, they go together. The chaotic streets of Kathmandu may not seem like a typical breeding ground for world-class mountain bikers, but then again nothing is typical about Rajesh (RJ) Magar.
2. Bawli Booch – Downhill Biking India
(2017, 5 min)
YouTube
A fun short film about downhill mountain biking in Manali in India that takes in Himalayan cultural nuances and catchy Bollywood melodies.
3. Speak To Me Softly
(2019, 6 min)
Rock and Ice
Experience fear and emotion alongside climber Jenny Abegg as she ascends Moonlight Buttress while fighting the self-criticism and doubt from that little voice we all have in the back of our heads.
4. Life of Pie | Pizza and Bikes Can Fix Anything
(2019, 11 min)
YouTube
In 2002, mountain bikers and entrepreneurs Jen Zeuner and Anne Keller moved to Fruita, Colorado. Fifteen years later, the two unconventional women have helped reshape one of the state’s most conservative towns, uniting the community through advocacy, inclusivity and pizza.
5. Loved By All: The Story of Apa Sherpa
(2018, 14 min)
Vimeo
Apa Sherpa has climbed Everest 21 times. Pulled away at the age of 12 to work as a high altitude porter, he regularly leaves his family for months, risking his life on the mountain. Through his work at the Apa Sherpa Foundation, he aims to create a different future for his people.
6. Shepherdess of The Glaciers
(2016, 74 min)
YouTube (trailer – original moved)
In Ladakh, at 5,000m, lives a shepherdess with a flock of 250 sheep and pashmina goats on a deserted rock-strewn mountain. They and a transistor radio are her only companions except for the troubling presence of wolves and a snow leopard.
7. Artifishal | The Fight to Save Wild Salmon
(2019, 80 min)
YouTube
Artifishal is a film about people, rivers and the fight for the future of wild fish and the environment that supports them. It explores wild salmon’s slide toward extinction, threats posed by fish hatcheries and fish farms, and our continued loss of faith in nature.
8. The Last Honey Hunter
(2017, 36 min)
Vimeo
In the steep mountain jungles of Nepal’s Hongu River valley, members of the isolated Kulung culture have risked their lives for generations, scaling dangerous cliffs to collect wild and toxic honey. Deep and dark, the film glides through a misty world of forest spirits, dreams, and woodsmoke to share the story of the leader of the harvest and his final journey.
9. The Frozen Road
(2018, 25 min)
Vimeo
Self-shot and edited while on the road this short film charts a winter journey into the Canadian Arctic. Compelled by Jack London’s assertion that ‘any man who is a man can travel alone’, a motorcyclist seeks adventure.
10. Blood Road
(2017, 92 min)
Red Bull
In this award-winning film, Rebecca Rusche cycles 1,930km along the Ho Chi Minh Trail through the jungles of Vietnam. The goal is to reach the site where her father, a US Air Force pilot, was shot down in Laos more than 40 years ago.
11. Billder
(2018, 6 min)
Vimeo
Bill McLane is a trail builder. What started as a hobby between forest firefighting seasons became a career which has helped shape the mountain bike scene on Vancouver Island. Billder takes a closer look at the craft and dedication behind the trails we sometimes take for granted.
12. Up to Speed
(2018, 20 min)
Red Bull
Some climbers perceive speed climbing as a fringe activity, but its inclusion in the 2020 Olympics means it’s now being taken seriously. Film-maker Zachary Barr takes an in-depth look into the sport.
13. Okpilik – Inuit Nunangat Taimaannganit
(2019, 4 min)
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Mary Kudlak talks about fishing in Okpilik lake near Ulukhaktok as part of the Inuit Nunangat Taimannganit video project.
14. Dark Peak Fell Runners
(2019, 17 min)
YouTube
The Dark Peak Fell Runners base themselves in Sheffield, UK, but their playground is the Peak District National Park where they weave tracks through the fields, peat bogs and rocky outcrops to create a tapestry of eccentricity, endeavour and endurance.
15. The Motivator
(2018, 4 min)
YouTube
Filmmaker Aaron Hitchins turns his camera on the person who has motivated him to lead a life connected to the outdoors: his mother, Maureen. He wishes he were half as active as she is, and her commitment to rediscovering herself is inspirational.
16. Chasing a Trace
(2019, 21 min)
YouTube
Set in the snowy high mountains of Western Canada, Chasing a Trace is a love story between a scientist and one of the most elusive wild animals on Earth: wolverines.
17. Climb Your Dreams
(2019, 2 min)
Vimeo
The rush of life in the city inspires a dream for an escape. The nature of reality is questioned by the contrast of what we do for a living.
18. Full Moon
(2019, 6 min)
Vimeo
Closing lifts and the setting sun mark the end of the action for most skiers. But not for Max Kronech and Jochen Mesle. While ski towns fall asleep they head into the mountains to see the peaks in a new light.
19. Good Morning
(2018, 4 min)
Vimeo
Every day, skier Richard Permin falls into his mundane morning routine. Right after getting out of bed, he clicks on his skis and rides down the snow covered rooftops of Avoriaz.
20. The Imaginary Line
(2019, 10 min)
YouTube
In an act of political solidarity, a team from Mexico and the USA assemble with the sole purpose of establishing a slackline that crosses the border between them. In a world that is constantly tearing us apart, they come together to cross an imaginary line and tell a different story.
21. Age of Ondra
(2018, 47 min)
Part one: Red Bull; Part two: Red Bull; Part three: Red Bull
On the heels of an historic ascent, Age of Ondra follows climber Adam Ondra from his home in the Czech Republic across Europe to North America as he innovates new training methods, establishes upper echelon first ascents and attempts to be the first person to send 5.15 on the first try.
22. Thabang
(2019, 13 min)
YouTube
Thabang Madiba somehow found his way into the world of trail running and in the last few years has become everyone’s favourite in the South African trail scene.
23. The Redstone Pack
(2018, 5 min)
Vimeo
What began as an impromptu leap into the world of dog sledding, Aaron Natoniewski’s methodical approach to the sport and understanding of his dogs has inspired a team of sled hounds unlike any other.
24. We Are Abel
(2018, 8 min)
Vimeo
We Are Abel features the story of a Gwich’in father who is standing against reckless plans to industrialise the Arctic Refuge and not only fight for his culture’s existence, but also for his son’s ability to know that culture fully.
25. The River’s Call
(2019, 8 min)
Vimeo
The River’s Call follows seven kayakers through the deep canyons and challenging whitewater of the Rio Apurimac, the farthest source of the Amazon in the heart of the Andes.
26. The Ladakh Project
(2019, 13 min)
Red Bull
Seven days, three rivers, one woman. This is the story of Nouria Newman’s solo kayak adventure in the Indian Himalaya.
27. The Flip
(2019, 3 min)
Vimeo
French skydiver Remi Angeli must face his fears in order to explore new expressions of movement while BASE jumping in Mexico.
28. Kai Jones – Far Out
(2018, 6 min)
Teton Gravity
Eleven-year-old Kai Jones isn’t old enough to go to the movies alone or order a sandwich at the pub, but in the mountains age doesn’t matter. Instead, he follows in his family’s ski tracks.
29. Every Mystery I’ve Lived
(2019, 24 min)
YouTube
At the end of 2017, rookie slopestyle MTB rider Emil Johansson was on top of the world. In his first full season, he was crowned FMB World Tour champion as a teenager only for his world to crumble around him with a mystery illness.
30. Eclipse
(2015, 32 min)
Salomon
Photographer Reuben Krabbe is captivated by solar eclipses. In 2015, he set out to photograph a skier during this infrequent occurrence in the northern archipelago of Svalbard, Norway.
31. Charge
(2019, 5 min)
Salomon
Four top freeskiers and a world champion drone pilot are dropped at Chatter Creek, British Columbia, for one week. Their instructions: charge as hard as you can every day.
32. Liv Along the Way
(2018, 23 min)
Salomon
Renowned Alpinist Liv Sansoz sets out from her base in Chamonix, France, to climb all 82 4,000m peaks in the European Alps in a single year.
33. Frozen Mind
(2018, 33 min)
YouTube
Together with his old friend Pierre Hourticq, snowboarder Victor de le Rue tries to write a new story in the iconic mountains near Chamonix. Frozen Mind is not just a freeride film; it is a story of friendship and a journey of discovery.
34. The 7 Stages of Blank
(2019, 42 min)
YouTube
Blank Collective films takes you on a journey through the ‘7 Stages of Blank’, a light-hearted look into the bond that develops around the sport of skiing.
35. Circle of the Sun
(2019, 5 min)
Vimeo
Mountains, the ocean, the sun and the aurora borealis. One rotation of the sun high in the Arctic on skis equals one day of magic.
36. Safe Haven
(2018, 8 min)
YouTube
Founded on the belief that everyone is welcome, Memphis Rox opened a climbing gym to be at the centre of the city’s revitalisation.
37. Camel Finds Water
(2019, 8 min)
Vimeo
Trevor found the hull of an abandoned fishing boat in a field. He brought it home and built it back to a sea-worthy state over the course of a summer. Then, he took it on its maiden voyage to British Columbia in search of waves.
38. This Land
(2019, 10 min)
YouTube
Runner Faith E. Briggs used to run through the streets of Brooklyn every morning. Now, she’s running 150 miles through three US National Monuments that lay in the thick of the controversy around public lands.
39. Beneath the Ice
(2019, 16 min)
Red Bull
Canadian Will Gadd uses his unparalleled ice climbing skills and knowledge to lead a scientific exploration into uncharted territory inside the Greenland ice sheet.
40. Aziza
(2018, 6 min)
Vimeo
Set in the streets of Bou Tharar and the craggy valleys of the lower Atlas mountains, Aziza is the story of a young woman who has thrived in the world of ultra-running and how she has become a role model for other up-and-coming athletes in Morocco.
41. Standing Man
(2019, 13 min)
YouTube
Cyclist Payson McElveen attempts to break the current fastest known time on the gruelling 160km White Rim Road in Canyonlands National Park.
42. Eli
(2019, 5 min)
YouTube
Growing up in the rugged northeast of the Navajo Nation, Eli Neztsosie relies on discipline and endurance. It’s these same skills he uses to run long distances, striving every day to be better than he was the day before.
43. A Nordic Skater
(2018, 5 min)
Vimeo
Per Sollerman is a photographer who has been skating on frozen lakes and fjords for the past 10 years. A Nordic Skater showcases a story of a man who uses every sense he has to travel on thin ice.
44. Out on a Limb
(2019, 21 min)
MojaGear
Engineer Kai Lin teams up with climber Craig DeMartino to design a prosthetic foot which, if they succeed, will level the playing field.
45. Spirit
(2019, 20 min)
Vimeo
An intimate story of longing and belonging in India’s sacred mountains, Spirit explores what it takes to make a home in a remote community in the thralls of change.
46. Solstice
(2019, 4 min)
YouTube
A skier’s tribute to the shortest day of the year when the sun arcs low over the horizon and the ice crystals linger in the air.
47. Narics
(2019, 19 min)
Vimeo
Elias Elhardt discovers the small ski resort of Brezovica in Kosovo. Snowboard enthusiast Hamdi is one of the locals that now wants to breathe new life into the place. He guides Elias through this forgotten world.
48. Valley of the Moon
(2018, 21 min)
Vimeo
Valley of the Moon explores the importance of climbing as a way to cross cultural barriers, build friendship and chase adventure in one of the most breathtaking regions of the earth.
49. The Legend of Rafael
(2019, 7 min)
Vimeo
A beautiful story about the power of two wheels and a community built through cycling. After a devastating breakup, Rafael finds solitude and restoration on the open road from Mexico City to Colorado.
50. Over Time – Sammy C
(2019, 7 min)
YouTube
Filmed in the heart of the British Columbia backcountry, the short film features the best shots from a full winter with pro skier Sammy Carlson.
51. Wallmapu
(2018, 6 min)
Vimeo
The Pehuenche people of present-day Chile speak Mapudungun, ‘the language of the land’. This land is known as Wallmapu. Two skiers enter into a breathtaking landscape of ancient Araucaria trees, volcanoes and snow.
52. Chasing the Sublime
(2018, 6 min)
Vimeo
Follow the originators of The Outdoor Swimming Society, ‘swim twins’ Kate Rew and Kari Furre in this beautiful glimpse at the physicality of UK cold water swimming.
53. The Running Pastor
(2019, 8 min)
Vimeo
Sverri is a local pastor and avid runner who uses his time on the trails to work through not only his own personal conflicts but the conflicts of others he is often burdened with.
54. BMX Nigeria
(2019, 13 min)
YouTube
BMX street is one of the most frequently evolving sports in the world. In Nigeria, a group of local riders is reinventing riding at a grassroots level.
55. The Shepherdess
(2018, 6 min)
Katie Falkenberg
A brutal drought is gripping the Southwest and the Navajo reservation especially hard, threatening traditional shepherds and a way of life going back generations.
56. Silence
(2018, 18 min)
YouTube
In 2017, Adam Ondra, a professional rock climber and currently one of the best in the world, made history when he scaled the spectacular Hanshelleren Cave in Norway. The route, later named Silence, received a new grade of 9c and became the hardest route in the world.
57. Ice & Palms
(2018, 32 min)
Vimeo
This documentary follows skiers Jochen Mesle and Max Kroneck on their most ambitious ski tour yet. A 100% self-powered adventure from southern Germany all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.
58. Sacred Strides
(2018, 12 min)
Vimeo
Bears Ears National Monument is a public land under threat. In 2018, a group of Native American tribes put their differences aside and ran 1,280km to Bears Ears to send a message of unity.
59. Hourya
(2018, 10 min)
Vimeo
Fly above the ancient sands of the Moroccan coastline. Let your spirit soar with lightness and the feeling of Hourya.
60. Fast Horse
(2018, 14 min)
Vimeo
Fast Horse follows the return of the Blackfoot bareback horse racing tradition in a new form: the Indian Relay. Siksika horseman Allison Red Crow struggles to build a team with second-hand horses and a new jockey, Cody Big Tobacco, to take on the best riders in the Blackfoot Confederacy at the Calgary Stampede.
61. The Moment
(2017, 74 min)
Red Bull
In the backwoods of British Columbia, three small but dedicated crews of adventure seekers were quietly changing the course of a sport and carving their paths in history. The Moment captures the birth and success of the original freeride mountain bike movement.
62. For the Love of Mary
(2018, 6 min)
Vimeo
When 97-year-old runner George Etzweiler dons his lucky ancient green running shorts, he’s not just running to the summit of Mt Washington, he carries something special with him: the memory of his late wife of 68 years.
63. Break on Through
(2017, 26 min)
Red Bull
Margo Hayes, a little-known 19-year-old from Boulder Colorado, has moved to Europe to train and climb with the goal of succeeding on two of the most iconic 5.15s in France and Spain. But by pushing her body and mind to the absolute limit, she risks injury and failure in her quest to be the first.
64. Life of Glide
(2017, 16 min)
YouTube
Freerider Jeremy Jones dissects his lifelong passion for the simple sacred feeling he calls ‘The Glide’.
65. Brothers of Climbing
(2017, 7 min)
YouTube
How can you be what you can’t see? Mikhail Martin, co-founder of Brothers of Climbing said, ‘I literally typed are there black climbers? in Google. Someone said black people don’t climb.’
66. Ride of the Dead
(2017, 12 min)
YouTube
Enter into the world of Oaxacan mountain bike culture during Mexico’s famous annual celebration known as Dia De Los Muertos.
67. Holocene
(2018, 12 min)
YouTube
Join two riders from Japan as they dive into the cultural history of the Dolomites clattering up via ferratas and shredding down couloirs along the way.
68. Beautiful Idiot
(2018, 15 min)
Vimeo
A ride through the mindset and motivations of those who feel driven to pursue greatness, how it can feel to fall short, and the consequences of reaching a lofty goal when the struggle to get there has defined you for so long.
69. Perspectives | India
(2018, 5 min)
Free Hub
Professional mountain bike athlete and artist Micayla Gatto adventures to the Indian Himalayas to experience the culture with her unique artistic perception.
70. Inside the Indus – A Pakistani Odyssey
(2017, 27 min)
Facebook
An international team of kayakers heads to Pakistan to attempt a descent of the fabled Rondu Gorge on the Indus river.
71. Skier Vs Drone
(2018, 4 min)
YouTube
Olympic skier Victor Muffat-Jeandet faces off against 2x World Drone Racing Champion Jordan Temkin to see who is the fastest down the mountain.
72. The Faction Collective Presents: La Grave
(2018, 17 min)
YouTube
Sam Anthamatten and Johnny Collinson travel to La Grave to push the limits of steep skiing and discover what makes La Grave so unique.
73. Children of the Columbia: A Skier’s Odyssey
(2018, 20 min)
Vimeo
A cultural ski journey up the historically-charged waters of the Columbia River in interior British Columbia.
74. The Sky Piercer
(2018, 44 min)
Red Bull
Snow athletes Sam Smoothy, Xavier De Le Rue, Nadine Wallner and Fraser McDougall take on the challenge of skiing down New Zealand’s highest mountain, the notorious Mount Cook (Aoraki).
75. The Lorax Project
(2018, 35 min)
Vimeo
Six friends embark on a determined quest to climb and then BASE jump The Lorax, a formidable climb in remote western Tasmania.
76. Escape
(2018, 8 min)
MEC
JaBig, a Montreal-based DJ, buys a bike on a whim and decides to attempt to beat the record for the longest continuous bike ride in a single country.
77. Facing Sunrise
(2017, 8 min)
MEC
Azzah overhears a conversation around the question, ‘what do you want to do before you die?’ Inspired and energised, she rushes home and begins her bucket list. She’s never seen herself as an adventurer, but she quickly realises she’s capable of more than she imagined.
78. Ascending Afghanistan
(2016, 44 min)
Vice
Follow the first female Afghan mountaineering team as they navigate their first expedition and fight for recognition as athletes amongst their country, culture, and families.
79. Brotherhood of Skiing
(2018, 10 min)
Vimeo
Since 1973, the National Brotherhood of Skiers has overcome barriers by bringing soul, smiles and a party to the mountain.
80. How to Run 100 Miles
(2018, 28 min)
YouTube
The odds were stacked against Jayson Sime early in life: poverty, homelessness, dyslexia, bullying. But he learned to fight. In 2017, he entered his first 100-mile mountain ultramarathon, gambling on his lifelong resilience to carry him to the finish line.
81. Blue Heart
(2018, 44 min)
YouTube
The Balkan Peninsula is home to the last wild rivers in Europe. However, a deluge of hydropower developments threaten to destroy the culture and ecology of this forgotten region. Blue Heart documents the battle for the largest undammed river in Europe.
82. Carving Landscapes
(2018, 6 min)
Vimeo
Following in the footsteps of legendary female mountaineer Mary Vaux, Agathe Bernard ventures onto the Illecillewaet Glacier and reenacts Vaux’s research by travelling in restrictive Victorian dress.
83. The Passage
(2018, 25 min)
Vimeo
In 1974, a family built their own canoes and paddled up the North American coast from Washington to Alaska. In 2017, with renovated canoes, they retraced that journey with their children.
84. Grizzly Country
(2018, 12 min)
Vimeo
Doug Peacock spent years alone in the Wyoming and Montana wilderness observing grizzly bears. With the protection of Yellowstone grizzlies now under threat, he reflects on the importance of habitat and why he continues to fight for wild causes.
85. The Botanist
(2016, 20 min)
Vimeo
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan plunged into a devastating civil war. A famine struck the mountainous region of the Pamir where Raïmberdi, a passionate and ingenious botanist, built his own hydroelectric station to help his family survive through the crisis.
86. Surviving the Outback
(2018, 57 min)
TubiTV
Could you survive alone across hundreds of miles of remote outback for a whole month, trekking and sailing on a makeshift raft, with nothing but a time capsule of antique stuff from 1932? Mike wasn’t sure either!
87. The Mirnavator
(2017, 11 min)
YouTube
Ultra-runners overcome obstacles on every trail. Mirna Valerio overcomes the negative voices that don’t believe she belongs in the sport.
88. Ski Photographer
(2018, 9 min)
Vimeo
Drawn to the mountains in search of the ski bum lifestyle, Oskar Enander had no intention of ever becoming a photographer. Is his affinity for cold, stark places driven by his colour blindness? Or is it place that has formed his aesthetic?
89. Cerro Torre – A Snowball’s Chance in Hell
(2013, 101 min)
Red Bull
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Patagonia, climbing wunderkind David Lama and partner Peter Ortner set out to free climb the infamous southeast face of Cerro Torre, a route once said to be the most difficult in the world.
90. My Mom Vala
(2017, 10 min)
YouTube
Life has a way of putting us where we need to be. For Vala, that’s in both Greenland where she works at her family’s fishing lodge and Reykjavík where she teaches her daughter how to do it all on her own.
91. Amo
(2017, 7 min)
Vimeo
Heu Rapa Haoa, a native born Rapa Nui and one of 800 remaining people left in the world who speak his native tongue fluently, tells his story of Easter Island, the infamous stone heads and how he sees his people’s future unfolding.
92. Surface
(2018, 7 min)
YouTube
In a photographic niche defined by familiar angles, Ben Thouard is driven by his desire to create something original in surf photography.
93. The Frenchy
(2018, 14 min)
YouTube
Jacques is an 82-year-old athlete, but the real story is how he inspires those around him with his contagious love of life, epic tales of survival and his ability to counter ageing through laughter.
94. DreamRide 3
(2018, 6 min)
Vimeo
Inspired by a Dr Seuss narrative, cyclist Mike Hopkins takes his audience on an epic journey in the final chapter of the DreamRide trilogy.
95. Treeline
(2018, 40 min)
YouTube
Through a cinematic exploration of three extraordinary tree communities, Treeline brings forests alive on screen, illuminating the reciprocal bond between humanity and nature and questioning how we’re going to protect our remaining forests.
96. The Wolf Pack
(2018, 12 min)
YouTube
The Braford-Lefebrve family lives to run and runs to live. Without cell phones or any modern worry, the wolf pack roams the mountains around Silverto, Colorado.
97. Danny Macaskill: Danny Daycare
(2019, 4 min)
YouTube
In his latest film Danny Macaskill takes on some child care the only way he knows how… by taking them for a wee bike ride around Scotland!
98. Electric Greg
(2019, 20 min)
YouTube
Record-breaking mountain endurance athlete Greg Hill realised the way he was approaching the mountains was making climate change worse. Two years ago, he changed his approach and set out to climb 100 peaks without burning any fossil fuels.
99. Defiance
(2019, 13 min)
YouTube
The path of progression is paved with acts of defiance. Leanne Pelosi, Jake Blauvelt and Victor de Le Rue take the stage in British Columbia in a showcase of shred.
100. Par For The Course
(2019, 4 min)
YouTube
Mirna Valerio takes on her first ever sky race at the 4th annual Broken Arrow Sky Race. Mirna navigated the rocky, exposed ridge lines, steep climbs and snow-filled descents of Squaw Valley with an attitude unlike any other.
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