From 2010 to 2025, this year marks the fifteenth anniversary of Banff China. From the early days when almost no one had heard of Banff or the Banff Center Mountain Film Festival, and outdoor sports were largely unfamiliar to the public, to today - where social media is filled with arcs of skis gliding through snow, echoes of mountaineering boots crunching glaciers, and vibrant colors of coral reefs refracted through diving masks - what was once considered "niche" passion has now become a fashionable lifestyle in the new era.
The demographics of those venturing outdoors have changed, and the definition of Outdoor is being redefined. We have witnessed outdoor sports evolve from “pushing the envelope” to “returning to reality”.
Banff serves as a gateway to the great outdoors, offering a window through the screen to embark on a spiritual journey across nature. Through these world-class, real-life images, we celebrate the awe-inspiring feats of extreme athletes dancing on the edge of the sky, unravel the primal secrets of ecological harmony, mourn the fading echoes of lost civilizations, and honor the quiet heroism of everyday people whose lives shine with dignity and purpose.
Through the lens, adrenaline surges as a low-altitude wingsuit flyer leaps off Mont Blanc. Icy waves splash up from a kayak gliding through Arctic glaciers. Killian, a legend in the trail running world, crosses the Pyrenees Mountains in eight days, shedding tears when his body and mind were pushed to their limits, revealing a more human side beneath his King of the Mountains aura. In Sweden, an obscure lighthouse stands as the world's last manual climate observation station, where an elderly couple shares their 36 years of never-ending admiration for the beauty of nature. Xavier, a freestyle snowboarding world champion, embarks on an adventure with his daughter, showing his ordinary, fatherly side. Rock-climbing queen Molly Mitchell battles her way up the “Death Wall”, growing stronger after enduring both psychological and physical “trauma”…
At the 2025 Beijing International Film Festival, the International Adventure Film Collective will take place on April 19, 20, and 26. Over three full days, there will be ten unique screenings, each one unforgettable and distinct.
As the largest and most authoritative outdoor film festival in the world, the Banff Center Mountain Film Festival presents documentaries from professional film organizations, explorers, and everyday people worldwide. These films capture adventures, nature, and vanishing fringe cultures. From familiar extreme athletes and new explorations of iconic outdoor destinations to unfamiliar places, people, and stories that will broaden your horizons, there's something for everyone. This year, the Banff Center Mountain Film Festival's selection of films will be divided into four thematic collections and screened across four non-repeating sessions on April 19th and 20th at 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM. Covering outdoor sports, exploration, environmental protection, culture, and beyond—whether it's reaching for the skies, diving into the depths of the ocean, or seeing the world through a different lens, every screening is unmissable!
We've also carefully curated an impressive lineup of other renowned IPs from international outdoor film festivals: the European Outdoor Film Tour (EOFT), Ocean Film Festival, Top Dog Film Festival, and She Adventure Film Tour. From poetic blue journeys deep beneath the ocean to epic tales of canine loyalty, from unique narratives by female explorers to the global resonance of Chinese outdoor filmmaking, every frame weaves a dialogue between humanity and nature.
The documentary, 7 Beats Per Minute, featuring China's first free diving champion, Jessea Lu, brings her story to the international stage. And now, we bring her back home. This China premiere invites you to hold your breath and join her as she explores life above and below the water, transcending life and death to find profound meaning.
Though our schedule is already packed, there's one more special screening we must share with you - the highlight showcase from our “Chinese Outdoor Films Tour” which commenced in 2024. Join us in applauding these outstanding representatives of Chinese outdoor filmmaking.
Let's open this gateway to freedom together, step into Banff, and explore the wonders of nature and the endless possibilities of life.
From April 19 to 26, 2025, at Shenying International Cinema (Xueyuan South Road Branch) in Beijing, join Banff for ten extraordinary cinematic journeys. We will be waiting for you!
Tina, Banff
March 25, 2025, Beijing











After a year's absence, we meet again! In this three-day concentrated screening, we sincerely hope every audience can find a suitable film.