Prepare to be inspired! Adventure films are back

A diverse selection of short action sports, travel, environmental and adventure films from around the world will be on show in Queenstown later this month.

The Queenstown Adventure Film Festival presented by Columbia, opens on 30 July and encompasses several screenings of films that celebrate adventures on snow, land, water and in the air.

New to this year’s programme are two nights each exploring a different theme. One night's content looks into the mind of the extreme sports athlete, the second showcases global adventures from far flung corners of the world and both nights feature two to three longer films. As with the shorts programme both nights promise to inspire viewers to get out of their regular space and find adventures of their own.

Director Kirsten Nicholl says the Festival, now in its fourth year, has gone from strength to strength.

“We’ve seen some amazing movies in that time and year-on-year growth means Queenstowners and tourists are enjoying the selection as well. This year’s lineup again promises to touch all who see it.”

Ms Nicholl says the introduction of the longer programmes was designed to include films that didn’t fit easily into the general format.

“The general screenings need a series of fast moving quite short films with room for only one longer movie. We’ve discovered some truly amazing content that is too long for the shorts format so have designed a programme to accommodate those movies within the festival.”

While the longer programmes are more specifically focused, the appeal is expected to be just as wide as the short films line up. We’re anticipating people will go to the main short programme screening and then take in one or both of the longer film sessions.”

The Queenstown Adventure Film Festival enjoys the support of a wide range of sponsors and sponsor product spot prizes will be distributed at every screening. This year’s sponsors include presenting sponsor Columbia, Coronet Peak, Shipleys Audio Visual, Red Bull, Outside Sports, scene.co.nz, Kawarau Jet, AJ Hackett Bungy, Mt Charlotte Wines and More FM.

The festival opens on Thursday 30 July at 8pm in Queenstown's Memorial Hall. Friday 31 July, Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August will each feature an 8pm screening. Saturday and Sunday will also include a matinee screening at 3pm, all showing the short films programme. The longer programmes screen on Monday 3 August and Tuesday 4 August respectively, both at 8pm.

Further information: www.adventurefilmfest.com