Get your 2010 fix! Adventure films are back

A diverse selection of award winning action sports, travel and adventure films from around the world will be on show in Queenstown in August.

The 5th Queenstown Adventure Film Festival presented by Columbia, opens on 12 August and showcases world class films that celebrate adventures on snow, land, water and in the air.

The 2010 festival features two line ups. The ever popular, action shorts programme runs over the first 4 days (12 – 15 August) and is followed on the final night (16 August), by two longer high altitude adventure films.

Director Kirsten Nicholl says the Festival is now a well established and highly anticipated event in the Queenstown calendar.

“People love these films. They’re fully inspired to get out and create their own adventures after taking in these stories that demonstrate the adventurous spirit and creativity of people pretty much like themselves. As always, for us, movie selection has been the most fun and challenging part of the exercise. The line up this year will again motivate, stimulate and challenge everyone from the armchair adventurer to the hard core alpinist and will touch all who see it.”

Returning for 2010 will be a session featuring longer films that don’t easily fit into the action shorts format.

“The longer films programme proved a popular addition to the festival last year and appealed to those wanting a more in depth story. Again we anticipate many people will go to a short programme screening and then take in the longer film session on the Monday night.”

Also due to popular demand, Fernando Aragones (dubbed the Brazilian Jack Johnson) returns with his soulful acoustic guitar sounds, this year at all evening sessions. A photography exhibition by award winning landscape photographers Jackie Ranken and Mike Langford will add another facet to the entertainment on offer.

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, Browns Ski Shop, Vertigo Bikes, Shipley’s Audio Visual, Red Bull, scene.co.nz, Kawarau Jet, Ziptrek Ecotours, Mt Charlotte Wines, Lakes Leisure and More FM.

The festival opens on Thursday 12 August at 8pm in Queenstown's Memorial Hall. Friday 13 August, Saturday 14 August and Sunday 15 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 programme screens on Monday 16 August at 8pm.

Tickets go on sale late July and are available from TicketDirect outlets (Queenstown Events Centre and iSite) as well as online.

Further information: www.adventurefilmfest.com