www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 6-12, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 29 FILM Laura Lee Lienk has overseen all 20 years of the Canada-based Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival in Monterey. In that time, she has seen a lot of short films. This year’s lineup includes Of A Lifetime, a Swiss film by Jérôme Tanon that is one of the eight films to be shown at Golden State Theatre, the festival’s longtime venue. “It’s so fun; I can’t believe these people are doing this,” Lienk says. This 44-minute movie follows a family’s journey toward Antarctica across the Drake Passage, an unpredictable body of water between South America’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands. It’s an immense experience and a chance to see the icy continent in all its glory, as well as test the family’s snow sports skills. The De Le Rue family is one of the most decorated in snowboarding history. The family name has been etched into Olympic medals, World Championship cups, Freeride World Tour trophies and other awards. For 30 years, Lienk has been with the nonprofit Habitat Stewardship Project Monterey Bay, a nonprofit that deals mostly with nature and its restoration, but also organizes this yearly cultural event that is a staple in its calendar. It started with REI, which sells sporting goods and camping gear. The festival corporate sponsor asked Habitat to be a partner. Even after the agreement was over, Habitat continued with the one-night film festival. “It’s like a party, people know each other,” Lienk says about this 134-minute-long experience, with an intermission. “We have quite a big following and a lot of people who want to come each year. The films are really exciting and many have a social justice element.” The festival is also the most important annual fundraiser for the organization. It helps cover Habitat’s regular work: restoring native species and “bringing nature to people,” helping underserved communities in Monterey County encounter the natural miracles of the area, from the ocean to the forest. Lienk and her crew picked a range of movies this year, including a cycling adventure film called The Streif; Undammed, devoted to environmental issues on the Klamath River; The Smoke that Thunders is about kayaking; Anytime is a portrait of a female mountain biker; and Canyon Chorus takes viewers into the world of rafting. Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival 7pm Saturday, March 8. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $42. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com. JEROME TANON/OF A LIFETIME Outdoors In The Banff film festival brings big adventure to the local screen with eight short movies. By Agata Popęda A scene from Of A Lifetime, part of the 2025 Banff lineup. The film festival features short but high-impact works. TASTEsavor. enjoy. pouring daily from 12pm SCHEIDVINEYARDS.COM ESTATE WINERY & TASTING ROOM 1972 HOBSON AVE., GREENFIELD 831.386.0316 CARMEL TASTING ROOM SAN CARLOS & 7TH 831.626.WINE (9463)
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