FMFF History

The College of the Rockies and its Mountain Adventure Skills Training (MAST) program successfully presented the first annual Fernie Mountain Film Festival in 2007 and created an event that was to become highly anticipated. The second FMFF saw attendance double.

It all began when Brian Bell, MAST Program Coordinator, and Jon Turk, internationally acclaimed writer, asked a simple question. Why didn't Fernie have a mountain film festival? After all, the hallmarks of other successful festivals were all there: a thriving population of outdoor enthusiasts and film lovers, and a strong culture of community involvement.

An avid adventure traveller, Jon was able to tap into his many connections to obtain a stellar lineup of films. That combined with the hard work of many volunteers, turning the "why not?" into "why, yes!"

With films such as Being Caribou (best Environmental film, Telluride Mountain Film Festival) and Light of the Himalaya (Best of Festival: Documentary, Breckenridge Festival of Film) that first year, FMFF not only became another way for people to celebrate their surroundings, but also a way for them to catch up on the adventures of their old and new-found friends.

The profile of the Festival continues to increase. In 2008, FMFF was able to create awards for superior films. In 2009, the Festival inspired a photo contest. And in 2010, the Festival is creating a third night to feature the work of local filmmakers. And now, in 2011 we can offer online voting for our 2nd Annual Fernie Mountain Culture Award. With all that Fernie and the surrounding areas have to offer, FMFF is positioned to become an obvious stop on the mountain film festival circuit.

FMFF was incorporated as a not-for-profit society in 2008. A portion of its ticket sales is donated to the Ghostrider Adventure Camp. This camp offers opportunities for outdoor pursuits to local children who might not otherwise be able to fully enjoy the great outdoors.