The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will run in Wanaka from June 25 to 29 and in Queenstown from July 1 to 3, 2021.
The event will also be broadcast online nationally from June 25 until July 25, 2021. The 19th festival will present a
wide range of films, guest speakers, workshops, and presentations from inspirational Kiwi adventurers and via film from
around the world. The films and books showcased tell stories of adventure sports, foreign cultures, remote travel and
the environment. The 9-day event is a celebration of adventurous sports and lifestyles presented for adventurers, film
and book enthusiasts, armchair adventurers and people interested in the environment or foreign cultures.
The unusual nature of 2020 stimulated the submission of a flurry of New Zealand-made films to the Mountain Film
Competition. The films produced within our borders highlighted the underground talent in the Kiwi filmmaking community.
The Charitable Trust recognises the opportunity to support the development of Kiwi adventure filmmaking, and to
encourage new entries it has more than doubled the prize money for the Best NZ Made Film to $2,500 for 2021. A Grass
Roots Award, with $500 prize money, will also be on offer to encourage beginner filmmakers to have a go at making and
submitting a film. The festival provides an opportunity for budding directors to build their filmmaking skills to a
professional standard and showcase their work at a high-profile national event.
Festival Director Mark Sedon says, “The Trust is committed to investing back into the Kiwi adventure filmmaking
community. Doubling the prize money aims to encourage more budding filmmakers out of the woodwork. The Pure NZ segment
of our programme is one of our most popular and fastest-selling shows. The audience loves the New Zealand-made films and
we expect there will be some creative submissions this year given the circumstances.” The International film competition
opens 1 January and closes April 20, while the Book competition also opens 1 January and closes March 30. The Book
Competition first place prize money has also increased to $1,000 with a bequest from Dave Bamford and John Nankervis.
The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival tours nationally in smaller cinemas throughout the country. Hosts in regions
around the country choose a programme that reflects the interests of their local audiences from a selection of films on
adventure, culture, environment and action sports.
Some of the income from the National Tour goes towards the festival Grant Scheme
to fund youth in adventure skills training, support local environmental projects and help individuals with disabilities
into the outdoors. The initiative promotes the Charitable Trust’s mandate to encourage healthy and active lifestyles,
inspire youth to undertake small safe adventures in the outdoors and to help people to reach their full potential. The
Trust awarded funds to four different groups last year. The Alexandra Air Training Corps was awarded a grant of $800 to
fund cadets to attend Operation Sparrowhawk at the Burnham Military Camp. Kahu Youth received $1,505 to support the
Youth Vs Wild outdoor survival programme. MINT, an organisation supporting youth with intellectual disabilities in the
Upper Clutha Region, received $1,500 to help under-18-year-olds to attend an Adventure Ski Day. Peel Forest Outdoor
Centre received $500 to support its Year 8 student Holiday Programme. Applications for the 2021 Grant Scheme open on 1
July.
The NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will run in Wanaka June 25 to 29 and in Queenstown July 1 to 3, 2021.The event
will also be broadcast online nationally from June 25 until July 25, 2021.