Best of Kendal Mountain Film Festival

If you missed the 2005 Kendal Film Festival, a second chance to see the highlights is coming to Buxton Opera House on Monday 24th July. Yes, that's a full week's films condensed into one evening, so it will be even more of a flying tour round some of the world's greatest mountain ranges than the Kendal festival itself. Fortunately, that won't get in the way of virtual visits to Norway, Taiwan, Mali, the Himalayas, the Andes, and the full length of Africa from the Nile to the Cape of Good Hope, all in a mere two hours and thirty-seven minutes. Phew!

The evening's films take a look at the sports of mountaineering, climbing, BASE jumping, skiing and kayaking, sometimes in unspoilt and unexplored locations. They've also bagged a fair few prizes between them (details below), including 'Taiwan Typhoon' which won the the Grand Prize at Kendal.

So, here's the line-up for the night:

• Practical Norwegian (5 mins) - ski pioneering in Norway, with a bit of DIY on the skis.
• Taiwan Typhoon (52 mins) - Taiwan of the typhoon-blasted mountains replaces Taiwan of the Tiger economies. (Winner of the Grand Prize)
• The Hand Of Fatima (32 mins) - sweat, the Sahara, and a 3000ft Malian tower to climb. (People’s Choice Runner Up)
• Falling (5 mins) - Iceland in a kayak.
• Our Himalaya (40 mins) - art, the imagination, and the whole concept of Himalayan 'conquest' placed on trial. (Mountaineering Runner Up)
• Hot Rock (23 mins) - an 18 month epic across Europe, down the length of Africa, then along the Andes, in pursuit of Hot Rock. (Climbing Runner Up)

The evening starts at 7.30 and tickets cost £10, (£9 concessions). Call the box office on 0845 12 72190 or email boxoffice@buxtonopera.co.uk for details of availability. Buxton Opera House itself is located on Water Street, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6XN. Map here, courtesy of Streetmap.co.uk. You can also see full details of the programme at Heason Events.