The Banff Mountain Film Festival

Presented at Denver's historic Paramount theater, the Banff Mountain Film Festival is a collection of inspiring film compilations. From India to Boulder, the festival has established an outdoor exploration-savvy indoor experience for those of us less inclined to throw our bodies over cliffs and out of airplanes.

The award-winning film Balancing Point, by Danny Brown is the first film in the lineup. In a mix of incredible film work and digital effects, the college student from boulder has created a mystic account of balancing stones in mountain settings. Brown said that this was his first time competing in a film contest.

An adventure over Mount Fuji in a flying squirrel suit is more adrenaline than most people care for. For Loic Jean-Albert, it is the morning cup of tea. The Frenchman led a team of four "Soul Flyers" over the summit of Mount Blanc, and Mount Fuji in an incredible display of human daring.

All the films shown were founded in inspiration, from kyaking the mountains of California, to rejuvenate the distant towns of India. The Banff film festival holds a positive effect for the film-buff and mountain explorer in all of us.