Reinhold Messner is one of the world’s greatest mountaineers and he’ll be presenting at the 2019 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.

The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival has announced that mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner will be attending the 2019 Festival. The Great Peak: 150 Years Climbing History, is his latest film and will screen as part of the Festival evening program on Thursday, October 31. Along with the Book Awards and a presentation by Canadian climber Sharon Wood, the evening will include an on-stage interview with Messner following the screening of his film.

Photos of Reinhold Messner: adidasoutdoor.com

Messner is one of the most prolific mountaineers of his generation. He was the first person to climb Mount Everest solo, and along with Peter Habeler was the first to summit without the use of supplemental oxygen. He was the first mountaineer to complete ascents of all fourteen 8,000-metre peaks without supplemental oxygen, a feat that took him 16 years to complete. He is also known for the first ascent of the difficult Rupal Face of Nanga Parbat where tragically his brother died during the descent. In 1989, he completed a 2,800-kilometre overland crossing of Antarctica on skis, and 15 years later succeeded on a 2,000-kilometre journey across the Gobi Desert on foot.

He has written more than 75 books, and in 2006 he established a museum committed entirely to mountains and mountain culture. More recently, Messner has turned his hand to filmmaking. Still Alive, a documentary about an extraordinary rescue on Mount Kenya, was screened at the 2017 Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.

https://youtu.be/f01tqJTwujY

“We are absolutely thrilled to have Reinhold Messner attending this year’s Festival,” says Festival Director Joanna Croston. “Messner is truly an icon of the global climbing community and he is a pioneer of mountaineering ethics. It is wonderful that we are able to have him join us as a last minute addition to our already inspiring program.”

The 44th Annual Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival takes place from October 26 – November 3, 2019 at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. Over nine days, the Festival showcases tales of remote journeys, groundbreaking expeditions, and remarkable achievements, told by adventurers, photographers, authors, and filmmakers from around the world. Over 100 films will be presented with North American and World Premieres. Film finalists will be announced by October 4.

Highlights include personal appearances by: Polish mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel, US climber Sasha DiGiulian, Swiss adventurer/explorer Sarah Marquis, US mountaineer/writer Mark Twight, Canadian climber Sharon Wood, and mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner.

For more information visit banffcentre.ca.