North Bend Theatre hosts some of the world's best mountain films at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, bringing the Banff Mountain Film Festival to the Valley.

The show is a fundraiser for the Access Fund, a national advocacy organization that keeps U.S. climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment, and a land purchase at Index, Wash.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international film competition featuring the world’s best footage on mountain subjects. The festival began in 1976 and is held annually on the first weekend in November in Banff, Alberta.

Hundreds of filmmakers, from first-time producers to world-class companies such as the BBC and National Geographic, hailing from dozens of countries, enter the competition. A pre-screening committee selects approximately 55 finalists for the festival. An international film festival jury chooses the best films from these finalists and awards prizes in eight categories.

Immediately after the festival in November, a selection of the best films entered in the festival goes on tour. The host organization in each tour location chooses a program that reflects the interests of their community. Each community creates a unique celebration of local adventure and adventurers.

The world tour spans the globe, making its way from Austria to Argentina and from Iceland to India. More than 200,000 people attend approximately 500 screenings in about 285 locations.

To learn more about the festival, visit www.banffcentre.ca/mountainculture/festivals/2009/

North Bend Theatre is located at 125 Bendigo Blvd. N., in downtown North Bend. Call the theater at (425) 888-1232.

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