The Canadian film Wheel Women follows, offering an enticing look at British Columbia and some of the women who make it their mountain biking playground. Wheel Women is directed by Anne Walton and Selena Lawrie. Directing credits for Nurpu are shared by U. S. filmmakers Arden Oksanen, Dirk Collins, Todd Jones and Steve Jones. After a brief intermission, the French film L'esprit de la Coupe Icare is back by popular demand. A hilarious and amazing film from 1994, when it won a special jury mention at the Banff Festival, L'esprit documents a special hang-gliding and parapenting competition that takes place in St. Hilaire du Touvet.
Contestants fly contraptions that range from table-top dinners to airborne cars.
The film is directed by Gilles Santantonio. The Sahara's Secret Garden, winner of the Best Film on Mountain Culture Award at this year's festival, concludes this year's Best of the Banff Festival program. From French director Gauthier Flauder, the film is an astonishing exploration of the Ennedi Massif in the north of Chad and the heart of the Sahara Desert. Access to this paradise is difficult and only a few privileged nomads have penetrated the heart of this stunning natural wonder. The tour of the Best of the 25th Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival is sponsored by Eagle Creek Travel Gear and National Geographic.