For yet another year, fans of extreme sports and films have the opportunity to spend five unforgettable days filled with numerous events dedicated to their passion. More than 90 films from more than 35 countries are part of the 19th edition of the Bansko Film Fest, which starts today and continues to November 24. For the first time, guests will see films from Peru, Mexico and Lithuania. Accompanying events include exhibitions, discussions and a special children's program. In an interview with Radio Bulgaria, festival director Natalie Petrova recalled what the purpose of the first edition of the forum was:

“The doyen of Bulgarian mountaineering and extreme sports, Peter Atanasov, who passed away last year, put heart, soul, knowledge and contacts in creating the largest movie forumin this part of Europe dedicated to mountains, extreme sports, adventures and trips. When we decided to create the film festival, our idea was to find and collect Bulgarian films to show to the new generations. Bulgaria has iconic movie titles, directors, cameramen and award winners all over the world that deserve to be shown. We were very happy that we were able to collect maybe 80% of these films. The first festival was a kind of review of Bulgarian mountain documentary filmmaking. It had no competitive character and a jury. However, since its second edition, the festival’s level has improved, showing a large number of films from the around the world that have attracted interest and received awards from an international jury.”

Every year the focus of the film festival is different. This time, one of its topics is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of mountaineering and cave movement in Bulgaria. Another focus is water, as two open lessons dedicated to it are included in the children's program – “The Water Cycle” and the “Seas and Oceans of Europe.” A special place is given to events related to the marked anniversaries, such as 85 years since the first climb of the northern wall of the second highest peak in Bulgaria – Vihren (2914 m) by German climbers Heinrich Auer and Bernhard Mosl, the 10th anniversary of climbing of Mont Blanc by Ivan Kozhuharov and friends, as well as the 30th anniversary of the death of the second man who conquered all eight-thousanders – Polish Jerzy Kukuczka.

Some of the films of this year's edition of the Bansko Film Fest are related to the lifestyle, art, religion and culture of mountain peoples. A diverse film program is not the only surprise for the audience. Visitors will be able to meet some of the most famous mountaineers and extreme athletes in the town.

“This year our guests are Patrice Franceschi from France – the first person who achieved the first round-the-world flight by a microlight,” Natalie Petrova says. “Personally for me the most important are his humanitarian missions in Papua New Guinea. Among the guests are Italians Alessandro Gogna – one of the greatest mountaineers, author of over 60 books and Simon Gietl – winner of the 2016 Mountaineer Award, as well as Spanish Alex Txikon – one of the best climbers, who plans to climb all the eight-thousanders without oxygen in the winter. French Frank Vasseur, a world-renowned cave diver, cave diving instructor and trainer, Polish Krzysztof Wielicki, the fifth man to climb all 8-thousanders and the first to conquer Everest in the winter, and Anselme Baud, a French pioneer of extreme skiing, who is trainer of mountain guides in France and around the world.”

More and more Bulgarians, as well as guests from neighboring countries, are interested in the cultural event.

English: Alexander Markov