Downieville Welcomes World-Class Films for Banff Festival

DOWNIEVILLE — Adventure enthusiasts flocked to Downieville’s Yuba Theatre this past weekend for the annual Banff Mountain Film Festival, a celebration of outdoor passion and nature that has become a cherished tradition in Sierra County.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival, held annually in Banff, Alberta, showcases the best in mountain culture and adventure films. A curated selection of 35-40 films then embarks on a world tour, reaching over 40 countries and 148 sites in the United States. Downieville, with its unique charm, hosts one of only eight screenings in Northern California and is the smallest venue for the festival in the nation. Thanks to the Sierra County Arts Council’s longstanding relationship with Banff, this tradition has continued yearly since 1994, with a brief pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s event, marking the Banff Festival’s 50th anniversary, did not disappoint. Attendees were treated to a diverse array of films that captured the spirit of adventure and the beauty of the natural world. One poignant story followed a Swedish couple who, for over 30 years, manually recorded weather data at one of the last remaining manual weather stations, a task now overtaken by technology. Another film showcased the adrenaline-pumping world of mountain biking in California, a nod to Downieville’s own reputation as a mountain biking haven. Perhaps the most breathtaking was “Ice Waterfalls,” a 30-minute feature that left audiences in awe as it followed professional kayakers navigating icy rivers and waterfalls in the Arctic, including daring drops into ice tunnels and 40-foot plunges off glaciers into the ocean.

While the festival proceeded without a hitch, it was notably missing the presence of B.J. Jordan, the long-time Executive Director of the Sierra County Arts Council, who was at home recovering after a recent hospitalization. In her stead, Caroline “Cracker” Eshleman, President of the Council, warmly welcomed attendees to the show and oversaw the raffle of prizes generously donated by local merchants. Eshleman also says that during her decades-long involvement with the Downieville festival, she personally picks the film lists for each screening after watching every entry in the Banff World Tour.

The Banff Film Festival also marked the unofficial start of the season for Downieville’s businesses. Local restaurants, including La Cocina de Oro, Sabrina’s at the Forks, Cold Rush, and JADAA’s, opened their doors, some for the first time this year, to serve the influx of festival-goers. The Yuba Gallery offered a space for guests to explore local art and for Downieville High School students to fundraise by selling baked goods.

Among the group of dedicated volunteers running the event, Debra Hornsby, a “Road Warrior” representative of the Banff Film Festival, acted as emcee, guiding viewers through each film. Mike Meline ensured the event’s technical success, managing video and audio without a glitch. Kristy and Nigel Pearmund assisted with ticket sales and gathering raffle prizes from local businesses.

The Sierra County Arts Council extended its heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who made this year’s Banff Mountain Film Festival another resounding success. The council hopes to continue this beloved tradition for decades to come and invites the community to support its efforts by making a donation at https://www.sierracountyartscouncil.org/.