The Great Outdoors: Florence’s Adventure Movie Festival

Friday, February 10: Adventure Movie Awards Tour. Cinema La Compagnia, via Cavour 50/r. 8:30 pm.  Admission: € 7

 Traditionally held every spring in San Candido set in Italy’s Dolomite mountain range, this year the finalists of Adventure Movie Awards are on a countrywide tour scheduled to start out their journey here in Florence on Friday evening. The best of 2016’s outdoor documentary films will be shown one after another in less than two hours.

The screenings present eight documentaries in total with topics ranging from highlining to mountain biking to hiking, each containing beautiful scenery and their very own theme. Outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers alike will find something to inspire them and take away from these refreshing pieces.

All videos will be shown in their original language with Italian subtitles with five out of the eight films featuring English. Before the screenings there will be an aperitivo at the Bar di Ditta Artigianale inside the cinema consisting of food specialties of San Candido.

In addition, an exhibition will be set up in the theater’s foyer featuring photography by Alessio Romeo., a member of an exploring crew called the La Venta Exploring Team who venture into remote and difficult-to-access terrains including newly discovered caves and glaciers. Romeo will share a little bit about his perspective on the subjects of adventure and exploration. American director and producer Michael Rogers will introduce the screenings.

Featured Films

Line Revolution – Directed by Ale D’Emilia (15 minutes), presented by the filmmaker and slackliner Alessandro D’Emilia.

This film is based on the 2015 Highline Meeting Monte Piana set in the Dolomites which set out to bring people together interested in highlining whether beginners or professionals. “A performance in honor of the location and dedicated to life.”

Acrophobia – Directed by Philippe Woodtli (2:52)

Here the audience sees how a BASE jumper has to overcome his greatest fear of heights every time before taking that plunge.

Aspiration of the Pamirs – Directed by Brian Mathe, Morgan Monchaud and Siphay Vera (8:16)

Adventuring through the Pamir mountains, the three filmmakers here put their bamboo bikes to the test and prove that being sustainable does not have to compromise performance.

Step by Step – Directed by Michael Rogers (11:38) Dolomythos Award 2016

The documentary focuses on the journey of two uncommon hikers—a quadriplegic and Paralympian—take on the challenge of trekking 22 miles through the mountain passes on the Tibetan plateau.

Degrees North – Directed by Guido Perrini (24:00) Grivel Golden Axe Award 2016

This film set in Alaska in a journey to remote areas where athletes gear up with their skis and snowboards to show the sport in action in a brand new light.

This is Home – Brett Rheeder – Directed by Harrison Mendel and Liam Mullany (4:45)

This film features dirt biking through lots of different angles to really capture all the risky tricks and grace of the sport.

Faroes: the Outpost Vol. 2 – Directed by Ben Weiland & Chris Burkard (25:18) Manfrotto Adventure Award 2016

Featuring surfers in the search of perfect waves, this film is woven with beautiful scenery of the surrounding landscape in the process.

Darklight – Directed by Mike Brown (7:24)

Speaking for itself, this visual masterpiece brings together BMX biking and an array of colorful lights creating an exotic piece of imagery.  (martha gonzalez)