A mix of international explorers and storytellers plus local pioneers will share stories of epic outdoor adventures at the upcoming 2023 NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival.

The festival will take place in Wānaka between June 23 and 30 with a combination of films, presentations and ‘old-fashioned storytelling’ to entertain adventuring-loving audiences.

Charismatic duo American Brette Harrington and Canadian Christina Lustenberger will headline the festival with the story of some of their daring first ski descents, including their most recent and boldest: Polar Moon in Baffin Island, Northern Canada. 

The pair skied a stunning, exposed 1200m line through an [almost] impossibly narrow and steep chute intersected midway by an ice cliff. But what happens when you’re rappelling down a 180m wall of ice and your rope gets stuck with another 45m to go to get to the exit gully? 

New Zealand alpine team member Kim Ladiges will speak about his mission to the Indian Himalayas to try to repeat the West Face of Changabang, which was previously climbed in 1976 by Joe Tasker and Peter Boardman and made famous by the book The Shining Mountain. 

Book festival speaker Beau Miles, a self-described oddball who spent years adventuring around the globe - running, kayaking, hitchhiking and exploring - will speak about his new lifestyle as ‘The Backyard Adventurer’. 

NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival director Mark Sedon said there will be an all-female lineup for the ‘old-fashioned storytelling’ session.

The audience favourite features off-the-cuff storytelling and Brette and Christina will be joined onstage by Christchurch-based climber Sooji Clarkson as well as Wānaka-based Olympian, freeride legend and film maker Janina Kuzma.

As well as being held in Wānaka, the NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival will run in Queenstown and will also be broadcast online.

The full NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival programme will be announced on May 23, when tickets will go on sale.

Find more information here.

PHOTO: Drew Smith