The NZ Mountain Film Festival Charitable Trust will have close to $6,000 to give away in grants this year.

Applications are now open for the NZ Mountain Film Festival Grant Scheme and festival director Mark Sedon wants anyone seeking funding for youth filmmaking or adventure skills courses, the purchase of adaptive sports equipment, or environmental projects to get in touch.

Mark said he and his fellow trustees were delighted to give more people the chance to watch some incredible films while also raising funds for causes close to his heart.

These causes include funding youth (under 18) in adventure filmmaking courses and/or adventure skills training; supporting local environmental projects like river cleanups and native tree re-planting; and assisting people with disabilities to buy specialist sporting equipment and/or experience the outdoors.

Funds were raised through a silent auction during the film festival in Wānaka and Queenstown in June, and more funds will be added from the proceeds of a national film tour which got underway on Thursday (August 1).

Para alpine skier Jayden Glentworth received a grant which helped him purchase equipment to compete in the NZ, Australian, US and Canadian National races in 2023-24.

The NZ Mountain Film Festival National Tour will take a selection of award-winning films to film and adventure enthusiasts in 30 venues, from Alexandra to Waiheke Island, with more venues to be confirmed in the coming weeks. 

Included in the tour programme is the newly announced winner of the People’s Choice Award, Inshallah, by Kiwi directors Georgia Merton and Isobel Ewing. The film, which documents the women’s bike tour through the mountains of Pakistan, also won the prize for Best Self-filmed Film.

Find out more about the NZ Mountain Film Festival Grant Scheme here. Grant applications are open until August 31.

PHOTOS: Supplied