The NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival kicks off in Wānaka today (Friday June 21) with an impressive lineup of award-winning films and world-class speakers on offer for the next five days. 

The festival will head to Queenstown on Thursday (June 27) for two days and it will also be available online for the month of July.

Festival director Mark Sedon said while the online festival allows more people to enjoy the films he encourages them to come along to the live shows if they can.

“It's all about catching up with old friends and fellow adventure-lovers, the shared laughter and the mutual awe, those moments when you’re holding onto your arm rest watching the jaw dropping scenes on the big screen,” he said.

There will be 17 speakers at this year’s festival including headliner Simone Moro.

Read more: Veteran alpinist to headline festival

“We’re absolutely delighted to have Simone Moro speaking this year,” Mark said. “He is a true legend in the mountaineering world and has some amazing stories to tell, some of them pretty chilling and harrowing.”

Organisers have whittled down the films from a record 241 entries and the 19 award winners include ‘Terra Incognita’ by Wānaka filmmaker Finlay Woods, which won the Best NZ Made Film, and French director Hugo Clouzeau’s, ‘Nuptse: Touching the Intangible’, which won the Grand Prize.

Read more: Best NZ-made film goes to local filmmaker

Mark said ticket sales have been “a little slower this year and we understand that the cost-of-living crisis is having an impact”. 

“We’ve kept ticket prices the same for the last few and want to give as many people as possible the chance to watch these amazing films and hear from our inspiring speakers.”

There will also be free one-hour film sessions for families in Wānaka and Lake Hāwea, which will take place on Saturday morning at 10am at Edgewater Hotel and the Hāwea Hotel and 10am Sunday at Edgewater.

Find the full festival lineup and book tickets here.

PHOTO: NZMFF