A world-class collection of speakers and adventure films have been announced for the 2023 NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival (NZMFF).

The festival launched its programme today which will feature 58 films including 11 world premieres and 36 New Zealand premieres. The films were selected from 177 entries into the International Adventure Film Competition.

The programme includes 17 New Zealand-made films and festival director Mark Sedon said he is proud to be providing a platform for Kiwi creatives to showcase their talents.

“I’m quite chuffed and proud to see the quality of the New Zealand filmmakers and they really deserve the awards they received this year,” festival director Mark Sedon said. 

“Kiwis have adventure in our blood and we often play down our accomplishments, but with the use of film we can recreate and share these experiences and receive deserved praise from our peers.” 

Nick Kowalski was announced the winner of the prestigious Hiddleston/MacQueen Award and $2500 prizemoney for the Best NZ-made Film for his film Changabang: Return to the Shining Mountain.

The film follows three climbers from the New Zealand Alpine Team as they try to repeat the iconic first ascent of the West Wall of Changabang made by British alpinists Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker in 1976 and featured in the book Shining Mountain. 

One of the team members, Kim Ladiges, will be speaking at the festival in Wānaka on Sunday June 25. 

“As a keen mountaineer myself, making this film has been a real treat,” Nick said. 

“Getting to see behind the scenes of such a legendary climb and getting an insight into the minds of some of the best climbers in the world really has been special and I'm so stoked to receive the award and share the film with everyone.” 

Nick also takes out the award for Best Climbing Film – Enchainment which follows 2022 festival speakers Alastair McDowell and Hamish Fleming on their quest to enchain New Zealand’s 24 highest mountains above 3,000m in a continuous 31-day push. 

This is the first time in the festival’s 20-year history a New Zealand-made film has won this award.

Also for the first time a New Zealand director has won the award for the Best Film on the Environment. 

‘For the Blue’ won best film on the environment.

Director Nathalie Nasrallah takes out the prize for her film For the Blue which details how plastic pollution is damaging our environment and shows real-world solutions on how to fix it.

The film competition Grand Prize was awarded to UK director Jake for his film, New Way Up. 

The film ‘New Way Up’ won the competition's grand prize.

The film is set in the Karakoram mountains in Pakistan where a team of climbers have an ambitious plan to scale a technical granite pinnacle that has never been summited, known as Gulmit Tower. 

NZMFF is New Zealand's only adventure film competition and the festival will run in Wānaka from June 23-27. Tickets are on sale now.

Find the programme here and instore at Paper Plus Wānaka.

The festival films will also be available to watch online from June 23 until July 23.

The full list of award winners is as follows: 

Grand Prize  

New Way Up Director Jake Holland, UK 

Best Short Film Award  

Janwaar Director Danny Schmidt, USA.  

Best Mountain Culture Award    

Spindrift - The Barry Blanchard Story Director Ivan Hughes, Canada.  

Award for the Best Film on the Environment

For the Blue Director Nathalie Nasrallah, NZ

Best Climbing Film

Enchainment Director Nick Kowalski, NZ

Best Snow Sports Film  

Balkan Express Directors Philipp Becker and Johannes Mueller, Germany.    

Best Film on Adventurous Sports & Lifestyles

Wild Waters Director David Arnaud, France 

NZ Specific Awards: 

Hiddleston/MacQueen Award for Best NZ-Made Film 

Changabang: Return to the Shining Mountain Director Nick Kowalski, World Premiere  

Spirit of Adventure Award  

The Old School Coast to Coast Directors Dylan Gerschwitz and Deane Parker, NZ, World Premiere.  

Grass Roots Award  

Mitre Peak Director Jean-Luc Lazet.  

Making an Impact Award  

Turn the Corner Director Ned Brannigan, World Premiere.  

Best Cinematography Award  

Flow State Director Jacob Bowling, Producer Will Nelson.  

Best Documentary Award

Mountain Turks Director Mark Johansson, NZ, World Premiere.

PHOTOS: Supplied