GET READY to sail to the Arctic, stand atop rugged mountainous peaks and descend with adventurers deep in the heart of vast canyons, when the Why Not? Adventure Film Festival comes to Galway.
The festival takes place on Saturday October 25 in An Taibhdhearc Theatre, and feature 10 Irish premieres, eight inspirational speakers, and 11 award-winning films, all in one night. It opens at 5pm, with the speakers taking to the stage at 5.30pm and films being screened from 8pm.
The films will seek to immerse audiences in tales of adventure from everyday heroes, living their lives for extreme sports, or independent round-the-world adventurers leading expeditions to remote or extreme places across the globe.
Why Not?’s special guest is the Northern Irish filmmaker and author Leon McCarron. A Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, he is a specialist in long distance, human-powered, expeditions. In 2012 undertook a six month, 3,000 mile expedition, walking the length of China, from the Gobi desert in Mongolia to Hong Kong. He will discuss his thought-provoking film, Into The Empty Quarter, about that feat at 7pm. The film will also be screened.
Other speakers include an All-Ireland windsurf champion, a big wave surfer, award winning and emerging local filmmakers, while a multidisciplinary crew from Killary will discuss their recent expedition to Greenland.
“Galway was a natural choice for the festival,” says festival director Charlotte Haffner. “It is a ‘hot spot’ which is home to many adventurers and film-makers. Many will be on hand to introduce their stories and participate in Q&A sessions to create a deeper connection between the films and the audience.”
Admission to the speakers is €10/9, while admission to the films is €13/11.50. An all-day pass is €20/18. The full programme is on www.whynotadventurefilmfestival.com
