Justyna Skalska, “Kraków Culture” magazine

Extreme Emotions

Sporting challenges and Himalayan climbs, breathtaking skiing and kayak races, mountain biking treks and ultra-marathon challenges – the 19th Kraków Mountain Festival will be as thrilling as ever! We will see inspirational (although sometimes tragic) films, biopics of fascinating people and breathtaking landscapes – everything mountain and extreme sports fans can dream of.

Over 40 films compete for the Grand Prix in the International Film Competition, including Roots (a must-see for all fans of skis and fresh powder!) and Here I Am, Again introducing the Bulgarian mountaineer Boyan Petrov who defied injuries sustained in a car crash, diabetes and cancer to climb ten of the 14 world’s highest peaks. The programme also features a special screening of The Alpinist, portraying the extraordinary Canadian climber Marc-André Leclerc who died far too young in a climbing accident in Alaska. The film was made by Peter Mortimer, director of the multi-award Netflix documentary The Dawn Wall.

Festival films will be available on PLAY KRAKÓW throughout December, while on 4 and 5 December the ICE Kraków Congress Centre hosted in-person events including lectures, meetings and workshops.

Attention! The following films have their premiere on the PLAY KRAKÓW festival platform:

• December 6-8: Action Directe, Deep Roots, Black Ice, First Ascent / Last Ascent (all from the Reel Rock 15 series)
• December 6-8: Doo Sar
• December 6-12: The Fall Theory, Kjerag Solo, Great Sheikhs, E11.
• Lexicon (all from the Brit Rock 2021 series)
• December 6-12: The Sanctity of Space