A ski film is a motion picture with sequences of expedition, recreation, competition, or acrobatic exhibition on snow skis. These non-fiction action sport films capture the experience of an athletic outdoor snow sporting culture. Ski films typically present one or more techniques (ski jumping, cross-country, downhill, freestyle), locations, or skiers (expert, celebrity or novice). Categories include the feature, documentary of competition or other event coverage (such as a snow festival or sportscast), instruction or technique demonstration, retrospective history, travel guide showcasing a region, or a short subject (such as a web series or included in a newsreel).[1] More than 200 such videos debuted in 2006.[2] Notable examples are listed at the Ski and Snowboard Film Institute,[3] or have received awards from the International Ski Film Festival,[4][5] X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival,[6]IF3 International Freeski Film Festival, Cold Smoke Winter Film,[7]Powder magazine,[8] or similar.
Feature film
Feature-length entertainment films about skiing, skiers, and the ski lifestyle, shot in actual locations around the world and featuring the best skiers of the day, have been released annually since 1938. Although not distributed through normal film channels, these movies were first exhibited on the resort, club, film festival and ski show circuit[9][10] and are now available via internet video or home video.
Many features include sequences of other mountain, airborne, water, or speed sports.[11]Slow motion and time-lapse effects and skier point of view shots have been used in ski films since the first features of Dr. Fanck.[12][13] Many film makers release a film early in the ski season, with content recorded in the past season or two. The following list is a chronology of prolific feature production companies or directors with numerous ski films over the indicated time span.
Early camera mounted on ski for point of view shots
Ski film may also refer to a fictional theatrical-release sports film which incorporates a skiing theme, although the on-snow scenes may have been enhanced by the use of stunt doubles for the actors and special effects.
Film festivals and tours
Ski, snow, adventure and mountain film festivals are held in Switzerland (Les Diablerets/FIFAD), Austria (Graz, St. Anton, Vienna Freeride), Germany (Tegernsee), Italy (Cortina, Trento), France (Annecy High Five, Dijon, Val d'Isère, Chamonix), Russia (Moscow), Spain (Torello), Canada (Banff, Montreal, Whistler, Rossland, Fernie, Vancouver), United Kingdom (London FreeSki, Fort William, Kendal), New Zealand (Wanaka) and United States (Ishpeming, Jackson Hole, Steamboat Springs, New York City, Midwest, Crested Butte, Mammoth, Missoula, Lake Tahoe, Stowe, North Bend, Boulder, Whitefish, Flagstaff, Williamstown, Mount Snow, Anchorage).[93][94][95][96]
Multi-film road tours which bring a selection of films to scheduled cities have included Banff World Tour, Freeride Film Festival Prime Tour,[97] Vancouver VIMFF World Tour,[98] Salomon Quality Ski Time Film Tour[99] and Level 1 Freeski Film Tour.[100]
^Moulton, Richard W. (2002) Film's Role in Popularizing Alpine Skiing in America in Collected Papers of the International Ski History Congress, ed. E. John B. Allen (New Hartford, Conn.: International Skiing History Association, 2002), 190-194
