The Weight of Water Wins Banff Film Fest 2018

The Weight of Water directed and produced by Michael Brown takes the top prize at the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival 2018.

Erik Weihenmayer has climbed the tallest peaks on each continent and his latest undertaking is to kayak the Grand Canyon.

His blindness doesn’t hold him back – and together with his friend Lonnie, who also happens to be blind, the two face Lava Falls, the toughest rapid in the canyon.

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." So says the song and it's true because while we wrapped up #nineepicdays in Banff with an incredible and emotional awards ceremony tonight, the next World Tour will soon begin with an amazing selection of films. Thank you to the filmmakers. Thank you to the writers, the staff, the sponsors, the speakers, the volunteers, the audience members and to everyone who helped make 2018 such a memorable festival. We look forward to seeing you on the road. In the meantime, click the link in our bio.

A post shared by Banff Mountain Film Festival (@banffmountainfestival) on Nov 4, 2018 at 11:00pm PST

“In the end, we selected the film that touched us most deeply – the one that caused us all to shed some tears,” said Rebecca Martin of the jury.

“The human achievement that was the focal point of this work gripped us and the emotional journey of the main protagonist as the narrative unfolded was palpable, while also being exquisitely subtle. We were moved. We were immensely inspired.

“And we were drawn into the story so intensely, we felt a part of the exhilaration of an unimaginably hard-won accomplishment.” Watch a trailer to the film here.