FILM PROGRAMME

Heidi, a spirited orphan girl, lives with her grandfather in a remote wooden hut nestled in the Swiss Alps. Alongside her loyal friend Peter and a lively herd of goats, she enjoys a carefree life. But her peaceful world is upended when her aunt Dete whisks her away to Frankfurt. There, Heidi is meant to be a companion to wheelchair-bound Klara, and to begin her formal education. Though Heidi quickly bonds with Klara and discovers a growing love for books, her heart remains tethered to the mountains and the warmth of her grandfather’s embrace.

Geamăna was once a thriving village in Romania’s Apuseni Mountains, home to nearly a thousand people. Today, only the church tower rises from the toxic sludge of a nearby copper mine. Almost all houses have vanished beneath the surface, the residents long gone. At the edge of this buried past, Valeria Praţa clings to the present—while confronting an uncertain and ominous future. In haunting visuals, “Where We Used to Sleep” captures the disappearance of a place and the quiet defiance against being forgotten. With striking imagery and a delicate touch, the film tells a story of home, of loss, and of what endures when everything else is pulled beneath the surface.

The Dolomites are more than a majestic mountain range—they are a resonant soundscape and a cultural echo chamber. This film takes viewers on a musical journey through South Tyrol, Trentino, and Belluno, where the mountains sing in three languages: Ladin, Italian, and German. The songs, rooted in daily life, are carried by shepherds, women who work the farms, and artisans. At the heart of the film are people of all ages devoted to preserving these traditional melodies. The result is a sonic tapestry as rugged and layered as the Dolomites themselves. The “Songs of the Dolomites” weave a narrative rhythm that decelerates us just like mountain life tends to do.

High in the Austrian Dachstein Mountains, nearly 2,000 metres above sea level, lies a secluded alpine plateau where traditional pasture farming endures through the summer months. Here, shepherds live and work, traversing rugged terrain daily to guide their cattle. Their craft demands experience, keen observation, and a finely tuned ear—skills known locally as suach’n (searching) and losen (listening). In “Shepherd’s Life – Suach’n und Losen im Dachsteingebirge”, director Bernhard Wohlfahrter accompanies the often quiet but intense everyday life of these people, revealing a world where nature and shared responsibility are deeply intertwined.

Every climbing area holds special meaning for its locals. The sandstone boulders in the heart of the Fontainebleau forest were once director Laurent Chevallier’s childhood adventure playground. Through summer heat and winter chill, in sunshine and rain, his family returned time and again to “Bleau,” driven by the simple wisdom of his father: “Fresh air is good for you.” Decades later, Chevallier revisits this landscape of memories, encountering others who share his love of sandstone. From climbers to explorers of prehistoric rock art, from the surface to the subterranean, their stories weave together into a rich, multi-layered portrait of a place unlike any other.

Cerro Mercedario rises to 6,770 meters—it is a wild, solitary peak in Argentina’s central Andes. This extremely remote and hard-to-reach summit marks the fourth-highest point on the American continent. Italian mountain bikers and adventurers Andreas Tonelli and Giovanni Mattiello discard all fear as they set out to attempt the first mountain bike descent from its peak. Their 10-day expedition pushes them to their physical limits while revealing one of the most breathtaking and untamed regions of the Andes. Tragically, Andreas Tonelli lost his life in the Dolomites on 15 July 2025. This final film preserves the memory of a charismatic and deeply passionate mountain man.

Samuel Volery is one of the leading personalities in modern slacklining. Over the past 15 years, he has continually expanded the limits of what’s possible—be it on the highline, jumpline, or freestyle. The film traces his remarkable career, from his first world record to technically and mentally demanding projects in Switzerland, including a 540-m highline in the Churfirsten. With exceptional body control and creativity, Volery remains the only slackliner to regularly perform handstands on the highline. The film also reflects the rapid evolution and creative breadth of this very young, very extreme sport.

The film follows exceptional athletes Markus Eder (skiing) and Victor de Le Rue (snowboarding) as they return to the iconic spine walls of Haines, Alaska—the legendary birthplace of extreme freeride cinema. Inspired by the pioneers who came before them and strengthened by their close friendship, Eder and de Le Rue challenge each other to redefine the boundaries of freeriding. They tackle world-famous lines, blaze new ones, and embark on a multi-day expedition to the base of a mountain face that has never been ridden. What begins as a daring athletic pursuit soon spirals into obsession—and culminates in a descent into madness.

Deception, illness, separation, and doubt. In the unforgiving snowscapes of the Himalayas—where freezing cold, the endless void, and the ever-present shadow of death reign—Charles Dubouloz and Symon Welfringer confront not only the high mountains, but the depths of their own selves. Their first expedition to an eight-thousander, Manaslu (8,163 m), shatters illusions and dims the allure of high-altitude glory. Conversely, at remote Gyachung Kang (7,952 m), the French climbers seek not recognition, but a return to the essence of their passion. Temporarily divided by illness but bound by friendship, they discover beauty in the unexpected. “Le Cavalier Sans Tête” is a film about courage and collapse, tenderness and truth—and the enduring values of authentic alpinism.

While permafrost melts and the “eternal ice” vanishes, tourism is booming. Slope operations, glacier lifts, artificial snow, and drastic interventions in the landscape testify to a race against time. “Requiem in White” is a haunting tribute to the glaciers we’re losing. Through evocative imagery and candid interviews, director Harry Putz lends emotional weight to scientific facts. Filmed across 13 glaciers in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, the film poses a pressing question: How do we face the final farewell from these singular landscapes—and what does that reveal about us? In 2023, Putz’s “Bis zum leeren Tropfen” won Best Film in the category Mountain Nature.

For 45 days, the sun remains below the horizon during polar nights in Tromsø, Norway. A veil of twilight and darkness settles over the lands north of the Arctic Circle. How do locals spend Mørketid, the darkest time of year? Armed with warm clothing and eager curiosity, Caja Schöpf meets three Norwegian mountain fans—in powder snow, on steep ice, and amidst the waves of the Norwegian Sea: alpinist Aniek Lith, kite surfing world champion Kari Schibevaag, as well as mountain guide and author Espen Nordahl. The film offers emotional glimpses into their lives, captures magical lightscapes, and reveals the peace and beauty inherent in nature’s rhythms.

9-year-old Bennett, a passionate young mountaineer from Wyoming, embarks on a journey with her grandfather Gary to Trentino in Italy, the home of her ancestors. Having already climbed many high peaks, this time the focus is on more than just mountaineering: Bennett is looking for her roots and an encounter with her still unknown extended family. In the Dolomites, she discovers a centuries-old heritage. In the process, she grows beyond herself—as a climber and as a person. As Bennett reaches new heights, one senses that her journey together with her grandfather will not last forever. But they are still experiencing shared summit joys.

Accompanied by his loyal dog Laki, Italian bestselling author Paolo Cognetti (“The Eight Mountains”) sets out on a deeply personal journey into the mountains of his youth—where the paths, people, and animals surrounding Monte Rosa helped shape his life. From his remote hut in the Aosta Valley, he traces the flow of water up to the melting glaciers and hikes through an alpine landscape in transition. “Fiore Mio” is a quiet invitation to observe and reflect: nature is changing but not vanishing. Where something fades, something new begins. Through powerful images and open-minded encounters with those who call the mountain world home, the film tells of the mountains and how they shape life.

“I know for sure that there is no way back for me,” said Wanda Rutkiewicz, one of the greatest female mountaineers in history. In 1992, she disappeared without a trace on 8,586-meter-high Kangchenjunga. Her body was never found. Director Eliza Kubarska sets out on a search for clues in the Himalayas and stumbles upon a mysterious audio diary. Using archive footage and interviews with mountaineering companions such as Reinhold Messner and Carlos Carsolio, the film reconstructs the life of a woman who made alpine history by conquering eight eight-thousanders. Yet questions remain: Is Wanda truly dead—or did she choose a life far removed from the world? A compelling portrait of a remarkable woman who, despite, or perhaps because of her great achievements, was always at odds with herself.

After climbing the most difficult route of his life, James Pearson comes to understand that the recognition he has pursued for the past 15 years can only be found within himself. “The Walk of Life” is a haunting documentary that reveals the often hidden struggles of top athletes and the darker side of competitive sport. It centres on one of the world’s leading trad climbers as he confronts traumatic experiences from his youth. With openness and honesty, the film offers a glimpse into James’s inner world—supported by voices from the British climbing scene—and traces his courageous journey toward greater self-acceptance and inner peace. The film is part of the German Alpine Club Night, marking the 50th anniversary of redpoint climbing.

With his iconic first ascents, Kurt Albert introduced the world and its mountains to the Rotpunkt (redpoint) philosophy. In 1991, he forged one such legendary line at Torre Central in Patagonia’s Paine Group, alongside Bernd Arnold, Wolfgang Güllich, Peter Dittrich, and Norbert Bätz. The film “Riders on the Storm” captures the first fully free ascent of this route, achieved in 2024 by Belgian climbers Siebe Vanhee, Sean Villanueva, and Nico Favresse. Over 18 days, the trio battles roaring gale-force winds, sub-zero temperatures, and icy cracks—pushed to their limits time and again. In the process, they gain a profound appreciation for the pioneering spirit of those original ascenders. The film is featured as part of the German Alpine Club Night, celebrating 50 years of the redpoint legacy. Both Siebe Vanhee and Bernd Arnold will be in attendance.

Max Kroneck, Joi Hoffmann, Silvia Moser, and Loïc Isliker set off on a unique freeride adventure—traversing Eastern Europe on skis and public transport. Their quest is twofold: to carve untouched descents and to connect with local freeriders, who guide them through their mountains. The journey leads them through unfamiliar landscapes, far from the bustle of traditional ski resorts. Along the way, they navigate cultural quirks, break through language barriers, and cope with unpredictable weather. What they discover goes beyond powder and peaks—it’s a tapestry of stories, human connection, and a sense of intimacy found far from home. “Going East” is a film that celebrates the art of slowing down—and thereby a style of travel that defies the frantic inertia of modern life.

Gold may be one of the world’s most precious metals, but for freeriders, it’s the fleeting glow of dawn and dusk that holds true value. In his experimental short film “Gold”, filmmaker Paul Schweller plays with the enchantment of those golden hours in a surreal alpine landscape. Through thermographic imagery and intricately composed soundscapes, he explores the tension between heat and cold, light and shadow—making the intangible feel almost touchable. The result is a poetic ski film that utilizes the mountains as a stage for mood, movement, and artistic introspection. “Gold” offers a different, sensually distilled view of alpinism.

Chris Rubens spent years living his dream as a professional freerider—heliskiing, traveling, and filming across the globe with large crews and piles of gear. But an expedition to Greenland with a climate researcher opens his eyes. No longer content to just talk about climate action, Chris decided to live it. He began reducing his carbon footprint, gave up flying, changed his diet, and became an organic farmer in Revelstoke, British Columbia. It’s a choice that deepened his connection to both nature and his community. As a father, Chris is driven by the desire to leave a better world for his son, Huxley. “Farming Turns” captures the radical transformation of a man—it is an honest and uncompromising film, yet never dogmatic.

Freerider Bernhard Braun takes viewers on a humorous journey through the Austrian Alps, all the way up to Mount Albonakopf. Along the way, he wrestles not only with English pronunciation but also with the pressures of the modern ski film industry. What truly makes a good story? Isn’t it enough to simply watch beautiful skiing? As he chases the perfect powder slope, Bernhard comes to a deeper realization: skiing isn’t just about action—it’s about attitude, etiquette, and life itself. In the end, he grasps a simple truth: you can't win without losing. “Hungry Gravity” is Bernhard’s deeply personal career reflection—profound, honest and filled with breathtaking footage from the Tyrolean and Vorarlberg Alps.

In his documentary, Tölz-based photographer and cameraman Rasmus Kaessmann quietly captures the everyday life of a shepherdess in the Swiss Alps. At its heart is Kathrin Riesch, a 40-year-old yoga teacher and Ayurveda consultant who has spent every summer on alpine pastures for more than a decade. Amid towering peaks, a near-meditative rhythm of life unfolds—far removed from deadlines and digital noise. Kaessmann’s warm, poetic visuals highlight the serenity and authenticity of this existence. His film gently invites viewers to pause and reflect on what truly matters: being, nature, and the bonds that connect us.

In the early 1980s, a film crew captures the life of Liz, the last resident of a secluded hamlet in Val di Fassa in the Italian Dolomites. Using a 16 mm camera and a tape recorder, they document a vanishing world—marked by agrarian rhythms, traditional crafts, folk beliefs, and mythology. Forty years later, Liz’s daughter Assunta returns. Following her mother’s passing, she now lives in the family home, where her daily rituals preserve deeply rooted customs and honour her mother’s legacy. Amidst the timeless cultural landscape, she safeguards a way of life and pays daily tribute to her heritage. “Talis Mater” is a gentle, poetic reflection on tradition, memory, and identity—a heartfelt homage to rural existence.

On July 3, 1953, Hermann Buhl of Innsbruck accomplishes one of the most remarkable feats in the history of alpinism. In a gruelling 41-hour ascent, he becomes the first person to solo-climb an eight-thousander without bottled oxygen: the 8,125 m Nanga Parbat. The physical and mental demands of this climb are almost unimaginable, making his summit victory a milestone of endurance and determination. Just five years later, Buhl tragically dies at a still young age during an expedition on Chogolisa (7,668 m) in the Karakoram Mountains—his untimely death cementing his legendary status. Climbing icon Alexander Huber and Buhl’s eldest daughter, Kriemhild, guide viewers through this portrait of an exceptional mountaineer. While the film highlights Buhl’s climbing achievements, it also offers insight into the circumstances that shaped him as a person.