A celebration of adventure films in Bengaluru

Forty-three countries down, Hera van Willick rides her bicycle across continents. Fully self-supported, she shares her journey, the lessons that she learnt along the way. This is 'Pedal' for you, an arresting odyssey captured in an eight-minute short film.

Maureen Beck never lets her missing lower left arm hold her back from climbing. Beck is not chasing tags: A good one-armed climber, or a good female climber. She just wants to be a plain good climber. 'Stumped' is how she puts that inspiring act in a 25-minute documentary, its every frame telling a powerful story of endurance and courage.

Willick and Beck are just two of an incredible bunch of adventurers whose stories enrich the short films lined up for Bengaluru's first-ever Adventure Film Festival this weekend. This series of globally acclaimed films will come alive on July 28 and 29 at the Mother Tekla Auditorium, off MG Road.

On the fest agenda are 13 films curated under the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour India banner. Most feature people testing their abilities in extreme conditions. Arguably one of the largest such events worldwide, the festival's mission is clear: To promote active lifestyles, promote outdoor recreation and play with a clear appreciation of the environment.

That connect with nature through an adventure filter is obvious, when the festival organisers promote 'Searching for Christmas tree,' a Chinese short film, this way: "Watch a university teacher from China break her routine shackles to go on a thrilling quest of a mysterious frozen waterfall that no knows about."

Other films lined up for Day 1: Surf the Line (France), Ascend (USA), Loved by All: The Story of Apa Sherpa (Canada), Dreamwalkers: The Faroes Project (Australia), Edges (USA), Safety Third (USA), Imagination: Tom Wallisch (Canada), Planet Earth II - Mountain Ibex (USA), Dreamride 2 ( USA), and Where the wild things play (USA).

Day 2, July 29 features the India Mountaineering Foundation Film Festival with 18 films. Look out for award-winning films, The Great Indian Tamasha, Munsiari Mountain Biking, Ganesha 8b+, Movable Feast, Seeking Snow, Dream Trip Kashmir, Mandakini Women Weavers, All India Overland and Healing Himalayas.

Beyond screening, the festival has lined up a workshop on “Self Sufficient Mountaineering” hosted by ice climber, photographer and mountain-climber, Abhijeet Singh.