Natural Highs
7 magnificent mountains in Ontario to climb, hike, ride, ski and more.
By Conor Mihell
8 Must-See Film Festivals for Adventure Lovers
These film festivals bring thrilling outdoor adventure to the big screen in Ontario.
Ever wondered what it’s like to solo a remote river? Climb a big wall in Yosemite? Huck a double-backflip on skis? Or maybe your outdoor dreams are of the more accessible variety: like taking your first wilderness canoe trip, or competing in a local adventure race. These film festivals now screening across Ontario feature stories that will resonate with adventurers of all stripes—grab the popcorn and prepare to be inspired!
Banff Mountain Film Festival
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is an international film competition and annual presentation of short films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, and the environment. The World Tour brings all the excitement of the festival to audiences around the globe.
Find an upcoming screening in Ontario:
Orillia, ON
January 9-10, 2026
Sojourn Outdoors
Owen Sound, ON
January 9-10, 2026
Suntrail Source for Adventure
Cobourg, ON
January 14, 2026
Concert Hall at Victoria Hall
Kingston, ON
January 15-17, 2026
Trailhead
Peterborough, ON
January 15-16, 2026
Wild Rock Outfitters
Waterloo, ON
January 20-21, 2026
Princess Cinemas
Huntsville, ON
January 21-22, 2026
Algonquin Theatre
Sudbury, ON
January 23-24, 2026
All Nations Church
Thunder Bay, ON
January 25, 2026
Thunder Bay Community Centre
Ottawa, ON
January 26-27, 2026
Trailhead Paddleshack
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
January 28, 2026
Sault Community Theatre Centre
Hamilton, ON
January 29, 2026
Westdale Secondart School
North Bay, ON
February 5-6, 2026
Capitol Centre
London, ON
March 10-12, 2026
Wolf Performance Hall at London Public Library
Toronto, ON
March 21-22, 2026
TIFF Lightbox
See full list of tour stops and dates.
Paddling Film Festival World Tour
Since 2006, the Paddling Film Festival World Tour has been showcasing the very best paddling films to audiences around the world. The festival aims to inspire more people to explore rivers, lakes, and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the paddling lifestyle, and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle.
Find an upcoming screening in Ontario:
Toronto, ON (Premiere)
January 22, 2026
The Complete Paddler
Owen Sound, ON
March 13, 2026
Suntrail Source for Adventure
Parry Sound, ON
March 22, 2026
White Squall
Hamilton, ON
March 25, 2026
Playhouse Cinema
Waterloo, ON
March 26, 2026
Princess Cinema
Meaford, ON
April 10, 2026
Meaford Hall Arts & Culture Centre
Barrie, ON
April 14, 2026
Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club
Brockville, ON
May 6, 2026
Northern Latitudes
Thunder Bay, ON
May 7, 2026
Dragons of Hope Thunder Bay
Huntsville, ON
June 11, 2026
Algonquin Theatre
Peterborough, ON
November 7, 2026
The Canadian Canoe Museum
See a full list of tour stops and dates.
Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) is an annual international 10-day community festival featuring mountain film screenings, live multimedia presentations, photography exhibitions, workshops, seminars and other special events. Each year, the VIMFF World Tour takes award-winning and other selected films on tour across Canada and beyond.
The 2026 program will be announced in late January, with tour dates and locations to follow.
Waterwalker Film Festival
The Waterwalker Film Festival, begun by the legendary Bill Mason in 1987, is Canada’s longest-running paddling film festival. It is now organized by Paddle Canada and continues to feature the best paddling films, from extreme waterfalls to epic canoe voyages across the continent. The premiere takes place in November each year.
Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival
Canada’s largest environmental film festival, Planet in Focus celebrated 26 years in 2025. The six-day festival showcases engaging and artistic films that question, explore and tell stories about the world in which we live—using film as a catalyst for public awareness, discussion, and engagement on a broad range of environmental issues. The festival takes place in September each year, with the 2026 dates yet to be announced.
Reel Rock Film Tour
The Reel Rock Film Tour brings the best climbing and adventure films of the year to audiences throughout the world. 2026 will be RR20 and films have yet to be announced. Typically the program for the year is announced in March or April.
Adventure Film Fest
The Adventure Film Fest is new in 2026 and is part of the Hamilton Adventure Expo. A curated program of short films will be played, followed by an exclusive Q&A with filmmakers and meet and greets.
Hamilton, ON
January 23, 2026
Westdale Theatre
Elora Adventure Film Festival
Now accepting entries for the 2026 festival in the fall, the Elora Adventure Film Festival aims to showcase films involving regular people doing extraordinary things. Last year's festival featured 22 films from 13 countries.
Elora, ON
November 5-8, 2026
The Gorge Cinema, Elora Centre for the Arts & St. John's Anglican Church
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